Regular fans know right where to look when the song drops. When the first beat hits the speakers, all eyes are on the band section, specifically, Putnam, a music major in UNF’s Music Flagship Program who plays both the French horn and piano.
But when the song blared during ESPN2’s broadcast of the second half of UNF's eventual victory over USC Upstate to win the Atlantic Sun Championship, the world took notice of UNF’s honorary hype man.
He's been featured on ESPN, People magazine, Yahoo Sports and "Inside Edition," to name a few.
Putnam first started doing the dance at UNF volleyball games to much smaller crowds, and it grew like crazy when basketball went on this run. “I won't do the dance unless it’s at UNF games—I want people to come out and see it for themselves,” he said.
The UNF Ospreys men’s basketball team, who are also regular A-Sun Season Champions, are now headed to The Big Dance and will now await word next Sunday when the pairings and sites are announced for 68 entries into this year's tournament. The Ospreys could play as early as Tuesday, March 17, in one of the first four games in Dayton, Ohio. Otherwise they will open tournament action that Thursday or Friday, depending on the site they are assigned to play.
UNF, a nationally ranked university located on an environmentally beautiful campus, offers students who are dedicated to enriching the lives of others the opportunity to build their own futures through a well-rounded education.
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