1 week Ago By The Gainesville Sun
For the first time since 2007, the Florida Gators won the men's basketball championship. While it's the third national championship for the school's basketball program, it was the first for many Gator fans.Gainesville experienced a pulsating, sold out watch party at the O'Connell Center.
Seating 11,355 UF students and Gator fans, the arena rocked as the orange-and-blue nation stomped, clapped their hands and did the gator chomp.However, not every Gator fan had the opportunity to experience the momentous occasion at the O'Connell Center, let alone in San Antonio, where the Final 4 games were played.About 5:45 p.
m., all of the tents set up early near the Swamp Restaurant had been struck down. Despite a $20 cover charge, The Swamp already was swamped with mostly UF students and Gator fans who had secured a seat at the popular establishment.
Nevertheless, a line of over 100 would-be attendees patiently waited to just get a glimpse of the national championship game. Although a lot of students were seen getting settled in with alcoholic drinks, others threw footballs, played cornhole, and set a DIY tailgate while sitting in lawn chairs next to the restaurant.Even with gray clouds looming and potential rain, attendees stuck to their plans.
“Wait, guys, what will we do if it rains and we’re out here?” one student asked in front of their counterpart.“Who says we’re leaving?” the other student replied.More than an hour before tipoff, some UF fans already were planning their celebration ahead of the matchup.
UF senior Garrett Foster said he expected a win for Florida and said he’ll skip class Tuesday if the Gators prevail.“If they win, yes. If they don’t, unfortunately I think I have to go to class, so no," Foster said.
UF seniors Charlie Kaplan and Shay Clark said no matter the result, they aren’t going to class Tuesday.“If Gators win tonight, we’re tearing down Gainesville. If Gators lose tonight, we’re tearing down Gainesville,” Kaplan explained.
“I second that notion,” Clark said.Clark, Kaplan and Foster said they’ll party all the way from Midtown to downtown like an unofficial “orange and booze cruise” parade.While thousands of fans of fans most likely joined the unofficial "orange and booze cruise" parade, University Avenue was closed off for Gator fans to enjoy a rare occasion.
"10/10! Best moment of my (expletive deleted) life!" said a UF computer science student who declined to provided their name. "My buddies and I waited at the O'Connell Center here at 10 a.m.
and it's been worth it!"More coverage: Houston can't get shot off on final play, falls to Florida in national championshipDuring the post-game celebration, fireworks shot off a second-story apartment building above Five Below while a sea of orange and blue sang Tom Petty's "I Won't Back Down." Plus, a familiar though unwelcome "guest" joined the Gator fans."Only in Florida, "a fan yelled.
"It's so fitting for it to rain so much after the Gators win a national title in Rainesville."As of 2 a.m.
Tuesday, the only injury reported was from a wild fan who climbed the streetlight on Buckman Drive and fell onto the street. The fan was placed on a stretcher. No further information was provided.
This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Gainesville, Florida celebrates a men's basketball national championship.
