Making of The Waterboy in Florida

Despite taking place in Louisiana, The Waterboy was filmed throughout Florida in Claremont, Daytona Beach, Lakeland, Jacksonville, Orlando, St Cloud and DeLand.

Stetson University’s Spec Martin stadium in DeLand, home of the local high school team was the film’s Mud Dogs training ground.

The Waterboy is a heartfelt satire of small town life where the pride of the residents becomes intricately linked with their home team and small town folks dream of doing something bigger with their life.

A waterboy for a college football team discovers he has a unique tackling ability and becomes a member of the team.

Sandler’s Bobby Boucher, a well-meaning slow-witted 31-year-old man that has a voice high enough to be equivalent to a child’s, along with a lisp and a very strong stutter is surrounded by a host of wacky characters.

Raised by his overbearing mother, is played to the hilt by Kathy Bates.

“My mama says that alligators are ornery because they got all them teeth and no toothbrush.”

Henry Winkler plays the part of the kind-hearted Coach Klein, while Fairuza Balk looking cute and trashy as Bobby’s girlfriend who’s been to prison multiple times.

The cast also included Rob Schneider “You can do it!”, opposing coach Jerry Reed and a host of NFL greats: Lynn Swann, Lawrence Taylor, Bill Cowher, Jimmie Johnson and Dan Fouts.

The Waterboy was written by Sandler and his college roommate at NYU, Tim Herlihy.

This was the first  Adam Sandler film to gross over $100 million.

With a budget of $23 million, the film’s worldwide gross was $185 million.

This is the highest grossing Sports Comedy of all time.