By Katie Murray, Patel College of Global Sustainability
Following a memorable season capped by a bowl game victory, ±«Óătv 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 ±«Óătv 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 ±«Óătv pride.
Marc Ostroff has been a season ticket-holder for 24 years and says he’s excited about plans for the new on-campus stadium. The groundbreaking is scheduled for Homecoming week in October.
“Nothing can beat atmosphere, and you can’t create a better atmosphere than at home,” Ostroff said.
Herd of Thunder alum Devon Ingandela said he is “super-stoked about the new stadium.” He and his mother, Kathy, have been following ±«Óătv football since 1999. They know a thing or two about building tradition around their favorite team and say they’re excited to see what new traditions will be created from this “beginning of a new era.”
Ingandela family
When asked what advice she has for someone new to the ±«Óătv football scene, veteran fan and season ticket-holder Suzanne Ward said, “Be there. Participate. Show up for ±«Óătv and for the team and bring someone with you. You have to not just wear the colors – you need to be the colors.”
Wearing the colors at a conference championship game is specifically on Lauren Pickrel’s wish list. The alumna and season ticket-holder has (pig)skin in the game. Pickrel met her now fiancĂ© in 2018 at the Pirate Ship inside Raymond James Stadium during ±«Óătv’s "War on I-4" matchup against the University of Central Florida.
“We joked that we could only ever get married after ±«Óătv football won a championship, so that would be great if they could win,” Pickrel said. “I really love Jake and would like to marry him.”
The AAC Championship game is scheduled for Dec. 6th.