TERRE HAUTE, Ind. -- The Indiana State Football team will salute all military members and first responders at this week's home game set for Thursday, Sept. 27 vs. Northern Iowa at Memorial Stadium. All military members as well as firemen, police and EMT first responders will receive free admission to the game by presenting a valid ID at the gate. Additionally, military members will be honored on the field during the game. Kick-off is slated for 7:04 pm (ET) under the brand new state-of-the-art lights at Memorial Stadium.
Thanks to the generous support of the Wabash Valley local Ford dealers, who are sponsoring Thursday night's contest, in addition to the free tickets for military members and first responders the Ford Super Screen will be in the tailgating area to provide entertainment and free giveaways for fans before the contest.
Following the national anthem which will begin at 6:50 p.m. (ET), a flyover will be conducted by four A-10 planes (Warthogs) from the 122nd Fighter Wing, based at the Fort Wayne Air National Guard Station. The 122nd Fighter Wing recently returned from a three-month deployment to Kandahar, Afghanistan. During this deployment, the A-10s flew 959 sorties amassing 3,974 combat hours in support of Operation FREEDOM'S SENTINEL.
The four pilots participating in the flyover include a trio of Indiana State University graduates. Colonel Kyle "Gus" Noel (Indiana State, '00), Lieutenant Colonel Chris "Beech" Snider (Indiana State, '93), Lieutenant Colonel Brian "Mad Dawg" Frazier (Indiana State, '94) and Lieutenant Colonel Scot "Smuth" Perkins (Wright State, '96) will be in the cockpit of the A-10's. During the game, along with the four pilots other members of the 122nd Fighter Wing who participated in the recent deployment to Afghanistan will be honored for their service.
Technical Sergeant Cale Davis who is the Airfield Manager at the 122nd Fighter Wing in Fort Wayne will perform the honorary coin toss prior to the start of the game.
Sycamore fans should get ready for quite a show at the conclusion of the national anthem. The four A-10 planes will come in from the Northwest (right over the locker room scoreboard) and traveling to the southeast (exiting Memorial Stadium over where Tent City is traditionally located for Homecoming). The planes will be flying at 1,000 feet to give the fans the chance for an up close look not normally seen by the general public.
There are tons of exciting things going on in and around the stadium for this game as well.
The March will begin at 4:45 pm (ET) when the team will be dropped off in the tailgating area on their way into the stadium. "The Forest" will once again be there at full roar as they celebrate "Neon Night". All students should wear their neon shirts while free glow sticks and necklaces will be passed out prior to the game.
Midwest Communications is sponsoring a pregame tailgate and offering a free ticket to the first 200 attendees, as well as a (cash) beer garden and six free wings courtesy of Wings, ETC. HI-99 and MIX-FM will be doing live remotes from 5-7 p.m. (ET) live from the party. The event will be held near the front entrance to Memorial Stadium.
But that's not all! It is also Youth Football Night at the stadium and every area youth football player will get in free when they wear their jersey. This offer is only good for 8th graders and below. Anyone bringing a youth football player to Memorial Stadium will be able to purchase a ticket for only $5.
The Sycamores will also be participating in Tackle Childhood Cancer as the team will be wearing special shoelaces to show support for the cause and will be wearing t-shirts as part of their travel suits. The Indiana State Football coaching staff will also be wearing patches on their sideline gear for Coach for A Cure, which benefits the Duchenne muscular dystrophy association. Coach For A Cure MD is a partnership between the American Football Coaches Association and Parent Project MD.
Kickoff of Thursday's night game against No. 23 Northern Iowa is scheduled for 7:04 p.m. on ESPN3.
