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It had all the makings of the best action movies—a hero literally dangling from a literal cliff (of sorts), an excruciatingly long moment of uncertainty, an enraptured public squealing as they watched through their eyes.
Except in this case, the hero was a very courageous stray cat and the cliff was the upper deck of a football stadium.
That was the scene that unfolded at Saturday's game between the University of Miami Hurricanes and the Appalachian State Mountaineers when a cat somehow got loose in the stadium, leading to what must be the most viral moment in college football in years.
See the video below.
Well this may be the craziest thing I\u2019ve seen at a college football game #HardRockCatpic.twitter.com/qfQgma23Xm— Hollywood (@Hollywood) 1631403267
No one is quite sure how the feline ended up in Miami's Hard Rock Stadium, but he quickly ended up in a sticky situation after he shimmied under the wall of the upper deck and nearly fell over the edge.
Spectators tried in vain to get him to safety, and he soon indeed fell over the edge but caught himself on a rope that was part of a banner spread across the front of the deck.
As the poor kitty dangled in midair, first by both paws and then by just one, spectators again tried to grab him but he was just too far out of reach. Screams could be heard from the crowd watching on tenterhooks as the cat clearly struggled to maintain his grip.
Down below, a group of guys quickly assembled with an American flag in which to catch the cat if he fell. And indeed he did fall--right into the flag which, while it didn't quite catch him, surely cushioned his fall to the ground. The spectators were then able to catch him, holding him up unscathed like Simba in The Lion King as the crowd roared with relieved enthusiasm.
Name the last time a football game had this kind of intrigue and suspense!
Naturally, Twitter went wild over this near cat-astrophe (sorry).
Football fans catch a falling cat in a US flag on 9/11 and this must have been directed by Jerry Bruckheimer.pic.twitter.com/dGigsAi2BA— Christian Christensen (@Christian Christensen) 1631499207
This is the best video yet of the cat save at Hard Rock Stadium. Cat seems a bit spooked, but otherwise alright.pic.twitter.com/XaGlTTRFiq— DolphinsTalk Josh \ud83d\udd30 (@DolphinsTalk Josh \ud83d\udd30) 1631409784
This cat has 8 lives left. From U of Miami football game today. Incredible.pic.twitter.com/6Amx0dLBu4— Don Lewis (@Don Lewis) 1631421953
College football has had a falling cat and a woman giving birth in a stadium today. You won\u2019t find this in the NFL.https://twitter.com/RaymondEReeves/status/1436871359007793155\u00a0\u2026— Chris Vannini (@Chris Vannini) 1631416816
So a cat just fell from the upper deck of Hard Rock Stadium. Caught in an American flag by fans below. Omg\u2026https://twitter.com/dannywqam/status/1436835559264202759\u00a0\u2026— Rex Chapman\ud83c\udfc7\ud83c\udffc (@Rex Chapman\ud83c\udfc7\ud83c\udffc) 1631405309
I don\u2019t believe my own eyes. A cat just fell from the upper level at Hard Rock Stadium and those fans caught it with the American flag. Thank God they were there and attentive. Crisis averted, cat saved. Go Canespic.twitter.com/TjDvu3v4fX— x - Ethan (@x - Ethan) 1631403875
But not everyone was quite as enthused--some were deeply worried for the cat's safety.
We need to know! Is the cat being cared for after being so stressed? Is it safe, fed and loved?— Emma-May (@Emma-May) 1631421173
What happened with the cat? Did someone take it with them? Did y\u2019all keep it? Did it go to the veterinarian?— Rose \u2018Blaidd Drwg\u2019 Tyler (@Rose \u2018Blaidd Drwg\u2019 Tyler) 1631412448
hows the cat doing now? where is the cat lol. does he live around or in the stadium. That must have been terrifying for both the cat and fans. Imagine having a random cat fall on you. imagine being a falling cat a crowded stadium. glad it worked out. find her/him a home— kernyboydraws (@kernyboydraws) 1631465644
Via its Twitter account, the Hard Rock Stadium confirmed that the cat landed unscathed, and wished him "the best in his remaining eight lives." Hear hear!