Tom Petty’s brother shares family’s reaction to Gators using ‘I Won’t Back Down’

The unexpected passing of Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Tom Petty last year saddened music fans around the world. It was especially hard on Gainesville, Fla. losing a hometown hero.

Following Petty’s passing, the Florida football team decided to add his hit song “I Won’t Back Down” into the home game routine. It went over so well the first time that the song has become a new tradition in The Swamp, played during the break between the third and fourth quarters.

Petty would have turned 68 Saturday. In celebration of his birthday, a Gainesville park is being renamed Tom Petty Park. Petty family members and some local fans gathered at the park for the dedication ceremony.

Among the fans was Florida Gators in-house writer Scott Carter. He got the chance to talk to Petty’s brother, Bruce, who relayed that the family is “touched” by the football team’s use of “I Won’t Back Down.”

Little better shot of sign … Bruce Petty, Tom’s brother, said family is touched by #Gators’ new ‘I Won’t Back Down’ tradition … pic.twitter.com/xgrdOCkojV

— Scott Carter (@GatorsScott) October 20, 2018

Andrew Olson

Andrew writes about sports to fund his love of live music and collection of concert posters. He strongly endorses the Hall of Fame campaigns of Fred Taylor and Andruw Jones.