They patiently waited for him to finish the celebration.
One last time cheering in the corner with the students, singing the fight song with the band. One final celebratory slap on the face from head coach John L. Smith.
And then Jeff Smoker sought them out, among the crowd. He gave his mother a hug, trying to fight back the tears. Then he proceeded to his father and his two brothers, the emotions running strong.
"I don't know when it will hit me; it hits different people at different times," Smoker said. "I don't know if I realize that was my final game here yet. But I will be pretty sad when it does hit me."
While his teammates danced around with the Land Grant Trophy, Smoker showed his appreciation for the support his family had given him. His roommate, senior guard Joe Tate, even came by to say his goodbye.
"It was really big, to see him out there," Tate said. "I saw his parents out there after the game, and it's big to have all of that family support."
For one November Saturday, things seemed perfect once again. It started on the Spartans' third drive. Smoker hit sophomore receiver Kyle Brown on a short pass to his left, and Brown opened up the game.
Brown made two jukes, and the rest was history as he made two defenders miss and darted down the sideline for an 80-yard touchdown catch.
"That was a huge play for us to get that one on the board," Smoker said. "It was a great play. We're used to getting up on people early, and when we don't do that, we have trouble coming back."
From that point, the Spartans rolled, deflating Smoker's home state Nittany Lions 41-10, erasing the ghosts of last season's 61-7 loss in Smoker's absence and giving MSU its first win over Penn State in the senior's career.
"Those (seniors) got to go out the way they should out of that stadium, and that is a big deal," John L. Smith said. "For them to walk in there after all they've done; last time they ever put on the green; last time they walk into that stadium, that is a big deal."
The senior finished the game 29-for-50 with 357 yards and four touchdown passes. The touchdown total tied a single-game MSU record, while the yardage was a season-high mark, but neither was more important than going out a winner in his final show in front of the home crowd.
With his top receiver, Agim Shabaj, standing on the sidelines for an unknown reason while sophomore Jerramy Scott filled in, Smoker did not seem affected, hitting four different receivers for touchdowns.
The first was to Brown, while strikes to Scott and junior tight ends Eric Knott and Jason Randall followed.
Then, with the team way ahead, Smoker came out for one final handoff, before leaving to a standing ovation.
"I'm trying to direct a movie," Smith said. "That's what they do in movies."
Smoker appreciated the gesture plenty.
"That was big to get that ovation and kind of send me out in front of the students and fans," he said. "And it feels good."
Among the 33rd consecutive sellout crowd of MSU, faithful in attendance on Saturday was a large group of nearly 150 people from Lancaster County, Pa.
They weren't raised on MSU; they actually were Penn State fans. But that didn't affect them at all when their favorite son decided to become a Spartan.
The allegiances changed immediately, and they have watched every step he took at MSU. Less than 24 hours after Manheim Central High School won their state semifinal matchup, the coaching staff flocked to East Lansing.
They were joined by Smoker's high school teammates, who had watched him develop from childhood. They had promised to come to MSU one time to see him, and this was the chance, going to whatever step possible to see him play.
"I think there were a lot of Manheim people here," Smoker said. "My family was here, obviously, my high school coach, and I think there were more people here than I actually know about."
Smoker didn't disappoint them this time; he didn't disappoint at all.
