Boisterous members of the Wildcat nation filled two entire tiers at Cowboys Stadium this weekend as the football team battled one of the best football programs in the nation, No. 4 North Alabama.

Alumni and past players joined the crowd of current students to watch the team square off against the Lions.

The crowd of Wildcat fans gave ACU players a great deal of support. The three-game Lone Star Conference Football Festival drew a crowd of 24,837, a conference record, according to the LSC.

Students cheer on the Wildcats from the bleachers.

Alumnus Matt Allen (05′), a former Wildcat linebacker, was one of the many ACU fans who came out to reach that record.

“That’s why I’m here, that’s why all these people are here,” Allen said. “It’s a brotherhood, and you want the players out there to do great things.”

Allen now sells insurance in Dallas. Among his notable clients are many current Dallas Cowboys. Allen said he was proud of the effort put in by his alma mater.

“This team really knows how to win. Talent-wise, they’ve built up a program and this is the result,” Allen said.  “It’s great to see that such support still exists.”

Thanks to both current and past players, the Wildcats find themselves as one of the strongest teams on a national scale.

“Due to the guys now playing in the NFL, this program is a lot more recognizable on a national level,” Allen said. “These players can finally get the respect any athlete wants to receive.”

Many current Wildcats have dreams of someday playing in the NFL and examples like former Wildcat and current  Dallas Cowboy Raymond Radway provides inspiration.

“I just want the players to take it all in,” Radway said. “I’m really proud to be down here with my boys again.”

Though Radway is no longer an official member of the team, the chemistry he sees among the players is the same he felt as a player.

“At the devotional last night I was greeted with open arms, so it’s like I’m still a part of the team,” Radway said. “This is still ACU football.”