News

Actions

90,000 football fans pay tribute to Tom Petty, video shows

90,000 football fans pay tribute to Tom Petty, video shows
Posted

Nearly 90,000 football fans gathered in Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, Florida on Saturday for what not only was a football game, but an impromptu memorial for Tom Petty. 

Petty, who died on Monday after an episode of cardiac arrest, was remembered during Saturday's game as his hit "I Won't Back Down" was played on the speakers. By the sounds of it, the entire crowd sang and clapped along. 

The song was played before the start of the fourth quarter. 

Videos of fans singing along to Petty's hit song went viral as the game ended. 

,

Weather

Daily Forecast

View Hourly Forecast

Day

Conditions

HI / LO

Precip

Sunday

02/01/2026

Cloudy

65° / 44°

2%

Monday

02/02/2026

Sunny

64° / 44°

7%

Tuesday

02/03/2026

Partly Cloudy

66° / 43°

8%

Wednesday

02/04/2026

Sunny

67° / 45°

4%

Thursday

02/05/2026

Partly Cloudy

73° / 49°

3%

Friday

02/06/2026

Partly Cloudy

71° / 47°

0%

Saturday

02/07/2026

Partly Cloudy

66° / 46°

10%

Sunday

02/08/2026

Partly Cloudy

67° / 47°

5%