JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The energy at EverBank Stadium was high on Friday afternoon.
Everywhere you looked, Kentucky and Clemson fans were celebrating their favorite teams. Even though Clemson took home the Taxslayer Gator Bowl victory in thrilling fashion, fans on both sides celebrated the joy of college football and camaraderie.
Kendall Hardwick made the trip from South Carolina and was a cheerleader for years at Clemson. Even after graduation, she never stopped cheering for her alma mater.
“Jacksonville is great. Beautiful city, beautiful town,” Hardwick said. “We have great friends hosting us here in town, so we couldn’t miss it.”
Adam Stigall is a University of Kentucky alumnus. He said the normally 11-hour drive took much longer due to so many others making the same trip. But he said wouldn’t have missed the game for the world.
“Don’t miss a game. We go to every bowl game, every home game,” Stigall said. “Always a good time, the vibe has been great.”
With low temperatures and bright skies, fans were bundled up for good reason. Extra patrols from the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office were out working to make sure people stayed safe while enjoying the atmosphere.
Teresa Morgan attended the game for a very special reason. The First Coast High School digital information teacher was honored at halftime as an MVT, which stands for Most Valuable Teacher. She was overjoyed when she learned her students had nominated her for the honor.
“There’s not a word that could describe how I felt when they announced it,” Morgan said. “I love my kids. My kids are like my own children. So, this is a blessing.”
Let’s not forget the ultimate fan, Clemson University alumnus and Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback, Trevor Lawrence.
“He is our guy. We love our number 16,” Hardwick said with a smile. “He’s always a Clemson Tiger.”
Speaking of the Clemson Tigers, you may or may not have noticed some $2 bills with orange pawprints stamped on the front while out and about Friday. Clemson fans told News4JAX, some of them were paying for items while shopping in the city leading up to the game. They said the $2 bills were used as a way to leave their mark on Jacksonville.
Roy Franklin and Brad Hatton aren’t fans of either school who competed in the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl. They simply came to the game to have a good time and support the community. They’re originally from up north but have lived in Jacksonville for years.
“It’s beautiful, it’s wonderful. We’ve got everything from the beaches to downtown. We cover everything, it’s a great little city,” Franklin said.
“You’re not going to tell everybody about this, are you?” Hatton responded with a chuckle. “We want to keep this a secret. It’s getting a little out of hand down here. But no, come on down. It’s beautiful, love it.”
Morgan couldn’t agree more.
“Look, they don’t know what they’re missing until they get here to Jacksonville,” Morgan said. “That’s why they say DUUUUUVAL!”
Bringing people together in the River City, one bowl game at a time.
