GatorMoms.NET recently had the pleasure of speaking with someone that all of Gator Nation identifies with, but doesn't really ever know.  I'm referring to one of UF's famous mascots, Alberta, and one of the personalities that endured the indescribable heat to portray her.  Sabrina Saucier, (UF '00), Gator Mom currently of Alpharetta, GA is the former "Alberta" we're speaking of, and she was gracious enough to share with us her unique story that endears the University of Florida Gators to her heart.  

GatorMoms.NET: Hi, Sabrina.  Thanks so much for agreeing to speak with us, and relaying your experience as “Alberta”, the charming, beautiful and spirited mascot and soul mate of UF’s other beloved mascot Albert E. Gator.  Alberta made her appearance at UF in 1986, 16 years after Albert was introduced.  Since then both are synonymous with the University of Florida’s sports and education programs and well known nation wide.  In 2007, Albert was even voted #1 mascot by Sports Illustrated On Campus in their "Mascot Power Rankings."  With all this being said, representing UF as Albert or Alberta is a great responsibility for whoever accepts the position.   

Many of Gator Nation’s fans are curious about the people that sign on to portray such a UF icon as Alberta.  Sabrina, tell us a little about yourself personally.

GM: Where did you grow up?
Sabrina: I was born in Cheyenne, Wyoming, but my father and I made our way to Orlando, where I grew up.  I attended Wm. R. Boone HS in Orlando and graduated in May 1996.  I was accepted to UF for the summer semester of 1996.  I lived on campus in Jennings, Hume and Broward Halls for that summer and the following 2 years.

GM: When did you attend UF?
Sabrina: I attended UF from 1996 – 2000 (graduated summer 2000).

GM: What did you major in?
Sabrina: I majored in several fields before becoming comfortable in the College of Journalism as a Public Relations major.  I also have a minor in Health Science Education.

GM: Tell us a little about your family, (husband and children).
Sabrina: My husband is also UF alumni, he holds a BS in Decision Information Sciences and graduated in 2001.  We met in a COBOL class in Little Hall and Joe proposed to me at Little Hall while we were in town for the Miami football game in 2002.  Our instructor for that COBOL class attended our wedding in 2003.  JI have two daughters, Tatum Alyssa (May 9, 2006) and Reagan Grier (March 29, 2008).  I hope that one day they will live and study in Gainesville and carry on the proud tradition of becoming Florida alumni.  It would make mommy and daddy so proud!  

GM: What prompted you to become Alberta?
Sabrina: My roommate knew that I had some “prior experience” and figured I’d be great at it!  We were at a game and she nudged me and said “you could do that!”  She encouraged me to look into it.  So there I was, sitting in our little dorm room, calling around and asking, “How does some get to be Alberta?”  I felt so ridiculous!!  First I started with the info. number; and I think the operator thought I was crazy.  After a few awkward conversations and misunderstandings, I was directed to the Spirit Director for the university.  I left a message and ran off to class.  A couple of days went by, and I thought nothing more of it until I came home one day and my roommate was acting weird and told me to listen to the messages.  The Director had called me back and left her number.  I immediately returned the call, we chatted and she asked me to come pick up an application, and I agreed to come in. Well, I went and got it [the application], but then just never got around to filling it out.  The lady called me back the following week on a Wednesday and said she had a mascot unable to attend an upcoming event.  She asked if I was available to fly out with the women’s volleyball team to a tournament in Athens, GA.  I said yes and the rest is history… I never even filled out the application!  

Is it Sabrina as Alberta or Alberta as Sabrina?

GM: What was the process in becoming Alberta?
Sabrina: My situation was much different and not the norm at the time.  However, I do believe that today the mascots try out just like any other sport.  I don’t really know how it was supposed to have been done.  I just happened to be asking at the right time! 

GM: Did you have to have any special skills?
Sabrina: Because I grew up in Orlando, my first job was as a character during the holidays. I was Pooh, Chip & Dale, etc.  I worked mostly the resort Character Breakfasts, but also did a holiday show in EPCOT. 

GM: How long did you portray Alberta, and were you the only one during this time? 
Sabrina: I was officially Alberta from 1997-2000, making me a member of the Varsity Cheerleading team.  I was a 3-yr. letter winner; and I am an F-Club member.There were as many as 3 female mascots during my time at Florida.  This was because there were so many events both in town and away at any given time.  

GM: What was your relationship with the person that portrayed Albert?
Sabrina: We were all good friends!  I will say however, I was not as close with the guys that did Baseball Al (which is different from Albert).  It’s hard to explain, but think of it as Junior Varsity.  The male mascots that did Baseball Al, were only Baseball Al. 

GM: Approximately how many events did you have to attend as Alberta, and give us some examples of the lesser known types of events you participated in.
Sabrina:  [There were] too many [events] to count!  Alberta is required at all Women’s events, those are priority #1. Senior mascots were given first chance to attend tournaments, championships, etc.  Home football games were the #2 [priority] because [of their importance] and they did not interfere with Women’s events  Four mascots were always at home football games.  Two men for Albert and two women for Alberta.  The senior mascot did the game opening and introduction for the team (my favorite part)! 

I have served at women’s basketball, soccer, softball, and volleyball games, women’s gymnastics meets, as well as men’s basketball.  Another mandatory weekend was Florida v. Georgia.  This is where Alberta was born, and every year they celebrate her birthday.  We usually also attended a ritzy event on the river in Jacksonville with big money donors from both schools.

I also attended several events around Gainesville and surrounding cities.  I would be present at Hall of Fame inductions, Gator Club meetings (Alachua, Putnam, Clay, Duval Co), Christmas Parties (local businesses including Energizer, paid appearances), and private functions (paid appearances).  Rule of thumb, [if an event was] associated with UF it was unpaid, outside or off campus events were paid, that was our incentive to do them.And lastly, I traveled around Alachua to local schools with or without the Cheer Squad for Pep Rallies, etc. 

GM: How uncomfortable and hot was the costume?
Sabrina: Ridiculously hot!!! We typically wore workout clothes underneath because those suits DO NOT BREATHE!  That is why for football games there would be 2 per mascot, so one could be out while the other was recuperating.  

GM: Who were some of the most interesting people you got to meet?
Sabrina: Coach Spurrier, TV personalities (Chris Fowler, Kirk Herbstriet, Dick Vitale), Mr. Two-Bits, and my husband says, “me!”  It’s true, he asked me out because I was wearing a Gator Cheerleading t-shirt to class one day… little did he know!  J 

GM: What did you enjoy most about being Alberta?
Sabrina: Being Alberta.  I can’t think of any greater experience.  Millions of people can say they are fans, millions of people can say they are alumni, but maybe only a few hundred can say they were Alberta (or Albert)!  It’s a once in a lifetime thing.  I was a Gator fan all my life, but now I truly bleed Orange and Blue.  There is no greater symbol for our beloved school than Albert and Alberta. 

I also loved my role in making little dreams come true.  I can’t tell you how many thousands (literally) of children I hugged and took pictures with.  And to think that one day, I’ll wait in a long, hot line with my girls to get that picture they drove several miles for is truly priceless.  What an honor. 

GM: What were some of your favorite events to attend and things to do?
Sabrina: Home football games were my favorite.  Away tournaments and championships were also great.  I traveled the country with the women’s teams and saw things I never knew I would!  I’ve been to Spokane & Seattle Washington, San Francisco, CA and was one win away from Hawaii with the volleyball team, but we lost the final game and didn’t make the tournament.  Bummer! 

I don’t know if this fits in with this question, but I did wear Alberta’s feet across the stage when I graduated!  It was so much fun!!  When people saw the feet, their faces lit up and they immediately knew… I was Alberta.  It was kind of the first time anyone saw who was behind the head!  And I was so proud! 

GM: Were there any exceptionally memorable occurrences as Alberta, (good or bad), you can share?
Sabrina: Two.  Both bad.  Both involving the University of Kentucky.  During an away football game in Lexington, the UK mascots got a little carried away with their megaphones and were hitting me (hard) in the head.  Albert had to step in… it got a little heated.  To the fans, it looked harmless, but I can tell you… it wasn’t.  We (Albert & I) were very peeved to say the least. 

The second was during a home football game.  I was walking along our sideline, (at Florida Field, there are little fenced in corridors if you will, that the photographers, etc run along from one end of the field to the other), heading in after my appearance time when a UK fan leaned over the wall and punched Alberta (me) on her snout.  This violent act slammed my head down into my chest and pulled all the muscles in my neck.  I flagged down a UPD officer and told him what happened.  Within seconds, the man was taken into custody by UPD.  All the while he was yelling, “I didn’t do anything!”  Try this in front of 400 Alberta adoring fans on our home sideline in Ben Hill Griffin Stadium…it didn’t turn out well for him.  The fan was escorted from the game and is banned, for life, from the stadium.  Don’t mess with Alberta! J 

GM: Share with us the special guests you had at your wedding in Gainesville and that experience.
Sabrina: My husband and I were married September 6, 2003 at the Baughman Center on campus.  Our reception was held at Savannah Grand in downtown Gainesville.  Yes, I know, it was football season!!  But the big screen TV was on and the UF v. Miami game was on, at the bride’s request of course!  We entered the reception to the Gator fight song and then danced all of the traditional dances.  When the music was over, the fight song played again, only this time Albert and Alberta marched out from behind closed doors!  Our friends and family went crazy!  It was an incredible moment.  No one knew; it was the biggest secret of the night! We danced and played, the kids danced and played… it was fabulous. They posed for pictures with most everyone there.  It was a night I’ll never forget.  And this year, my husband and I will celebrate our 5^th Anniversary in Gainesville, tailgating with friends and family for revenge on those pesky Hurricanes.  I guess we (my husband and I) have come full circle, he proposed six years ago at the Miami v. Florida game in Gainesville! 

GM: Are you an active Alumnus?  (i.e. A local Gator Club member?; Come back for sporting events?; Have Gator tailgate parties at your home?, etc.)
Sabrina: We attend all the local Gator viewing parties at the Alpharetta (GA) Ale House to watch football and basketball games.  We have had a few small parties at our house with Gators we have met in the 7 years we have lived in GA.  Living only 30 min. from UGA is tough.  Gators are sometimes hard to find!  We do go to as many games in Gainesville as we can. 

GM: Who was your favorite Gator when you were Alberta and now?  Why?
Sabrina: My favorite Gator??  That’s a hard one!  I was really good friends with Ed Chester (football DT, 94-98) and Deac Story (football OG, 94-98) during my time as Alberta.  We were always together!   

My favorite Gator now?  I guess right now at this very moment…I see Tim Tebow as my favorite Gator.  He is the leader of the Gator Nation and he exemplifies to the world what it means to be a Gator.  Can you think of a better ambassador?  I can not.  

GM: Which game was most memorable for you when you were Alberta?  Why?
Sabrina: I think the most memorable game was my last football game as Alberta. It was the home game against FSU in 1999 and we lost.  It was heart wrenching and I’ll never forget it. 

GM: Which fans of opposing teams were the best and worst?
Sabrina: Best – LSU (that may sound strange, but they are fun)
Worst – Kentucky  [See above ]

GM: What learning experiences did you take away from your time as Alberta?
Sabrina: Everyone has a role in life.  I never knew mine, but I was meant to be Alberta.  It was a unique, life-changing event for me.  I’ll never forget the places I traveled, the people I met or the lives I touched.  I am honored to have represented the University of Florida as one of the most beloved figures.  And for the rest of my life, when I am asked if I am a Gator fan, I reply: “No. I’m a Gator.”