Before arriving at UF, I never truly understood the thrill of college game day. My parents were never particularly big football fans, let alone college football. Even though I grew up in Miami, I only went to one University of Miami football game (don’t worry, I believe orange goes much better with blue than green), and even then, the atmosphere wasn’t as impressive as what I have already experienced here.
Little did I know a UF game day would convert me into a college football acolyte.
Naturally, because the Sept. 6 game against South Florida started at 4:15 p.m., my roommates and I woke up at the perfectly reasonable time of 9:30 a.m. The anticipation in our living room was palpable; as my roommates began to rise, we excitedly spoke about what we were looking forward to the most. I was anxious to watch us play our first challenging team, while my roommate Bri was looking forward to experiencing the famous Florida spirit. Our other roommates, Sylvia and Nikki, were excited to check out the different tailgates and watch the band and color guard during the game.
We had promised to start getting ready at around 10:30 a.m., but that was forgotten as we laughed to one another about the festivities of the day ahead. A friend from high school came to our apartment to walk to the game with us, and she chatted with me as I finished my makeup. She said she hoped to see families playing music and enjoying themselves, and slowly, my anticipation for the day increased.
Soon, we left the comfort of air conditioning to power walk to Fraternity Row. While the heat was excruciating and the walk long, it was made worth it by our stop at Gator Walk. The tailgate I attended years ago at the University of Miami was filled with people, but this was more than I had ever seen.
Families lounged around in tents, chatting amicably as their kids played cornhole in the grass. The smell of burgers and hot dogs filled the air as we marched our way down University Avenue and the surrounding area. I was amazed at the pregame broadcast and the number of people gathered to cheer on the Gators. I felt overjoyed at the sight of campus being filled with so many people who were just as excited as I was.
My favorite part of the day by far was watching the actual football game. While I had gone to the LIU game the previous week, there was something about this crowd that was truly extraordinary. With every play the Gators made, the crowd roared in excitement or exclaimed in frustration. Soon, I was screaming, “Go Gators, come on Gators, get up and go!” and gesturing in unison with the crowd.
The tailgate and walk to the stadium had demonstrated to me the sense of community, but nothing compared to the feeling of almost 90,000 voices screaming in unity as the South Florida kicker performed the game-winning field goal. Although we suffered the loss heard around the nation, I still believe that being in Ben Hill Griffin Stadium was the best part of my day. Partaking in game day festivities and enjoying Gator traditions can truly enhance the game day experience.
So even if you are a graduate student, a senior, a local or especially a freshman like me, I encourage you to partake in game day and make memories that will last far beyond your time here at UF.
Isabella Cabrera is an 18-year-old UF political science freshman.
Isabella Cabrera is an 18-year-old UF political science freshman.
