Candace Coad posed with the final score above her after Florida fans left the stadium Saturday night after UK’s win.
Boyle County native Candace Garrison Coad has always been a University of Kentucky sports fan and that did not change when she moved to St. Augustine, Fla., years ago.
She was one of the Kentucky fans at The Swamp Saturday night when Kentucky upset then No. 12 Florida 26-16 that later vaulted the Cats to No. 9 in this week’s Associated Press ratings.
Coad’s friends, Stacie and Arlie Smith, had an extra suite ticket for the game and invited Coad.
“They told me they may not take me any more,” said Coad.
That’s because they also brought her in 2018 — and UK won that year. She didn’t make the 2020 game in Gainesville and Florida won.
“It was fun. I had one guy kind of razzing me in the suite, but he eventually disappeared,” Coad said. “I thought I was very well behaved. I did not clap or cheer.”
“It’s an interesting place. Talk about noise. You don’t really hear any noise in the suite and then Kentucky gets the ball and it is loud. It’s very bizarre.”
She said it was hard to tell exactly how many Kentucky fans were there because Florida also has blue as one of its colors.
“I know there were a lot of Kentucky fans, though, because the only ones who stayed around after the game when we went down to the field were all Kentucky people taking pictures.”
Coad felt there was about a 50-50 chance UK would win. She knew Kentucky had a good team but also knew Florida was coming off a big win over Utah and new coach Billy Napier had energized the Florida fan base.
“I was hoping for a good game and thinking Kentucky could win again,” she said. “I also knew that if Kentucky played badly and they won, maybe they would invite me again. They have been gracious enough to let me come twice but I don’t know if they will again or not.”
“However, it sure was fun to see Kentucky win in The Swamp again.”
6 Responses
Does she go to Knoxville? Can the University make sure that happens?
We do need Candace in Knoxville
I’ll pitch in some cash!
Fund Candace. I like that
Have a buddy who was a Golden Chief ( FSU’s highest level of giver ) and he was invited by a Bull Gator ( UF equivalent ) to sit in a suite @ the Swamp back when both schools were top 5. The suite was full of UF mucky mucks. Charlie Ward scores on the first possession – my buddy in full FSU regalia jumps up spills some older UF gals finger food next to him – she gathers herself, walks out the back door – returns with security guards and out goes my buddy !
I will try my best not to repeat that! 🤣