We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.

Where Did Gatorade's Name Come from?

Updated: Mar 15, 2014
Views: 4,936
Share

The sports drink Gatorade’s name comes from the University of Florida Gators, because it was invented in 1965 for football players at the university. Assistant football coach Dwayne Douglas expressed concern to Dr. Robert Cade, a kidney disease specialist at the university, that football players were losing a large amount of water weight during games without urinating often. Cade determined that players were sweating out sodium and potassium, thus throwing off the body’s chemical balance. He developed a drink containing electrolytes to replace those lost during excessive sweating and added lemon to flavor it. Other universities became interested in the drink, and by 1983, it was distributed nationally under the Gatorade name.

More about Gatorade:

  • Gatorade holds the record as the beverage company with the most discontinued flavors — 26 of them as of early 2014.
  • The tradition of dumping a bucket of Gatorade over a coach’s head after winning a game began in 1984, when players from the National Football League's New York Giants doused their head coach, Bill Parcells, with Gatorade after a victory over the Washington Redskins.
  • Royalties from the sales of Gatorade made the University of Florida an estimated $80 million US Dollars (USD) by early 2014.
Share
Allison Boelcke
By Allison Boelcke
Allison Boelcke, a digital marketing manager and freelance writer, helps businesses create compelling content to connect with their target markets and drive results. With a degree in English, she combines her writing skills with marketing expertise to craft engaging content that gets noticed and leads to website traffic and conversions. Her ability to understand and connect with target audiences makes her a valuable asset to any content creation team.

Editors' Picks

Discussion Comments
By RoyalSpyder — On Mar 15, 2014

I've never liked the taste of Gatorade, but I drink it often because it really satisfies my thirst, especially during a football game. Also, it's interesting that it got it's name from the Florida Gators. Who would have ever thought?

Allison Boelcke
Allison Boelcke
Allison Boelcke, a digital marketing manager and freelance writer, helps businesses create compelling content to connect with their target markets and drive results. With a degree in English, she combines her writing skills with marketing expertise to craft engaging content that gets noticed and leads to website traffic and conversions. Her ability to understand and connect with target audiences makes her a valuable asset to any content creation team.
Share
https://www.wisegeek.net/where-did-gatorades-name-come-from.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.