In my late night internet surfing I came across this site that shares a brief history many of the major bands of products that we use. I was shocked what I read about Gatorade because according to Keith Jackson and the traditional legend of the world famous it was a product invented by the University of Florida to help replenish what their football players were losing through sweat and keep them hydrated.
However there is a different story floating around there that says that it was actually the Florida State Seminoles and not the Florida Gators who came up with the idea. Here’s what the website had to say.
Contrary to popular belief, the University of Florida did not come up with the sports drink that is now known as Gatorade. The team doctor for the FSU football team, Dr. R.A. Johnson, began producing a sports drink that he called "Seminole Firewater" as early as 1962. Dr. Johnson blended sugar and lime flavoring with electrolytes (salts) to help keep the players hydrated and to prevent cramping. In 1964 at an annual Seminar of Collegiate sports physicians and athletic trainers held in Tallahassee, Fl., a representative from the University of Florida found out about the discovery that sodium and potassium keeps athletes better hydrated because it gives back to the body what is lost through sweat. They returned to Gainesville and, after being tested on the UF football players, the name "Gatorade" was given. The University of Florida requested a certified patent in 1967 for the drink that Dr. Johnson had freely shared with the public.
Hmmmm, I don't know if this is true or not but the commercial never says anything about Gatorade being a stolen idea.
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