Long before The Swamp became a sea of orange and blue, a young law student in Virginia helped define the Florida Gators’ future—with nothing but a photo and a flash of inspiration. In 1908, Gainesville native Austin Miller was studying at the University of Virginia when his father, Phillips, visited. They stopped into the Michie Company to order school pennants for the University of Florida. The problem? Florida didn’t even have a mascot.

That’s when Austin proposed the alligator. Fearsome. Floridian. Unclaimed. A natural fit. The Michie Company manager had never laid eyes on one, but with Austin’s library-sourced photo in hand, they got to work. Soon, Gainesville shops were stocked with pennants and banners, many featuring alligators in every pose imaginable—reclining, prowling, and proudly baring their teeth. One banner in particular—deep blue with a bright orange gator—would forever change Florida’s identity.

And from that single stroke of genius, a dynasty began to stir.

The Florida Gators bring their Mascot to life

For decades, the gator roamed only in ink and fabric. But in 1957, the university welcomed its first live mascot: Albert. Not one gator, but a succession of them—each more temperamental than the last—cycled through UF’s care. Eventually, handling a live reptile proved… impractical. That’s when the university gave Albert a makeover—trading fangs for foam.

By 1970, Albert reemerged as a full-body costume, walking on two legs and sporting a Gators sweater. He wasn’t just a mascot anymore—he was a character. Animated. Mischievous. Spirited. A lovable rogue, half mascot, half class clown. Still, even the most iconic reptiles get lonely.

So in 1986, Alberta joined him. Bold, bright-eyed, and every bit his equal, she wasn’t a sidekick—she was a co-star. Together, they became the Florida Gators’ reptilian sweethearts, chomping side-by-side and melting hearts along the way.

But in the early 2000s, two real students stepped into those fuzzy feet—and brought the mascot couple to life in ways the university never imagined.

Albert and Alberta get real with their love story

She was Alberta. He was Albert. And from 2002 to 2005, Kourtney and Brian LaPlant weren’t just mascots—they were soulmates in gator suits.

Before becoming the ultimate Florida Gators power couple, Kourtney spotted an ad for mascot tryouts and landed the role of Alberta. Brian, who wasn’t even a UF student yet, carried her 40-pound costume to games and cheered from the sidelines. Eventually, he tried out for Albert and earned the role—and a front-row seat to their own love story.

For three years, they performed for packed stadiums, cavorted at pep rallies, and wordlessly communicated through private hand signals inside their sweltering costumes. They couldn’t speak as mascots, but they didn’t need to.

“We were doing appearances together nearly every day… We were always together,” Brian told the university’s publication. “And it just felt right.” And Kourtney? She felt it, too.

“We got to celebrate and feel the energy that the Gator Nation brings, win or lose. The fans create the atmosphere that pumps everybody up.”

Their off-field relationship deepened as their on-field chemistry exploded. In 2005, Brian (in costume) fake-proposed to Kourtney (also in costume) at a game. Five months later, he popped the real question—on the 50-yard line of Florida Gators Field, under a ring of candles. Fans in the bleachers cheered. The Associated Press picked up the story. And Albert and Alberta were officially engaged.

Their 2007 wedding was human. But the bond? Pure Gator magic!

Florida Gators’ most devoted duo, then and now

Since those mascot days, the LaPlants have built a life in Gainesville. Kourtney became a board-certified oncology pharmacist. Brian is a school administrator who once mentored a student who became Albert himself. They have two kids, Brock and Brooklyn, and though neither has donned a foam head just yet, Brock already has his sights set on UF.

And while their mascot suits are long retired, the LaPlants’ love—and legacy—still ripples through Florida Gators Nation. They helped redefine what Albert and Alberta could be: not just icons, but a couple with real chemistry, humor, and heart. From sweaty Saturdays in the Swamp to surprise proposals under stadium lights, the LaPlants proved the Gators’ mascot romance isn’t just fluff—it’s family, history, and heat-proof love.

Because at the University of Florida, mascots don’t just cheer for love. Sometimes, they are the love story.