FIU football is back this weekend with fun for the whole family

The FIU football team returns home Saturday, Oct. 9, for its first Sun Belt Conference game against Western Kentucky. Also returning is the new FIU Marching Band, the FIU Alumni Association Panther Pit Tailgate Village with its Family Fun Zone and plenty of free giveaways and prizes.

The tailgate begins at 1 p.m. and kickoff is at 3:30 p.m.

The FIU football team has been on the road for the past month following its home opener on Sept 11, which drew the largest crowd in FIU history.  This will be the team’s first in-conference game. Both FIU and WKU are 0-4.

In his weekly press conference leading up to Saturday’s game, Head Football Coach Mario Cristobal said the Panthers have learned a lot during the past four weeks playing BCS-conference teams. Practice has been great this week, he added.

“Week 5 is when your bodies feel the season and you’ve gotten used to the process,” he said. “What you should see is two teams ready to play good football. We are looking forward to a great matchup.”

Alumni Association members can attend the game with complimentary tickets, available for pick-up on game day at the Panther Pit Tailgate before the game. Annual members receive up to six free tickets and Lifetime members receive eight tickets, plus a free meal at the tailgate.

At the Panther Pit Tailgate Village, guests can enjoy free face painting, play video games by Games on Wheels, and take photos under the giant inflatable Panther arch. Catering by Les will be selling hamburgers and hotdogs, one side, desert and a drink all for $8.

The FIU Marching Band will start a pre-game concert at 2 p.m. in front of the Wertheim Performing Arts Center and begin marching toward the FIU Stadium into Lot 6, making a stop in front of the Panther Alumni Tent. The band will lead guests into the stadium for the game. Other appearances will include FIU cheerleaders, dazzlers and Roary.

Halftime will feature two special recognitions. Cancer survivor Brunhilde Pupi Tomassini, senior secretary in FIU’s International Forensic Research Institute, will be honored with a pink football signed by the team and head coach Mario Cristobal.

Also, the 2010 nominees for FIU Service and Recognition Awards will be recognized. The nominees are being given complimentary club seats to the game.

The game has been designated Faculty and Staff Appreciation Day, with $1 tickets courtesy of Andy Frain Services. The tickets must be purchased by 5 p.m. on Friday at the University Credit Union Box Office.  As part of the Appreciation Day, raffle prizes will be given away at the end of the third quarter.  Prizes include an all expense paid trip for two to the North Texas football game on Oct. 16 with our FIU Football Team as well as two roundtrip airline tickets within the continental U.S.