Steve Esack | Of The Morning Call
1:54 PM EDT, August 3, 2007
On one of the hottest days of the year, one of the largest crowds ever crammed into Lehigh University's Goodman Campus athletic complex today to watch the Eagles practice.
"I didn't expect a crowd like this," said John Qualteria of Quakertown as his 4-year-old son Jack sat on his sweating shoulders. "I've never seen it this crowded. Last year you could get within 20 feet of the fence."
Qualteria was about 50 feet from the fence today.
The morning crowd, pegged by Eagles officials at 17,941, could help break the all-time single-day attendance record when a head count is conducted for the afternoon practice that starts at 2:45 p.m. The record was set three years ago when about 25,000 fans flocked to Lehigh to watch the Eagles' flamboyant, outspoken ex-wide receiver Terrell Owens. "We could set the new attendance record," said Eagles spokesman Jeff Powell.
Allen Biddinger, Lehigh facilities and event manager, said the Eagles estimated attendance record is very close to the university's own count. Biddinger said both Lehigh and the Eagles expected today's attendance numbers to jump based on Thursday's total of 13,393. Lehigh and the Eagles added more staff for today's practices to better accommodate the masses.
"If you would have asked me yesterday if we would have 17,000 I would have said 'no,'" Biddinger said. "But we were ready for it."
