Marlins Park gets plenty to digest in first taste of college football

MIAMI -- The Miami Marlins don't begin their season for another four months, but Marlins Park hosted its third non-baseball sporting event Monday. And it ended in thrilling -- and upsetting -- fashion.

In the inaugural Miami Beach Bowl, Memphis' Paxton Lynch threw an 11-yard touchdown pass to Roderick Proctor in double overtime, and DaShaughn Terry intercepted the final pass from BYU to give the Tigers a 55-48 win over the Cougars in front of 20,761 fans. After the final play, players from both teams fought on the field, throwing punches and helmets in a messy end to an otherwise serene endeavor.

Where All-Star slugger Giancarlo Stanton patrols right field, the Tigers scored the game's first touchdown on a 33-yard throw from Lynch to Keiwone Malone.

The home run sculpture in center field went off after each touchdown. Both the retractable roof and operable wall remained open for the pleasant winter weather.

Memphis and BYU cheerleaders rallied the crowd on opposite ends of the first-base line.

The Clevelander in left field welcomed both schools' contingents for a postgame party.

James Wilkie and John Green, a pair of University of Memphis alumni, dressed in Elvis-inspired jumpsuits for the "Battle of the Beach." They now live in Miami and wanted to bring southern flavor to South Florida.

"We know Memphis is home to Beale Street, Graceland," Wilkie said. "Long time ago we used to work for a performance team with the Memphis Grizzlies. We both live here in Miami now. We wanted to represent the blue and silver as much as we can. It's great to see all these Memphis people here in our hometown. It's a great sight to see."

John Green and James Wilkie support the Memphis Tigers.

The Olsen family goes on vacation every year for Christmas as a gift to the two kids, and this time it happened to coincide with the Miami Beach Bowl.

J.D., his wife and children left Utah, where it is currently snowing, four days ago for the palm trees of Miami for the first time.

"We actually like it," J.D. said. "We actually just came here for vacation and found out BYU was going to be here. We planned this as our trip every year."

Then there was the scattering of locals, like Julio Rodriguez, who is a season-ticket holder for the Marlins. He donned a Stanton All-Star Game jersey because it matched Memphis' shade of blue.

Rodriguez also attended the Copa EuroAmericana soccer match between AS Monaco and Atletico Nacional in July. The only other non-baseball sporting event at Marlins Park took place in November 2012 between Nigeria and Venezuela in soccer.

"We were here for the soccer game and we basically saw the difference in the field and now for the football game we want to have that experience as well," Rodriguez said. "Normally in a regular baseball game we can't bring confetti and do all that mess but in soccer it's a little bit different."

Bill Turner and Boris Valigo wore University of Miami polo shirts while hanging near the Memphis tailgate prior to the game.

Turner and Valigo, who wished the Hurricanes could've played in the bowl, bought tickets as soon as they became available. They went to last year's Russell Athletic Bowl in Orlando and flew to Nebraska for September's regular-season game against the Cornhuskers.

As they walked around the west plaza, where the Marlins have postgame concerts and entertainment, both schools' bands performed. A pair of food trucks offered local delicacies. Kids competed in pass and kick games.

It brought back memories of games at the Orange Bowl, which previously stood on these grounds. Even long-time UM public address announcer, Jay Rokeach, returned to work the bowl.

"This is our home," Turner said. "This is where we started. It's good to see college football here. Back where the bowl started."

You can follow Christina De Nicola on Twitter @CDeNicola13 or email her at cdenicola13@gmail.com.