Making the Owls everyone’s ‘hometown team’
New athletic director White says FAU should attract more fans
BOCA RATON — In Florida Atlantic athletic director Brian White’s eyes, his program should be the main attraction in the area.
The school doesn’t have much competition along the Broward and Palm Beach County lines. So he feels there is no excuse why the Owls shouldn’t dominate in attracting fans. That has been White’s thinking since taking over in early March.
“I look at this area and I think FAU is the premier program,” White said. “These two counties, we’re an important piece. We have a great story to tell. We’re 1.8 miles to the ocean. We’ve got a great, beautiful [football] stadium where you can see the ocean. This community has already embraced us, but for us to achieve our lofty goals we have to continue to engage the community … For this two-county area, we have to be the hometown team.”
White inherited a thriving situation once he took over for Pat Chun, who in January left for Washington State. Interest in the football team is at an all-time high after coach Lane Kiffin’s dramatic turnaround. The baseball team is coming off an appearance in the NCAA tournament. There is renewed excitement in men’s basketball now that first-year coach Dusty May is in charge.
With White at the helm, the program is in the hands of someone who is gaining
“I look at this area and I think FAU is the premier program.” Brian White, FAU athletic director