Last weekend, the BCAA received millions of dollars in advertising for free, thanks to the National Football League.

Who would ever predict that 80 of the best football players in the world with the NFL Network showing live Pro Bowl practice coverage and the high school all-star game between the World and USA would grace Lockhart Stadium?

Well, the positive publicity came within a five-hour stretch when the NFL Pro Bowl held its open walk through practice with thousands of fans on hand to see the stars of the league.

They came from Minnesota, Cleveland, Texas, Pittsburgh, New York and Chicago to cheer on their favorite players. Then you had the University of Miami contingent, which was led by NFL Network’s Warren Sapp, who helped to showcase the 11 former Hurricanes who appeared in the Pro Bowl game at Sun Life Stadium.

Here was NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, former Dolphins center Dwight Stephenson and so many icons of the game on hand at a facility that is home to the BCAA.

“This is a great stadium they have here,” said Maury Caracci, who lives in West Palm Beach, but was on hand to see his beloved Cleveland Browns and Josh Cribbs. “They play high school football in here. That is something that the athletes must always remember.”

Indeed, Lockhart Stadium was in the spotlight with Deion Sanders, Ray Lewis, Tony Romo, Andre Johnson and so many others having the chance to talk the legendary facility up.

Players like former Coral Springs High lineman Steve Hutchinson and Boyd Anderson standout Asante Samuel had played on this field in the past, and returned to see an improved version of when they left it over a decade ago.

“I don’t remember Lockhart Stadium looking this good,” Hutchinson said. “We played a few games in here during my career, but I never recalled it was like this.”

Samuel agreed. He grew up down the block in Lauderdale Lakes and probably attended over 30 games at Lockhart. Still, he was impressed by the facility and how it looked for the Pro Bowl practice.

“I am so proud of Fort Lauderdale for stepping up to show the rest of the world how first class we do things down here,” Samuel said. “I told the players on the team that it was a small stadium, but I even it surprised me how nice everything looked.”

While the NFL players and fans were treated to a morning of great weather and an event that many will remember for a lifetime, it was all about the high school players in the afternoon as the NFL Network broadcast the World vs. USA live.

“This is a great atmosphere,” said Cardinal Gibbons receiver Shawn Corker. “We had the chance to see the NFL Pro Bowl practices early in the week, and to be on the same stage as they were on was something you take with you for the rest of your life.”

The USA won the game against a very good group of players from Canada, Japan, Mexico, France, Germany, American Samoa, Sweden and Australia, 17-0, but the chance to play on the NFL Network in a first class game was something that locals such as Ben Hopfinger and Keion Payne of St. Thomas Aquinas and Tony Grimes of Hollywood Hills will always remember.

“This is a great chance for all of us to compete against some of the best players from around the world,” said Grimes, who recently committed to the University of Mississippi. “I was surprised how much talent the World team had. They knew the sport very well.”

In the end, the weather was great, the fan support was tremendous and everyone had a great time. But the big winner wads the BCAA and Lockhart Stadium for being recognized for such a first class facility and very impressive host!

You can reach Larry Blustein via e-mail at FloridaKids1@hotmail.com. He can also be heard every Thursday night (9-10) on the Miami Dolphins High School Gridiron Report on WQAM (560 AM).