Origin of Gatorade

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Gatorade

Sam Grus

        Gatorade is a sports recovery drink owned by Pepsi-Co. It was introduced by researchers at the University of Florida. Gatorade rehydrates your electrolytes, and helps you get through those tough games. Gatorade’s only competition is Coca-Cola’s Vitamin Water and Powerade.

        In 1965, University of Florida researchers were asked by Florida’s football head coach, Ray Graves, to make a product that aided his players by acting as a hydrating replacement to water. The first product was tested at a Florida Gators football practice by ten players and was deemed a success. Two years later, the Florida Gators credited their first Orange Bowl win over the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets to Gatorade. When Yellow Jackets coach was asked why they lost he replied, “We didn’t have Gatorade. That made the difference.”

        Now, did Florida win because they drank Gatorade? No, but it could have been a placebo. With them drinking Gatorade, it gave them the state of mind that they were hydrated during the entire game. When they thought they were hydrated, then they knew that they could play hard the entire game. So Gatorade gives you a good mind set that you are playing hard without wasting any electrolytes.