Despite falling over 4,000 students short of their goal, the athletic department was still very pleased with the student turnout at last Thursday’s football home opener.

Marketing Director Brian Delehoy said that while the goal was to cycle 10,052 students through the gate, there was nothing wrong with having 5,686 students on hand to open the Dave Clawson era of BG football.

‘Obviously, we were thrilled,’ Delehoy said. ‘It was an outstanding showing by the BGSU students.’

The athletic department was ‘ecstatic’ about the intensity of the fourth largest student crowd in Doyt Perry Stadium history. Many of those students stayed for the entire game and were rewarded as the Falcons prevailed 31-14 over Troy.

But that hasn’t always been the case. In recent years, the student attendance at the end of the game has been far less than it was at the beginning of the game several times.

It was also larger than an average student crowd, which Delehoy said usually hovers between 2,500 and 3,000 each season.

‘I’ve always said, and I always will [say], the energy and what students add to the atmosphere is huge,’ Delehoy said.

That was true Thursday as the largest student crowd for a Falcon season opener used Thunderstix to amp up the team throughout their comeback.

With BG trailing 14-0 early in the game, those who stayed in their seats the whole game were treated as the Falcons scored 31 unanswered points, including 24 in the second half, to rally for an upset victory.

‘It was a huge win for us. New coach. At home. A Great crowd,’ said quarterback Tyler Sheehan. ‘I don’t think we could script it any better.’

And given the fact so many students stayed until the end gives the athletic department hope that the stadium will see similar crowds in the remaining five home games.

‘We’ll see how the season plays out,’ Delehoy said. ‘It was such a great showing and they all had such a great time.’