Cheer FIU Football to victory and honor our first responders and military at the Sept. 11 home opener

The FIU football home opener on Sept. 11 vs. Rutgers will kick off with the unfurling of a 100-yard long American flag, helicopter flyovers and the debut of FIU’s new marching band. The game will pay tribute to first responders and the military.

FIU is offering complimentary tickets for all police, fire, rescue and military personnel.

“The Sept. 11 football game is going to be a great event for our community,” said Athletic Director Pete Garcia. “We’re proud to honor our military and first responders and welcome them to FIU. We’re excited to kick off the 2010 football season with a matchup against Rutgers.”

The FIU football team has been hard at work all summer in the gym and on the field. Under the leadership of Head Football Coach Mario Cristobal, the team heads into the Sept. 11 game stronger, faster and hungry for success.

Tailgating fun

The fun begins at 3 p.m. with pre-game tailgating during which first responders will line the street outside FIU Stadium with rescue vehicles. Officers will be there to answer questions and take photos with fans and community members.

Miami-Dade County Police will be on-hand with a helicopter, K-9 unit, a marine patrol boat, motorcycles and a crime prevention bus. The red DARE Mustang – always a hit with kids – will be there too, as will McGruff the Crime Dog.

Miami-Dade Fire Rescue will bring engines and trucks and the snake venom unit. U.S. Southern Command, representing the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard, will be on hand with their Humvees.

Before the 8 p.m. kickoff, everyone is invited to visit the Alumni Association Panther Pit Tailgate in Lot 6 with music, giveaways, activities for children, Roary, the FIU Cheerleaders and the Dazzlers.

“Let’s fill the stadium on Sept. 11 and cheer our Panthers on to victory,” said FIU Alumni Association President Jack Gonzalez.

Pre-game show

The new 120-member FIU Marching Band will debut at the home opener, starting with the national anthem. The band has been putting in 12-hour practices in the days leading up to the start of the semester.

New Band Director Barry Bernhardt, who has choreographed shows for the Super Bowl, major college football bowl games and Major League Baseball’s Opening Day, has arranged for a U.S. flag that covers the entire football field to be shipped to FIU.

A group of 120 people from the community will unfurl the flag at the start of the game.

Helicopters from Miami-Dade Police, Miami-Dade Fire Rescue, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission and the City of Miami Police Department will fly over the FIU Stadium prior to kickoff.

The coin toss will be between FIU Police Chief Bill King and officials from Miami-Dade County Police, Fire Rescue and U.S. Southern Command.

Halftime Show

FIU fans will be treated to two special events during halftime: The first football performance by the FIU Marching Band and a swearing ceremony for new military recruits.

The Marching Band will perform for about seven minutes to music by Santana, including “Smooth,” “Evil Ways,” and “Oye Como Va.” The Dazzlers will perform with the band to the opening and closing songs.

“The band is excited to be back,” said Bernhardt, the band director. “I hope that excitement is infectious. The bigger the volume, the more we can help Mario Cristobal and the football team.”

Also during halftime, more than 40 local citizens from South Florida, including a number of FIU students, will be taking the oath of enlistment into the U.S. Army in front of the home crowd of FIU family. The oath will be administered by an officer from the U.S. Southern Command and signifies the start of their military careers in the Regular Army or Army Reserves.

Giveaways and tickets

FIU Athletics will be giving away free T-shirts to the first 5,000 students at the game. Tickets for students are free with FIU ID.

First responders and military personnel along with one guest also can receive free tickets to the game by wearing their uniform or showing their ID at the University Credit Union Box Office located in the Kirk Landon Fieldhouse.

In addition, FIU is inviting kids to its football games through its Community Partners Kids Club, which gives free tickets to organizations that work with children. Elementary and middle schools, youth sports leagues, and non-profit organizations are eligible for the program, which allows school-age children to attend FIU’s season opener against Rutgers for free.

Any group interested in obtaining tickets should call Liz Augustin, assistant athletic director for student athlete development and community relations, at 305-348-0154 or e-mail borrelll@fiu.edu. Community Partners Kids Club tickets are available for all five home games this year.

Season tickets are still available for as low as $40 in the endzone. For more information on purchasing tickets for FIU football or other sports, call Jeremy Lamb in the FIU Athletic Ticket Office at 305-FIU-GAME (305-348-4263) or click here.

–Deborah O’Neil MA ’09