School mascots are a unique idea. Teams taking on the mantle of animals conjures plenty of theoretical Planet Earth showdowns: how would alligators and, say, wolverines fare in an actual tussle?

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Of course, in the end, the folks on the field don’t normally resemble animals. There are no bright-blue-and-orange alligators. So for this week’s game with Texas A&M, Florida decided to remedy this by donning jerseys that actually look like alligator skin. 

Check it out:

It’s a pretty stark departure from the Gators’ iconic blue-and-orange combination, a look that stands among the greatest college sports looks. They've retained a few blue and orange accents, but the emphasis here is clear: these are alligators, on a football field.

This one-off alternative, which Florida said is the culmination of an 18-month process working with Nike’s best designers, is great in its own way, and the best part might be the intimidation factor: can you imagine lining up across from 11 alligators? 

Gators cornerback Chauncey Gardner Jr., someone who relies on the intimidation factor to keep wide receivers in check, sure likes what he sees:

Here’s a closer look at a few details from the jersey, including the swamp green color used on both the helmet and the cleats:

A close-up of the helmet, and the jersey pattern.
Florida Athletics
A close-up of the helmet, and the jersey pattern.

A close-up of the swamp green cleats.
A close-up of the swamp green cleats.

A close-up of the gloves.
Florida Athletics
A close-up of the gloves.

Adam Hermann has written for the Philadelphia Inquirer, the Philadelphia Daily News, Philadelphia magazine, SB Nation, and NBC Sports Philadelphia.

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