NBC6’s Ari Odzer spoke to some families dealing with “house divided” situations
The Florida Gators and Miami Hurricanes have a storied rivalry that speaks for itself. It’s a significant clash in every sport, but it’s particularly intense in football, especially since the teams rarely meet. Their last encounter was in 2019, where Florida edged out a 24-20 win. So, Saturday’s matchup in Gainesville is monumental for both teams and their passionate students and alumni.
Thousands of Gator and Cane fans are making the journey north to witness the season opener, with many facing “house divided” dynamics.
Julie Kantor, while purchasing a Hurricanes shirt at the All Canes store, expressed her excitement: “It’s a big deal because my son is finishing his degree at UF, he’s a senior there, and my husband, a lifelong Cane’s fan, is heading up. We have season tickets and are confident UM will win; he’s driving a long way for a victory.”
Her husband and son will be on opposite sides as they sit together in The Swamp.
Cheers of “We got them Canes over here!” and “It’s all about the U!” echoed from Ysney and Carlos Fernandez, another family with divided loyalties. Their Hurricane daughter is engaged to the Gator son of Johanna and Jesus Perez.
They’re all heading up to Gainesville for the game, each in their own car. It’s a significant event for them.
“Huge deal, we’ve been saving up all year for this!” Johanna Perez shared via Zoom while on the road.
Carlos Fernandez expressed his excitement as well, saying, “We’re going up there, and obviously rooting for UM. We’re lifelong UM fans, so it’s really exciting.”
When asked if they approve of their daughter’s relationship with a Gator, Fernandez responded with a laugh, “Yeah, I do, I do, he’s a good kid!”
The families have a friendly wager: the loser has to display the winning team’s flag at their house.
“That’s the deal now, they’re going down, they’re going down!” Jesus Perez declared confidently.
“But I know we’re gonna win, so I’m never gonna have the orange and blue,” Fernandez replied.
For current students of both universities, this rivalry feels fresh and thrilling.
“Oh, this is huge,” said UM student Chris Castro. “I’m from South Florida, Palm Beach, and a bunch of my friends went to UF, FSU. Not a lot went to Miami, so I’m really happy to go up there, see my friends from high school, and most importantly, kind of rebuild the rivalry.”