For most people, the number 10,052 may seem like an arbitrary number with little to no meaning, but for the University athletic department, it carries a lot more weight than that.
That is because it has made getting that many students to attend the football home opener Thursday its first big initiative of the season.
It would break the University’s student attendance record – which was set in 2003 when College Gameday paid the campus a visit when the No. 23 Falcons beat No. 12 Northern Illinois 34-18.
Director of Marketing and Promotions Brian Delehoy said there were several reasons why the athletic department chose this game to try and set the record.
‘I can’t tell you how often I hear stories from people who were part of that day and how great it was,’ Delehoy said. ‘Now being so many years removed from that, we’re taking a shot at almost recreating that and giving everybody who’s here now a chance to be a part of something great.’
And while there will be a different kind of buzz Thursday than there was in 2003, Delehoy believes there are still plenty of good reasons to come out to the Doyt.
A few Falcon teams have already compiled some success this season, but the football home opener seems to get campus excited about BG athletics.
‘The football home opener really kicks off everything for the year, not only football but for all the other fall sports teams,’ Delehoy said.
BG scheduled their home opener on Thursday night because of the holiday weekend to give more students a chance to attend the game and still have fun back home for Labor Day. A side effect of that happening is that the Falcons now hold one of the first games in all of college football.
Not only that, the game kicks off the actual college football season. The Falcons are one of four games kicking off at 7 p.m. – the earliest scheduled game slot this year.
‘We’ve got more of a spotlight,’ Delehoy said. ‘There are a lot fewer games going on.’
One individual under a spotlight during that game will be new coach Dave Clawson – who will be making his Division I head coaching debut.
And while he has plenty of things to worry about on the field, he’s not afraid to make his rounds off it to promote his team. Just last week, Clawson spoke at RSA’s casino night about the game.
‘He’s the new guy,’ Delehoy said. ‘From day one, he’s been all about getting out there and communicating with students.’
That’s because Clawson understands how important having a student-driven home field advantage is to any team.
‘We need student support to make this a home field advantage, and I hope we get it starting with the Troy game,’ Clawson said.
There is no goal for the number of non-students who attend, but there are additional efforts to get the word out to students about the game.
One of the biggest is a Facebook group that has been created. As of last night, the group ‘10,052 @ BG Vs. Troy Home Opener’ had almost 1,900 members.
Before the game, Falcon Fiesta will be going on outside the student gate. Students can enjoy free food and live music from 5:30 to 7 p.m.
From there, they can move inside the stadium and receive free Thunderstix – assuming they are one of the first 10,052 students to go through the gates.