For the past two years, Stanley Bazelais has spent thousands of hours helping FGCU men's soccer as the team manager. But from now on, his name will be listed on the team roster.
"I didn't expect that at all," said FGCU junior and Immokalee High School graduate Stanley Bazelais. "It was really surprising."
The Eagles all gathered for what they thought was just a Friday night team dinner and meeting, but it was also a big surprise announcement.
"I'm going to try and kind of keep it together because I feel like this young man has given so much to us over the last couple years," said head coach Jesse Cormier. "We want to give Stanley an honorary place on the roster as part of our team."
Bazelais's head dropped, and the whole room erupted with cheers. Everyone chanted, "Stanley! Stanley! Stanley!" as he stood up and walked to the front of the room, getting hugs and high-fives left and right.
"I think that they recognize that he's a special person," Cormier said. "And they want those types of people as their teammates and part of our culture. So I think they gave it a loud cheer, and it really gave great energy to the room tonight."
Bazelais has put his blood sweat and tears into this team on the sideline and it hasn't gone unnoticed.
"When I was a manager, you a lot of times have to come early to make sure the gears are outside," Cormier said. "If the coach needs you, make sure you're there to help out. It's not really about playing. It's more about helping things get organized. And after practice, make sure you pick up the gears, make sure the shirts are clean, all those type of stuff. A lot of times, I feel like I'm learning more about the word humility because a lot of times, that's where those things come from — at the bottom, and then you're going to go from there."
"I think he's who we want our guys to aspire to be," Bazelais said. "We really appreciate student-athletes and students who really do put others first. And I think that's what really separates him from many. I think he always is thinking about the greater good. The team, the program, the university. He has a special love for this place."
Now, all of that hard work and dedication will shift over onto the pitch.
"When you start to work hard toward the goal and make sure things go the right way, things can happen," said Bazelais. "Maybe not the way you expected, but things are going to happen."
Ever since he was young, Bazelais has dreamed of playing soccer at a higher level, so his training never stopped.
"I've been preparing all summer for that," he added. "Because I have a goal, I have an objective. So I've been working towards that the whole summer. But I didn't know that was coming."
Even though his daily uniform and title will be changing, he has always been a part of the FGCU family.
"I've been around them for almost two years," said Bazelais. So they become [like] a brother to me. So they all mean a lot to me, that's why they were so excited, and I was really happy to see them like that."
FGCU men's soccer begins its regular season on August 22 at Elon University. The Eagles' home opener is on September 8 when they host Utah Valley University.