In all kinds of weather, the Gator still growled Friday night.
The annual homecoming pep rally was pushed back almost three hours because of thunderstorms that began around 3 p.m.
Festivities began at 8 p.m. with a performance from Ty Dolla $ign. The rapper performed hits like “Wavy,” “Or Nah” and “Paranoid.” He also brought out his cousin and fellow rapper TeeCee4800 during the performance and attempted to bring crowd members on stage to take shots.
He mentioned his affinity for Florida because of the relation to his longtime girlfriend and former member of Fifth Harmony Lauren Jauregui, who is from Miami.
After a brief announcement of the homecoming court, guests were again met with a 45-minute delay for Walk the Moon to take the stage because of a computer malfunction, the band’s lead singer Nicholas Petricca said during the show.
Walk the Moon performed from 10 to 11 p.m. singing their most popular songs, including “One Foot,” “Anna Sun” and “Shut Up and Dance.” A guitarist wore a Gator football jersey during the set.
Because of the weather, Gator Growl officials had to cut the introductory performances including Danza Dance Company, which won the group competition at Soulfest last Sunday, said Stokes Patterson, a Gator Growl staffer.
Will Engle, a Gator Growl director, said despite the weather altering original plans, the show was a success. The group held meetings days before the event playing out possible weather scenarios. Engle declined to comment on how many people attended the event.
“I’m very proud of the show that was managed to be put on,” Engle said. “We had to cut some content out, which was disappointing, but I’m proud of what we put together.”
Delays may have been prevalent, but it didn’t stop UF students and other attendees from enjoying the event.
Yesenia Corona stood outside in the rain waiting for the gates to open. The 18-year-old UF animal sciences freshman arrived at the Flavet Field entry gate at 4:45 p.m.
Corona and about 35 other students who waited found out the event was delayed when Gator Growl officials posted at 5 p.m. on the event’s official Facebook and Twitter pages.
“I’m most familiar with Walk the Moon, but I’m just really excited to take part in the whole homecoming pep rally,” Corona said.
Isabella Nassery, a 20-year-old UF microbiology and cell sciences junior, attended her first Gator Growl to take her 16-year-old sister, who is still in high school.
“I came here for her, but we came together for the whole experience,” she said.
Contact Tranelle at tmaner@alligator.org and follow her on Twitter at @manertt
Los Angeles-based rapper Ty Dolla $ign, an artist in Wiz Khalifa's label Taylor Gang Entertainment, puts on a show for students at Gator Growl 2018. The concert, which was held on Flavet Field, capped off Friday's Homecoming celebrations and also featured alternative rock band Walk The Moon.
