UF donors can have dinner with football coach -- for $1 million
The Associated Press
August 21, 2007

GAINESVILLE -- Money still may not buy love, but it can get University of Florida fans up close and personal with the national college football champs.

Dinner with Florida Gators head coach Urban Meyer goes for $1 million.

Fans on a tighter budget can shell out $25,000 for two sideline passes to the 2008 Orange & Blue game, or $15,000 to be Meyer's guest on the sideline of a practice session.


Fundraisers at the UF Athletic Association are trading access for cash in a new program to raise money for a major renovation project at the school's football stadium.

Doug Brown, director of the UF's Bull Gator program, said it provided "inside-the-ropes" access.

"If you contribute at a very significant level, we look for things that have some value, that provide you access that other people wouldn't have," Brown said.

Football boosters don't expect too many Orange and Blue fans to shell out $1 million for dinner with Meyer, which includes an afternoon going over game film with the coach and his staff. A million bucks can also buy the right to run onto the field with the Gators at a home game.

But they do expect fans will be interested in investing $1,000 for higher priority on bowl game tickets. The more fans spend, the more access they get.

"My impression is that everyone loves to be on the inside, and to somehow get to participate," said Don Davis, chairman of the Gainesville Quarterback Club. "Not that they want to play "? they just want to be in there for a moment."

The idea isn't new. The University of Tennessee, for example, allows top-dollar donors to travel to a game with the team and dine with the coach.

Money raised in the program will be applied to a renovation project at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium at Florida Field. The project was initially budgeted at $14 million, but UF officials said rising construction costs have nearly doubled the cost of the renovation.