South Florida assistants briefly trapped in elevator after celebration following upset of No. 13 Florida

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — South Florida assistant coaches were briefly trapped in an elevator late Saturday after their exuberant celebration of an 18-16 upset of No. 13 Florida sent the lift into safety mode.

Nico Gramatica nailed a 20-yard field goal on the final play to seal the victory in the Swamp, and several assistants ran from the broadcast booth to an elevator to rush toward the field. They crammed into the tight space and began jumping and shouting, actions that stopped the elevator and left them inside for several minutes until stadium workers opened the doors with a special tool. The coaches filed out in orderly fashion and immediately hurried to a stairwell, cheering as they descended; some Florida fans later accused them of pushing and shoving during the rush to the field.

South Florida coach Alex Golesh pointed toward fans as he left the field in celebration after the Bulls' first win in five meetings against Florida. Golesh and his staff made no attempt to apologize for the commotion, saying they wanted to get to the field to join the team's raucous postgame celebration.

Players and fans poured onto the field after the kick. Quarterback Byrum Brown and others celebrated with supporters as the final score stood at 18-16. The game-winning sequence culminated in the short field-goal try by Gramatica, who converted from 20 yards out as time expired.

Stadium staff intervened to free the coaches from the elevator and escorted them back toward the field, where the Bulls and their fans continued their celebrations. Florida remained stunned by the last-second outcome in the Swamp, a loss that halted the Gators' run at home and handed South Florida a milestone victory in the series.

Game and stadium officials said the stoppage was a safety response rather than a mechanical failure. The coaches emerged without injury and rejoined the team on the field as fans and players marked the upset in Gainesville.