BOCA RATON – When FAU built its on-campus stadium the Owls figured it would surely lure recruits to Boca Raton.
It’s having the added benefit of bringing coaches to Florida Atlantic, too.
“When we were recruiting a coach it’s good that no matter who we talk to they’ve all seen our stadium on national TV,” FAU athletic director Pat Chun said. “It really is a great piece of advertising for FAU.”
FAU enjoyed its largest annual chunk of free advertising during Tuesday’s Boca Raton Bowl, which ESPN televised nationally.
Tuesday’s have been anything but boring for the Owls in recent weeks.
On Tuesday, Dec. 6 FAU’s basketball team defeated Ohio St in overtime. The following Tuesday national media flocked to FAU for the introduction of new football coach Lane Kiffin. One week later came Western Kentucky’s 51-31 victory over Memphis in the third-annual Boca Bowl, the lone college football game played that day.
“At least the last two Tuesdays we were the epicenter of college football, which is really nice,” Chun said.
Kiffin is currently in the process of hiring assistant coaches, and Chun added that the Boca Bowl game is aiding in that process, too.
An announced crowd of more than 24,000 attended Tuesday night’s game, which saw the Conference USA champion Hilltoppers finish their season at 10-3.
For Western Kentucky, it was the second win this year on Howard Schnellenberger Field. The Hilltoppers defeated FAU 52-3 in late October.
The Boca Bowl left Chun feeling a little bit better than that game.
“It’s a great night for FAU,” Chun said. “It’s a great night for everyone involved. I think when you think about a bowl game, it’s a celebration of college football and all things right about it.”
ESPN runs the Boca Raton Bowl, but FAU personnel are intricately involved in staging, stadium preparation and game operations.
“The energy around the bowl game is always fun to be a part of because you see the county and the city get behind this,” Chun said. “Obviously FAU is behind it. Every year has a different twist to the game beyond just who the two participants are. I think year three is definitely, in my book, a success.”
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