Loud crowd cheers from start to finish

The crowd roared Tuesday night as four Navy Seals parachuted into Florida Atlantic University stadium, signaling the start of the Boca Raton Bowl.

And fans from Florida Atlantic University and the University of Akron kept cheering through the evening.

Standing on the second deck at FAU stadium, the DiCostanzo family spotted their son Nicholas, an FAU junior, on the sidelines.

“This is his third year as an equipment manager with the team and we came in to watch the game,” his mother, Lisa DiCostanzo, said of the family’s trip from New Jersey to South Florida.

“We were here to see FAU defeat Middle Tennessee on Sept. 30, our son’s 21st birthday,” his father, John DiCostanzo, said.

University bands, cheerleaders and honor guards were in full regalia. During the game, the bands struck up college fight songs on each side of the stadium.

Perched at an outdoor table, Jon Claussen brought his kids, Brooke, 2, and Lane, 4. “Their favorite part is the popcorn,” he said.

The game’s charity partner, Spirit of Giving, distributed free tickets to 120 nonprofits that registered in advance. “We got so many more requests this year because it was FAU,” said Sue Diener, executive director.

Before stadium gates opened at 5 p.m., early birds were attracted by loud speakers, music and minitents with giveaways on the area renamed the fan fest. Alumni for both teams filed into tents.

“We’ve had season tickets since the program started. We come to everything,” said FAU college sweethearts Pat and John Eddinger, class of ’69 and ’72, respectively.

“This is the most exciting thing to happen in 10 years,” he said.

MICHAEL LAUGHLIN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Florida Atlantic University students cheer for their team before the start of the Boca Bowl on Tuesday.