UTSA coach falls while trying to escape victory shower

UTSA head coach Jeff Traylor nearly had a perfect night in his team’s dominant 57-20 victory over Florida International in the First Responder Bowl at Gerald J. Ford Stadium on Friday.

Why wasn’t it a perfect evening for Traylor? He couldn’t avoid getting soaked.

Traylor, 57, knew what was coming as time wound down in the fourth quarter. He was about to get sprayed with water by his players.

So, the head coach took off towards the end of the sideline, hoping to escape the impending shower.

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UTSA Roadrunners head coach Jeff Traylor attempts to move away from UTSA Roadrunners wide receiver Jamel Hardy (13) to avoid a Gatorade bath after the ServPro First Responder Bowl between the FIU Panthers and the UTSA Roadrunners at Gerald J. Ford Stadium in Dallas, Texas on December 26, 2025. (Matthew Pearce/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

The attempt to escape was in vain as Traylor reached the end of the sideline, turned around and saw wide receiver Jamel Hardy Jr. chasing him. Traylor was held by a reporter and then dunked.

In a last-ditch effort to avoid the water, Traylor fell onto a ServPro mat near the sideline, which ended up costing him. Traylor was mobbed by his players and found himself at the bottom of an impromptu dog pile, creating a hilarious scene.

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UTSA Roadrunners head coach Jeff Traylor receives a Gatorade bath from UTSA Roadrunners wide receiver Jamel Hardy (13) after the ServPro First Responder Bowl between the FIU Panthers and the UTSA Roadrunners at Gerald J. Ford Stadium in Dallas, Texas on December 26, 2025. (Matthew Pearce/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

While at the bottom of the dog pile, Traylor had another bucket of water thrown on him by defensive lineman Kaian Roberts-Day.

Aside from unsuccessfully escaping his players to celebrate, Traylor had a good night. UTSA won handily in its sixth consecutive bowl appearance.

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FIU took an early 14-0 lead, but UTSA came back to tie it at 14 before the end of the first quarter, and they never looked back.

UTSA had a 310-93 advantage in total yards in the first half. Quarterback Owen McCown threw three touchdown passes and running back Will Henderson III scored three times.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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