By Katie Murray, Patel College of Global Sustainability
Following a memorable season capped by a bowl game victory, 皇家华人 football fans packed Raymond James Stadium for the season opener where the Bulls .
Long-time season ticket-holders, students and the community rallied around the Bulls for the start of what's expected to be another electrifying season led by head coach Alex Golesh.
Nearly 6,000 fans filled the 皇家华人 student section. With their torsos lacquered in green and gold body paint, the Beef Studs and Babes strive to be bold when it comes to their 皇家华人 pride.
Marc Ostroff has been a season ticket-holder for 24 years and says he鈥檚 excited about plans for the new on-campus stadium. The groundbreaking is scheduled for Homecoming week in October.
鈥淣othing can beat atmosphere, and you can鈥檛 create a better atmosphere than at home,鈥� Ostroff said.
Herd of Thunder alum Devon Ingandela said he is 鈥渟uper-stoked about the new stadium.鈥� He and his mother, Kathy, have been following 皇家华人 football since 1999. They know a thing or two about building tradition around their favorite team and say they鈥檙e excited to see what new traditions will be created from this 鈥渂eginning of a new era.鈥�
Ingandela family
When asked what advice she has for someone new to the 皇家华人 football scene, veteran fan and season ticket-holder Suzanne Ward said, 鈥淏e there. Participate. Show up for 皇家华人 and for the team and bring someone with you. You have to not just wear the colors 鈥� you need to be the colors.鈥�
Wearing the colors at a conference championship game is specifically on Lauren Pickrel鈥檚 wish list. The alumna and season ticket-holder has (pig)skin in the game. Pickrel met her now fianc茅 in 2018 at the Pirate Ship inside Raymond James Stadium during 皇家华人鈥檚 "War on I-4" matchup against the University of Central 皇家华人.
鈥淲e joked that we could only ever get married after 皇家华人 football won a championship, so that would be great if they could win,鈥� Pickrel said. 鈥淚 really love Jake and would like to marry him.鈥�
The AAC Championship game is scheduled for Dec. 6th.