Football and Festivities Await Fans on August 29
8/22/2013 12:16:00 PM | Football
Plenty of action and excitement can be expected before, during and after Kent State's 2013 season opener Thursday, Aug. 29, against Liberty at 6 p.m. inside Dix Stadium.
General tailgating is available in both the east and west lots of Dix Stadium throughout the day. The stadium ticket office, including will call opens at 3 p.m. The Kent State football team will arrive at the main West Gate at 4 p.m. as the cheerleaders and band line the team's walk into Dix Stadium.
Gates open to the public at 4:30 p.m., when Happy Hour begins with discounted prices on food and drinks until 5:30 p.m. Pregame festivities will include a giant American flag stretched over the field as St. Patrick School students sing the national anthem. Fans will also witness 1,500 balloons launched into the sky, a five-plane flyover by the Kent State School of Aeronautics and fireworks. The game ball will then be presented by three skydivers.
The Fan Zone complete with inflatables, caricature artists and more will be located behind the south end zone from 4:30-6:30 p.m. In an effort to set a single-game attendance record at Dix Stadium, AMETEK will bring fans the largest fireworks display in Portage County history after the game.
During the game, James Harrison's parents will be presented with his framed No. 16 jersey. An All-MAC First team performer for the Golden Flashes in 2001, Harrison is a five-time NFL Pro Bowl selection and was named NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2008.
On the gridiron, the Golden Flashes return five All-Mid-American Conference players from a team that went 8-0 in league play and made its first bowl appearance in 40 years.
Thursday marks the head coaching debut of Paul Haynes, who was a standout defensive back for the Flashes from 1987-91. Also a former assistant coach at Kent State (1999-2000), Haynes was most recently the defensive coordinator at Arkansas in 2012.
Kent State has won eight straight games at Dix Stadium, dating back to the midpoint of the 2011 season. The Golden Flashes also carry over a 10-game regular season winning streak from 2012.
Liberty finished 6-5 in its 2012 campaign, during Turner Gill's first season as head coach. In four seasons as head coach at Buffalo, Gill's teams went 3-1 against the Golden Flashes and won the Bulls' only MAC championship in program history in 2008.
Single-game and season tickets can be ordered through KentStateSports.com or by calling 330-672-2244. Corporate pregame tailgating arrangements can be made with Dennis Watson: dgwatso1@kent.edu.
