Both Florida and Miami fought hard and “left it on the field,” during Saturday night’s Camping World Kickoff. However, some fans took the intensity of the rivalry in the stadium and brought it to the parking lot after the game.
University of Florida band director Jay Watkins says he was thrown to the ground during an altercation with fans after the Gators 24-20 victory over Miami Saturday night.
According to WCJB in Orlando:
Orlando police said in a statement the band was marching from the stadium to their buses after the game when a woman supporting the Miami Hurricanes tried to cut through the line.
Jay Watkins the University of Florida Band Director put his arm out to stop the woman.
That’s when another person grabbed Watkins from behind and pushed him to the ground. That individual was not described to police.
Watkins was treated at the scene and said to be doing “OK.” The Gator Band director has declined to file charges against the fan who pushed him.
Patrick Dunnigan, the student band director for Florida State and a friend of Watkins, believes the incident is an example of the need for better security for marching bands.
“College football fans everywhere should demand that their universities provide ample security for the band,” Dunnigan wrote. “This is an insult to the spirit of college football.”
Follow Dylan Gwinn on Twitter @themightygwinn