The Gators won an absolutely, down-right riveting game Sunday to advance to the College World Series in back-to-back years for the first time in school history.
A power fest featuring six homers and three lead changes was the perfect conclusion to an emotionally charged weekend Gators fans will remember forever — whether this season ultimately ends with the program’s first title or not.
There’s only one problem: You weren’t there to see it.
Fifteen minutes before Sunday’s nail-biting finale, the stands at McKethan Stadium were so empty the glare off the metal benches made me envious of the über-cool Ray-Ban’s my colleague (who will remain nameless) likes to sport.
Slowly, the slew of rowdy Bulldogs fans tailgating a mere cornhole toss away from the front gate began to fill in and my optical woes waned.
Sunday’s announced attendance was 3,812 — of which, a solid 500 to 1,000 were sporting maroon and white. Saturday’s walk-off loss was witnessed by a reported 4,223 people. Friday was the worst, with an attendance of 2,446 — although it actually looked more like around 1,500 in the seats.
All three games were broadcast nationwide on ESPN, bare bleachers and all.
After getting demolished in Game 1, Mississippi State third baseman Jarrod Parks seemed legitimately surprised by the lack of orange-and-blue clad fans in attendance.
“When we show up to the park, you’re expecting maybe 15,000 fans,” he said. “But when we came here, it just seemed like a regular SEC weekend.”
Per their team website, the Bulldogs average 6,103 fans each game. But other places like Arkansas’ Baum Stadium are known to pack in upward of 10,000-12,000 during the regular season. Florida averaged just under 3,500 fans over the weekend.
To their credit, the UF fans that did show up were passionate, informed and very much into the game. They did everything fans are supposed to do — there just weren’t enough of them.
Sure, the noon and 1 p.m. start times were not optimal. The matchup with Southeastern Conference pseudo-rival Mississippi State wasn’t exactly spectacular. And the 11-1 rout on Friday didn’t help.
Still, there should be no excuse for being absent when your Florida Gators left their mark. Redshirt junior Tommy Toledo and juniors Nick Maronde and Greg Larson likely threw their last pitch inside a stadium adorned with their accomplishments.
MLB draft pick Preston Tucker, who didn’t get a hit until Sunday, walloped a game-winning rope minutes after it seemed like Florida’s season was sunk.
Senior Josh Adams played his school-record 248th game in a Gators uniform and fellow senior Bryson Smith played one of his last.
Those who stuck around saw three days of emotion culminate in sheer joy. When Tyler Thompson squeezed Nick Vickerson’s long fly ball for the final out, all of Florida’s pressures — of being No. 1, of playing without two of its best, living up to the expectations — evaporated as quickly as Tucker’s game-winner left the yard.
With his players forming a dogpile near the mound, Florida coach Kevin O’Sullivan finally released some tension too. His emphatic Gator chomps to the crowd were telling. This one meant a lot to him as well.
“It just was an emotional game,” O’Sullivan said. “It was an emotional game for the players. It was an emotional game for me.
“I want to thank the fans for coming out. It was awfully hot [Sunday]. They were outstanding all day long. They could’ve gave up on us when we gave up the tying run and we gave up the two runs to go down 6-4, but they didn’t give up on us.”
A coach would never criticize the fans; it’s not his place. But this team deserves better support.
Sure, expecting The Mac to turn into Fenway overnight is unreasonable. But O’Sullivan is on the verge of building a genuine dynasty in Gainesville.
This is history in the making. The resources, the coaching and the players are all there, but where are the fans?
