By Jeff Greer
Palm Beach Post Staff Writer
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — There were empty seats and a disjointed fan “whiteout” for a team wearing orange uniforms.
But the Dolphins would be lucky to match the energy in and around Sun Life Stadium during Saturday’s 21-16 University of Miami win against in-state rival Florida, the last game of the rivalry’s foreseeable future.
The crowd, with an announced attendance of 76,869, broke a ‘Canes record at the stadium, though the actual attendance was probably closer to 70,000. The fans started tailgating before the sun came up. Surely they celebrated deep into the South Florida night.
“Loudest I’ve heard (Sun Life),” said Nicholas Blanco, 35, who works for the University of Miami’s Facilities, Design and Construction department and lives in Miami. “The atmosphere was great.”
Sun Life rocked when the final seconds drifted toward a ‘Canes victory. You’d have thought you were at a Miami Heat game the way they full-throatedly sang “Seven Nation Army” and danced along to club hits as Sebastian the Ibis hosed down students with a fog machine.
It felt like a scene straight out of the film “Baseketball,” but it worked because it’s Miami.
‘Canes fans waited around after the game ended, too, singing songs and chants, ever-so-gently helping the remaining Florida fans find their way out of the stadium.
Miami players, meanwhile, ran to the southwest corner of the stadium and celebrated.
“I wanted them to thank all those people that stood by us,” Miami coach Al Golden said. “I just wanted our guys to celebrate. It was a good moment.”
Florida committed five turnovers and converted two of six red-zone opportunities. Miami converted one third-down attempt and gained four yards per play.
College football pundits across the nation bemoaned the game, calling it 50 shades of ugly.
None of that mattered to Jonathan Hutner, a 39-year-old California resident who flew in Friday night to see his ‘Canes in person.
“The defense played very well,” Hutner said. “Talent and depth are starting to take hold.”
The pre-game banter was worse than anything that actually happened at the stadium Saturday, but even that was relatively tame.
Internet memes depicted a pair of hands holding up the “U” and grilling a Florida Gator. (Yes, some Miami fans actually grilled alligator meat at the tailgate.) Florida fans on Twitter and Facebook and Instagram dismissed Miami as a bump in the road before SEC play.
“I have to admit: (The trash talk) wasn’t nearly as bad as it used to be,” said Anthony Forte, a 33-year-old attorney and Gators fan from West Palm Beach.
But Saturday’s stadium atmosphere felt like the 1980s and ’90s, when Miami packed the Orange Bowl for major nationally televised games — and won a lot of them.
“Finally reminded me of the old days,” Forte said.
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