Eric Salzman sipped water instead of coffee at Starbucks, as he openly shared the latest news about his campaign –– a campaign to name FAU Stadium’s field after the man who built the Owls football program, Howard Schnellenberger.

Former Head Coach Schnellenberger spent 11 years pioneering FAU’s football program, all the while raising funds and campaigning for a new, on-campus stadium. In 2011, when his efforts paid off and the stadium finally went up, Schnellenberger was honored with a life-like bronze statue, which sits just outside the $70 million facility.

That tribute had a lasting effect on Schnellenberger. But, if Eric Salzman has his way, the statue could be trumped by 100 yards of AstroTurf.

This FAU graduate student with a Masters of Arts in History degree is the mastermind behind “Name It For Howard,” a one-man campaign intended to link the 79-year-old “Schnelly” to the house that he built.

The multi-tiered, goal-oriented plan is to name FAU Stadium’s field after Schnellenberger, similar to Florida State University’s Bobby Bowden Field at Doak Campbell Stadium. Salzman has set out to secure the naming rights, having already raised nearly $1,500 for the cause. He hopes to gather $200,000 by Sept. 21, the first football home game of the 2013 season, and $1 million in the first year of the “Schnelly-Aid” campaign.

He met with Pat Chun, FAU’s athletics director, to discuss the campaign.

“I really salute the passion he has for FAU. In the one meeting I had with him, he really left an impression on me,” Chun said.

Salzman feels the need to raise the money on his own –– without help from the FAU Foundation –– to name the field after Schnelly.

“I know FAU has an amount and list of naming rights for everything in the stadium,” he said. “From speaking with some people, it’s not an aspect of why they haven’t, because every dollar for the stadium needs to go toward the stadium debt.”

In his meeting with the Athletics Department, Salzman found out they are planning to fundraise. So, if he can bring $1.5 million to them in the next two years, he thinks it would help.

“I told them I’m not trying to get in their way of fundraising. We’re after the same thing,” he said.

Chun told him that although he supports the campaign, FAU couldn’t help raise the money.

“We don’t have the resources to help, especially personnel-wise,” he said. “I love what Eric is trying to do, but it is a lot of money and a pretty big goal.”

Student Body President Peter Amirato agreed with Salzman’s plan to raise money and said that Student Government wouldn’t be able to help monetarily either.

“I’m sure money always helps. Anything in athletics, they name the ticket booth after somebody. It’s a part of the process,” he said. “Especially because the loan we have from the bank for the stadium says that we pay the bank first. And if we don’t make enough for other expenses, athletics takes the hit.”

After raising $1,500, Salzman feels pleased and hopes that his campaign will encourage donors. This month, he is working on filing with the IRS to make the “Name It For Howard” company into a not-for-profit organization –– this will keep donations tax-exempt.

“Obviously there’s quite a bit more to go, but it’s a process. It’s not going to be overnight,” Salzman said.

Amirato suggested that Salzman connect with the FAU Foundation to raise money. “But, as long as he has a good strategy, I don’t see why $1.5 million is too much.”

Salzman plans to use Facebook along with posters to promote the campaign. He said he wants to take charge of the public relations aspect himself instead of hiring someone.

“I don’t foresee that happening any time in the near future,” Salzman said, “because I’m trying to keep the administrative costs at less than 10 percent.”

He said he might have to re-adjust his financial goals. Originally, he hoped to raise $200,000 by the first home game. Now, he’s saying it may take until the end of the year to raise that much money.

“I think Eric wants to do this, he doesn’t have to. Naming the field after Schnellenberger is not one of the things the university is actively trying to sell,” Chun said.