By MIKE KRAFCIK
6 News Reporter
KNOXVILLE (WATE) - The excitement for this weekend's UT-Florida game can be seen at businesses all over Knoxville.
Restaurants and other businesses are getting their shot at making the most of the rivalry.
The Shrimp Dock is selling a large amount of Louisiana gator meat in preparation for the game.
"There is renewed enthusiasm this year. We will see 3/4 of a ton of gator meat, which is an astonishing number," said Shrimp Dock owner Phil Dangle.
Dangle says the gator meat is the highest selling item of late.
The Shrimp Dock is also selling a large amount of gator tail and gator gumbo.
Some fans say they like gator meat for barbeques and tailgates. "It's kind of a tradition here in Knoxville to grill gator. Unfortunately, we've had some rough luck in beating the Gators. Hopefully this year's different," Will Webb said.
Latitude 35 co-owners Harry Wade and Jimmy Buckner are preparing for the game in a unique way. They're the creators of "Gator Hator Week."
The week-long series of UT-Florida related events was started by Wade and Buckner eight years ago.
"Jimmy went to Florida. We thought we'd have some fun with that," Wade said.
All of the money raised during the "Gator Hator Week" goes toward the Scarecrow Foundation and other charities. The week-long festivities started with a golf tournament on Monday.
On Wednesday, the restaurant hosted a "Gator Hator Fashion show." The bar is even offering patrons an ABSOLUT "Gator Hator cocktail"
"It's fun to do. It doesn't take that much effort. There are a lot of gator haters," Wade said.
