Gator Hater week: Gator meat, drink specials, fundraisers lead up to UT Vols vs Florida

The Florida Gators football team will have to wait until Sept. 22 to get its first taste of SEC football on the road against Tennessee. But Vols fans won't have to wait that long to get a taste of gator. 

Gator Hater week kicks off Sunday and will feature fundraisers, fan events and opportunities to purchase gator-based dishes and gator meat ahead of the big rivalry game. 

Game time announced:UT Vols to play Florida Gators in prime time

Giveaway:Win tickets to the Tennessee vs. Florida game

Hungry for gator? 'It tastes just like chicken'

You could buy gator meat from The Shrimp Dock seafood market in Farragut, Bearden or Alcoa year round — there are some people who do. 

But come Florida week, owner Phil Dangel says sales increase dramatically. He anticipates selling between 1,800 and 2,000 pounds of gator meat ahead of the game. 

"We have people from all over the world calling us and coming in and buying gator that week — people we don't normally see," he said. "We order a tremendous amount more. ... Nobody has a day off." 

Dangel will sell fresh gator meat for $16.99 per pound and frozen gator meat for $15.99 per pound at all three locations. These options are popular among tailgaters, who typically fry the meat for the game, he said. 

But if you don't want to put in the work, employees of The Shrimp Dock will be cooking up gator, themselves, all week long. 

"The biggest thing we sell is gator po'boys for lunch Thursday, Friday and Saturday," Dangel said. "But we do all kind of different things." 

Among the options are gator gumbo, fried gator, gator boils and gator sausage. 

"It tastes just like a Chicken McNugget," he said. "When we fry it, you might never even know it was gator. It tastes just like that." 

Dangel said he starts getting phone calls about gator meat the week before the Florida game, but the calls will pick up immediately following the UTEP game. 

"I think (UT) finally has a coach that we can build around, and I think the tradition (of eating gator) is one one of the great ones in all of the SEC," he said. "This is going to be a great game, and I think it's a great tradition." 

If Dangel is able to get full gators shipped in, he will be roasting entire gators all day on the Thursday and Friday before the game. 

Lonesome Dove Chef Tim Love also will be grilling an entire gator on game day near the Love Shack. 

"It feels good to see people eating food that you grew up eating that's a specialty to you," said Andy Cantillo, owner of Bayou Bay Seafood House. "I grew up in South Louisiana catching alligators, eating alligators since I was young. ... To get to see other people enjoy it really means a lot." 

Like The Shrimp Dock, Bayou Bay anticipates a large increase in gator sales from roughly 30 pounds per week to 300 pounds the week of the game. 

Bayou Bay offers alligator in appetizers, salads and meals all year long. Cantillo will be selling it fried, grilled and blackened by the pound during gator week. He might even sell raw meat if people are interested, he said. 

Fighting hunger through the rivalry 

If you're not hungry for gator meat, you can help fight hunger, instead, by participating in The Scarecrow Foundation's 14th annual Gator Hator week. 

"Gator Hator week is very simple," said Jimmy Buckner, executive director of The Scarecrow Foundation. "It's taking the rivalry between the Gators and the Volunteers and redirecting some of that energy to help hunger." 

Proceeds will benefit The Love Kitchen, which serves up meals to the needy. 

The events begin with a cornhole tournament at Bearden Beer Market on Sunday, the day after the Vols' game against UTEP. The tournament will feature two-person teams with a suggested fee of $20, Buckner said. 

But Gator Hator week has a variety of free events people can participate in while still having the choice to donate. 

The free, official Gator Hator Kick-Off Night will be held at 7 p.m. Monday at K-Town Tavern. People are encouraged to wear orange during the party, which will feature $7.99 pizza, $2 drafts and prizes.

People also will have a couple of free chances to take shots at Gator fans ahead of the game. 

People can step into the ring at Eppolito Boxing on Wednesday night with a person dressed in Florida Gear. Wild Wing Cafe in Farragut also will have a dunking booth set up Friday night for a chance to dunk a Florida fan. 

Here's the full schedule of events, from Sunday, Sept. 16 to Friday, Sept. 21: 

• Sunday at 2 p.m.: Cornhole Tournament at Bearden Beer Market ($20)
• Monday at 6 p.m.: Poker Tournament at Downtown Grill & Brewery
• Monday at 7 p.m.: Kick-off party at K-Town Tavern
• Tuesday at 6 p.m.: Taco Tuesday at Soccer Taco-Northshore 
• Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.: Open House at The Love Kitchen
• Wednesday at 6 p.m.: Ladies happy hour and silent auction at Water into Wine Bistro & Lounge 
• Wednesday at 6 pm.: Box the Gator at Eppolito Boxing Gym
• Thursday at 7 p.m.: Fashion Show with Gage Talent at Downtown 211 ($25) 
• Friday from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.: Gator Hator Happy Hour at Merchants of Beer 
• Friday at 7 p.m.: Dunk the Gator Party at Wild Wing Cafe

Learn more about Gator Hator Week at gatorhator.com.