In a game that ended 35-25 in favor of the offense, it wasn’t just the football team’s overall performance in the annual spring game that left head coach Howard Schnellenberger elated. He was also pleased to see the turn out from the fans.

A record crowd of 2,011 onlookers was by far the largest gathering of fans, media personnel, students and faculty to ever attend a spring game in FAU’s early football history.

“This was the best scrimmage we’ve had in a long, long time,” said Schnellenberger, who took an opportunity at halftime to thank the fans for their support.  

Among the many spectators was the Sun Belt Conference’s current all-time leader in tackles, former FAU linebacker Frantz Joseph. Joseph was content to see the fans’ growing interest and the team’s progress.  

“They’ve got some talented guys out there and they’ll get the experience and I think we’ll do good [this year],” said Joseph, who is hoping to become the first FAU football player selected in the NFL draft this weekend.

Joseph was not the only one excited about the spring game. One child was so thrilled he ran to the middle of the field before a referee caught him and returned him to his mother. The kid, who is a relative of defensive back Eddie Alexander, was just one of many youths in attendance.

Defensive coordinator Kirk Hoza believes that the crowd will improve even more once the new football stadium gets built.

“I’m hoping we can continue to grow and ultimately get this stadium built so the kids on campus can come and root for us,” said Hoza. “They can spill into the evening and enjoy what it is to be in college.”

Until that day comes, the 2,011 spectators who attended the 2009 spring game will remain in the record books as the largest crowd to attend an FAU spring scrimmage.