(From left to right) Rudy Mendoza, Calvin Cole, Brian Amos and Tim Keck.
It is 7:30 p.m. on a Saturday evening. While the majority of their peers are crowding into bars and clubs downtown, these University of Florida comedy enthusiasts are packed into Weimer Hall’s auditorium, cheering on members of the University Stand-Up Comedy Club (USUCC) via live Web stream as they secured a national title at the Rooftop College Comedy Competition in Aspen, Colo. this past weekend.
Almost 2,000 miles across the country, Calvin Cole, Tim Keck, Rudy Mendoza and Brian Amos crossed the stage for their final shot at comedic glory. Mendoza sang his own rendition of the Jurassic Park theme song as the auditorium burst into hollers and applause.
For the four of them, support from their loyal fanbase in Gainesville was imperative to their success so far from home.
“We wouldn't have made it without them,” Mendoza said. “I was getting texts from them while I was backstage…they were giving me feedback on how they thought the show was going. It was indescribably cool.”
More than 30 colleges battled for spots in this year’s festival, according to the competition’s official Web site. In a showcase at the Orange & Brew in the Reitz Union earlier this year, members of USUCC performed and the audience voted for who they believed should continue further in the competition.
After multiple rounds of online voting, UF was named one of the Funniest 4 College Teams and the four remaining members made their way to Aspen for the second time in two years to compete in semifinals and finals. Having conquered Florida State University on their own turf at The Comedy Zone in Tallahassee, University of Virginia, Duke University, and the comedy powerhouse of Emerson College, the boys of USUCC can say with a clear conscience that they have successfully defended the Gator Nation’s comedic honor.
“It feels like a dream come true. All the three of us [Cole, Mendoza and Keck] have thought about every day since last year was coming back and proving ourselves,” Mendoza said.
While the other three members of the team had travelled to the festival last year, this was Amos’ first trip, as well as his first year trying his hand at stand-up comedy.
“The other guys were really helpful – we workshopped together, did multiple shows a week together, gave each other notes,” Amos said. “Aspen was a lot of fun. I was thrilled just to get there, but being able to perform twice and winning was really great.”
In addition to their national title, Cole was named the team’s MVP and will be heading to Chicago to compete for the title of Funniest Student in America at the TBS Just For Laughs festival next week. His set will be available online at rooftopcomedy.com and voting begins June 22.
As for next year, the club’s primary goal is to get the word out about their current triumph, as well as defending their title.
“We want to tour Florida as the national championship comedy team,” said Mendoza. “We want everyone in Florida to know about it.”
Even for the members of the club who did not participate in this year’s festival, the win can only mean more success in the near future.
“USUCC may be a small and young club, but it proves to be very talented,” said Jordan Loar, a member of USUCC. “This is a sign that there are only more good things to come.”
Note: The above article was written with the intention to be published in The Alligator, The Gainesville Sun, The Ocala Star-Banner and/or The South Florida Sun-Sentinel. Publishing status has yet to be determined. I might try some college magazines or websites. We'll see!
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