Buzz
The exact origin of the Gatorade bath is still a topic of debate, but former New York Giants defensive lineman Jim Burt is often credited with the first incident. In his book First in Thirst: How Gatorade Turned the Science of Sweat into a Cultural Phenomenon, Darren Rovell recounts that Burt conceived the prank during the Giants' tough 1985 season. After a grueling stretch under coach Bill Parcells, the team triumphed with a 17-3 win over the Washington Redskins, and Burt celebrated by dousing Parcells with a Gatorade-filled cooler.
Linebacker Harry Carson, a coach's favorite, elevated the tradition to new heights.
While Burt eventually felt the novelty had worn off, Carson continued the tradition, showering Parcells with Gatorade after every Giants victory on the path to their 1986 Super Bowl win.
Although Burt and Carson helped make the Gatorade shower a famous tradition, they weren’t the first to dunk their coach. That distinction belongs to former Chicago Bears player Dan Hampton, who teamed up with Steve McMichael and Mike Singletary to soak coach Mike Ditka after a 1984 regular-season win over the Vikings.
Who became Carson's most famous target?
In 1987, when the Giants visited the White House to celebrate their Super Bowl win, Carson took the Gatorade shower tradition with him. His chosen target: none other than President Ronald Reagan. Since it would have been sacrilegious to ruin Reagan’s perfectly groomed hair with a sports drink, Carson opted to pour popcorn from a Gatorade cooler on the president instead. Later, Carson joked on his website, "How many people can say they did that to the President with Secret Service agents standing nearby with guns under their jackets?"
What was Gatorade’s reaction to all of this?
How could any company be upset by such incredible free promotion? When Bill Schmidt, Gatorade’s head of sports marketing, heard John Madden narrating the Gatorade shower during a Giants-49ers playoff game, he exclaimed, "I think I've died and gone to heaven."
Did Parcells and Carson receive any rewards for their efforts?
According to Rovell, since Gatorade wasn’t the creator of the tradition, they were uncertain about how to respond. To show their appreciation, the brand sent both Parcells and Carson $1,000 gift certificates to Brooks Brothers, accompanied by a note from Bill Schmidt. ("We do feel somewhat responsible for your cleaning bill," Schmidt humorously wrote.)
After the Giants claimed the Super Bowl, however, a more official endorsement seemed like the right move. Parcells landed a $120,000, three-year contract, and Carson earned a separate $20,000 deal of his own.
Were there any coaches who truly despised the Gatorade shower?
Certainly. Iconic Miami Dolphins coach Don Shula was adamantly opposed to the Gatorade bath and instructed his players not to pour it on him.
Has a Gatorade shower ever been fatal?
Possibly. In November 1990, 72-year-old former Redskins and Rams coach George Allen led Long Beach State to a season-ending victory over UNLV, and his players celebrated with a dunk from the cooler. Drenching a septuagenarian with cold liquid is questionable, even in a temperate climate, and the soaking had a serious impact on Allen’s health. He passed away from ventricular fibrillation on December 31, 1990, just one week after mentioning in an interview that his health had never fully recovered from the dunking.
However, don’t pin Allen’s death on Gatorade. According to Allen, his team "couldn't afford Gatorade," so the liquid in the cooler was just ordinary ice water, potentially making the dunk even more dangerous.
What other Gatorade baths have gone awry?
While not deadly, the Gatorade shower Kentucky coach Guy Morriss received in the final moments of the Wildcats' 2002 game against LSU was certainly embarrassing. With seconds remaining in the game and a major upset over the Tigers nearly secured, Morriss' players drenched their coach in Gatorade.
Unfortunately for Morriss and Big Blue Nation, there’s a big difference between looking like a surefire winner and actually clinching the victory. LSU wide receiver Devery Henderson made a miraculous play, catching a tipped Hail Mary pass and swiftly scoring a game-changing touchdown. Morriss was left standing on the sidelines, drenched in disappointment.
Has the Gatorade bath spread to other sports?
When the Boston Celtics broke their 22-year title drought by winning the 2008 NBA Championship, Finals MVP Paul Pierce celebrated by soaking coach Doc Rivers with a cooler full of red Gatorade. Many speculated that this marked the first time the Gatorade shower had made its way into the NBA.
