After being dormant for 9 years the football series between GHS and Columbia was restarted in 1971. The Tigers probably wished it hadn't. They entered the game unbeaten at 6-0-1 but left it thoroughly pounded into the Florida Field artificial turf, 42-2 losers.

Even though the aqua Canes of 1994 didn't make a huge splash in the state meet, the seeds of future success were sown. GHS swimming would become a fixture at the state level, as both the boys and girls programs frequently finished with titles or near the top.

Bandbox blues. If you attended the GHS-EHS boys basketball game recently, I'm sure you were affected by the overflow crowding. This has occurred numerous times this season because local gyms were built too small. It has been a recurring problem, as this 1959 photo attests.

In Memorium GPD Officer Scott Baird. This brief video clip from 2007 recounts the dedication ceremony for Officer Baird at Tiny Talbot Field. GHS would defeat Eastside that night 22-0, which is still tied as the largest margin of victory in a shutout.

GHS boys soccer has won 5 out of county, in-season tournaments in school history. Perhaps most impressive were the back-to-back Cane Christmas conquests in December 2000 and 2001. They went 4-0 to capture the Deland Tournament and 3-0 to win the Leesburg Hickory Point Tournament.

Three-peat!!! GHS defeats Leon in boys basketball 63-55 to win their 3rd straight district championship. The 2025 Canes have also now won 20 games to further enhance their elite status in school history. They will host the 1st round of the playoffs next week. Good luck Canes!

Tonight at the Purple Palace it's title time: GHS takes on Leon in boys basketball for the district championship. The last time the two teams met with this much at stake was in 2004. In the 1st round of the playoffs the Canes opened up a 24 point lead, eventually winning 67-49.

From the 'Weird But True' file comes this, the magnum opus of odd posts. In 1951 the GHS band, in conjunction with PKY, staged a fund raising softball game. The GHS team consisted of faculty, parents.....and live donkeys. 1800 fans actually paid money to watch the rustic rumpus.

It's Super Bowl week and this site recognizes GHS alum and ring winner Fred Dean. Fred (#63) was part of the Washington Redskins "Hogs" O-line of the 80s. In Super Bowl XVII in 1983, the Hogs butchered the Miami Dolphins to the tune of 276 rushing yards in the Skins 27-17 win.

When Alissa Humphrey was pitching for Lady Canes softball, spot her a run or two and she'd handle the rest. In the 2019 district finals vs. Middleburg this strategy was put to the test. A passed ball plated the game's only run in the 8th inning and GHS won the pitchers duel 1-0.

After playing each other in a blistering game 10 days earlier, GHS and Vanguard topped it in boys basketball with an epic 2016 Sweet 16 rematch at the Purple Palace. Rudy Bibb-Boyd was an OT maestro, wielding an all-encompassing dagger that shattered the Knights hopes of revenge.

Despite blustery weather a few weekends ago the GHS alumni baseball game was played with much aplomb. The "Old Timers" can still swing it and a good time was had by all. The 2025 baseball season starts this week; good luck to the Diamond Canes on their journey this spring.

GHS: Then & Now. Look west, young man!...and you'll see B Wing. Then-wide open spaces. Now-trees, sidewalks and a butterfly garden. After 3 posts on this subject, GHS was either less cluttered or too sparse back then, depending upon which side of the philosophical fence you're on

If you saw the 1998 playoff game vs Fletcher at Citizens Field, you witnessed purple quicksilver in the forms of future NFL RBs Ciatrick Fason and Clinton Portis. Fason ran for 188 yds but was outdone by Portis' 220. GHS would provide cloture on the Senators, winning 28-14.

The Hurricane weightlifting program was busy this past weekend opening a hardware store. Late into Friday they converted the Purple Palace into a gigantic weight room; on Saturday the Lady Canes collected trophies by winning districts. Good luck lifters at regionals this Saturday

Despite the close proximity of the two campuses, GHS and Columbia playing each other in the post season for boys basketball is only a recent tradition. In 2008 they met in the district finals for the first time ever. Played in Leesburg the Canes were able to grind out a 73-57 win

The mythical "city championship" for all Gainesville area high schools in any sport was birthed in 1947. A late addition baseball game between GHS and PKY was arranged and city bragging rights were up for grabs. The then Baby Gators would claim this early clash of unbeatens.

The 1992 playoffs opened with high expectations for GHS boys soccer vs. Mandarin High at Citizens Field. After a tenuous first half the Canes found their rhythm in the rain. The 5-0 final is still the school record for margin of victory in the playoffs.

Selected pages from the 2001 Hurricane yearbook: kaleidoscope, baseball, girls soccer and football.

This rare photostat of The Clearwater Sun previewed the October 24, 1941 football game between GHS and Clearwater High in Clearwater. The Canes used their size advantage to claim a 19-7 win, part of 8 straight wins to finish at 8-2. The 2 schools haven't played in football since.