1. In 1966, the University of Florida's football team played their first home game in their newly constructed stadium. The stadium, now known as Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, has since become one of the most iconic college football stadiums in the country.

2. On October 15, 1987, Hurricane Opal made landfall along the Florida panhandle. With winds reaching up to 115 miles per hour, the category 3 storm caused extensive damage along the coast and resulted in the deaths of 63 people.

3. In 1993, the Tampa Bay Lightning played their first home game in the newly constructed Ice Palace, now known as Amalie Arena. The Lightning won the game 7-3 against the Chicago Blackhawks in front of a sold-out crowd.

4. On October 15, 1962, the Cuban Missile Crisis was at its peak. Florida, particularly the Florida Keys, was of strategic importance during this time as it was the closest point to Cuba from the United States.

5. In 2003, legendary Miami Heat basketball player Alonzo Mourning underwent a successful kidney transplant. The transplant was particularly significant as Mourning suffered from a rare kidney disease and had been on dialysis for several months prior to the procedure.