KANSAS CITY, Mo. – ISU senior Bryan Blauwet hadn’t been to an ISU football game in quite a while, but Saturday’s game against Florida State in the Eddie Robinson Classic wasn’t one he was going to miss.

“It’s almost like being at home, and you want to take advantage of that,” the mechanical engineering major said. “I’m kind of surprised at the number of people that showed up.”

A crowd of 55,132 – well below the 79,451 capacity – took in the game, which Florida State won 38-31. An estimated 40,000 at Arrowhead Stadium were Cyclone fans.

“It’s just unbelievable,” ISU head coach Dan McCarney said of the turnout and the crowd support. “I’ve been around a long time, 32 years now in Division I football. I’ve been with bowl teams, bowl championship teams and Rose Bowl champs. I think that’s about as impressive as anything I’ve seen.”

Early in the game, the crowd-generated noise seemed to bother FSU quarterback Chris Rix and may have forced a time-out or two.

Unfortunately for the fans, the outcome favored the Seminoles.

ISU quarterback Seneca Wallace was stopped inches short of the goal line as time ran out in the fourth quarter, ending the game and Iowa State’s chances to knock off No. 3 Florida State.

As Wallace knelt near the end zone with his head down, a roar built within the stands, and ISU fans stood and applauded the effort of the Cyclones.

ISU football players acknowledged the support by walking towards the crowd and raising their helmets in unison towards the stands.

McCarney said it was important for the team to acknowledge the crowd.

“We were major underdogs,” he said. “Our fans turned out and really supported the football team.”

Blauwet said he thought playing a quality opponent like Florida State was key in getting the high fan turnout.

“It’s kind of like playing Nebraska,” he said. “When you play them, they’re always rated so damn high.”

The game was only the second between Iowa State and Florida State. The first one was played in Tallahassee, Fla. in 1975 with the Cyclones winning 10-6.

Last year’s Eddie Robinson Classic, played at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wis., attracted more than 76,000 fans to see the Wisconsin Badgers beat the Virginia Cavaliers, 26-19.

Although Saturday’s game featured a smaller crowd, Blauwet said fans attended the game for a few different reasons.

“I think they came both to see Iowa State win and for the experience,” he said.

For Blauwett and others, the loss was bittersweet, but for ISU student Jim Soppe, the game was a chance for Iowa State to be recognized.

“You’re not going to get a better ball game,” said Soppe, a senior in agricultural business. “It shows Iowa State is a great university.”