There are fans and fair-weather fans, and then there are the devoted — ones who invest a great deal of their lives exploring and even sharing their passion with others. Take 27-year-old Jesse Mendoza for instance. A paraprofessional by day at the Gainesville Exploration Academy and soccer enthusiast by night, Mendoza is also a founding member of Resurgence — one of four recognized supporters groups for Major League Soccer’s hottest expansion team, Atlanta United FC. Each week, the 500-member club helps provide soccer fans with the full experience at Bobby Dodd Stadium on game days, wowing the crowd with vibrant and creative tifos and pulsating chants.
Devotion on another level: Love of soccer takes Gainesville native Jesse Mendoza across the U.S.