Kim Morris/St. Joseph News-Press

Foul weather did not keep the Chief faithful away from Spratt Memorial Stadium on Thursday as the Kansas City Chiefs brought off season practice to St. Joseph. A crowd of three to four thousand mostly red-clad fans ignored threatening sky and light showers to watch the NFL doormat Chiefs run through drills.

Missouri Western State University football player Roger Allen is a big man.

But even at 6 foot, 4 inches and 315 pounds, Mr. Allen still found himself wondering if he measured up against some of the more massive examples of humanity collected by the Kansas City Chiefs.

“I’m especially impressed by the size of the linemen’s calves,” said Mr. Allen, a Kansas City native who grew up 10 blocks from Arrowhead Stadium. “They’re huge.”

Mr. Allen and about two dozen Western athletes helped provide security at the Chiefs’ practice held at the St. Joseph campus on Thursday. Despite an overcast sky and forecasts of rain, as many as 4,000 to 5,000 local fans turned out to get a personal take on the Chiefs.

“I tell you, I just want to shake somebody’s hand, see that they’re not stuck up,” Mr. Allen said. “That’s all I want to see.”

Fans had plenty of opportunity to shake hands and gather autographs. After a workout of about 90 minutes, the Chiefs players and coaches hung out on the Spratt Stadium field, talked with fans, signed anything offered and just generally greeted the throng.

The event included nearly all of the Chiefs’ biggest names: running back Larry Johnson, quarterback Brodie Croyle and lineman Brian Waters along with new faces like top draft picks Glenn Dorsey and Branden Albert.

“We wanted something fun to do that was free, and this is just great,” said St. Joseph Chiefs fan Ken Eberhart, who brought his 5-year-old son, Sam, and 8-year-old daughter, Deanna.

Deanna’s had the chance to attend a couple of Chiefs games. But she enjoyed the up-close look on Thursday.

“I love the Chiefs because they’re very popular,” Deanna said. “It’s just very exciting.”

The Chiefs’ players enjoyed the reception, too.

“The Chiefs get a lot of love,” said rookie Brandon Carr, whose collegiate career at Grand Valley State University coincidentally ended up in Maryville, Mo., last December in a semifinal game against Northwest Missouri State University. “It feels like a big-college atmosphere.”

And the Griffons’ football players got the chance to take a few notes from the professionals.

“We figured it’d be pretty different, but they’re doing an lot of the same things, a lot of the same drills we do,” said Western punter Jamie Hanson. “They maybe just do it a little better ...”

That just added to the overall positive impression of the fans.

“I think they have improved,” Mr. Eberhart said, “and if they’re above .500, then that’s progress. I’m pretty positive about them.”

Scott Pummell can be reached