Hillcrest Ford Heroes salute to highlight football home opener
9/13/2010 8:15:00 AM | Football, Athletics
The "Hillcrest Ford Heroes" salute is sponsored by Hillcrest Ford, Huntsville's dealership for Ford, Lincoln, Mercury and Hyundai sales, service and collision repair. Hillcrest Ford is located just off southbound Interstate 45 at Exit #114.
Hillcrest Ford and the Sam Houston Department of Military Science have partnered to bring thrilling patriotic activities before, during and after the 2010 home opener. The Gardner-Webb Bulldogs are the opponent with kickoff scheduled for 6 p.m.
Featured events include a fly-over by U.S. Army helicopters, a halftime march of veterans and Walker County police and fire emergency service personnel, an appearance by the Houston Texans cheerleaders, a postgame fireworks display and much, much more.
"Hillcrest Ford is proud to be part of this special night. We're going to honor those who keep our community safe, welcome the parents and families of our Sam Houston students to Huntsville and root the Bearkats to victory," Hillcrest Ford general manager Justin Wright said. "Blending all these aspects into one thrilling event is amazing. Sam Houston's Army ROTC has contributed so much to making this celebration a success. I hope all the fans realize what a great night this is going to be and come take part."
Fans attending Bearkat Family Weekend not only will have the opportunity to honor the "Hillcrest Ford Heroes" during the special presentations on the field. There also will be chance for one-on-one interaction with U.S. military personnel and veterans in special pregame activities.
"We have two goals on Saturday September 25," Lt. Colonel David Yerba of the SHSU military science department said. "We want to honor those who serve society and we want to get people excited about Bearkat football."
If weather permits, U.S. Army Black Hawk and Apache helicopters will land on the intramural field west of Bowers Stadium at 2 p.m. Fans are welcome to interact with the helicopter crews and view the helicopters up close. There also will be informative military displays at the 4 p.m. pregame tailgate at Bearkat Alley.
The center piece at tailgate will be the huge U.S. Army 18-wheeler which houses demonstrations of the medical capabilities of the U.S. Army. Alsp on view will be the Veterans Resource Center mobile van highlighting veterans' services. The ROTC rock wall also will be available for fans who wish to test their climbing skills.
Army ROTC will participate in a five-mile ruck march to West Hill Mall Saturday morning as a fund-raising effort for veterans wounded in their country's service.
"Bearkat Family Weekend is a perfect time not only to build Sam Houston spirit but also to honor those who serve society," Lt. Col. Yerba said. "Everyone from Sam Houston Military Science is pleased and proud to be part of what we believe will be an exciting evening."
At halftime, the ROTC battalion will march with area veterans and members of Walker County fire and police emergency services to honor America in special on-field ceremonies. Immediately following the game's final gun, Magic in the Sky of San Antonio will present a special "Hillcrest Ford Heroes" fireworks extravaganza.
"From its inception, we have intended for the 'Hillcrest Ford Heroes' celebration to express our community's pride in those who protect our freedom and our safety," Wright said. "What better goal for Family Weekend. When you hear the national anthem, see Army helicopters fly over or watch fireworks it makes your heart pound and your hair stand on end.
"We at Hillcrest Ford have a wonderful relationship with Sam Houston State not just because so many faculty, staff and students are Hillcrest customers but also because of the spirit of pride in community that develops between the university and the dealership when we work together to make our city better and stronger."
Game time at Bowers Stadium for Saturday's Parents' Weekend matchup between Sam Houston and Gardner-Webb is 6 p.m. Live coverage on KSAM 101.7 FM begins at 5:30 p.m. and on the internet at www.gobearkats.com . KSAM also will broadcast live remote reports from the tailgate party begining at 4 p.m.
Bearkat single game tickets are on sale at the Sam Houston athletic ticket office in the Ron Mafrige Field House south of Bowers Stadium from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fans can purchase Bearkat Family Weekend football game tickets online or by calling the Sam Houston Athletic Ticket Office at 936 294-1729.
Individual game tickets for Sam Houston's other three home games at Bowers also are onsale online. The next home event following the Gardner-Webb game will be Homecoming Saturday October 16 at 2 p.m. against Southeastern Louisiana.
| Family Weekend Events - Saturday September 25, 2010 | ||
| Morning Activities | ||
| 8:30 a.m. | Check-In | Lowman Student Center Atrium |
| 9 a.m. | Coffee with SHSU Administrators | LSC Paw Print |
| 10 a.m. | Campus tours | Visitor Center |
| 10 a.m. | Parents' Association meeting | LSC Theater |
| 11:30 a.m. | Honors Program parents luncheon | LSC Ballroom |
| 12 noon | Bearkat Fiesta (Group 1) | Johnson Coliseum |
| 12 noon | Carnival on the Concourse | Johnson Coliseum |
| 1 p.m. | Bearkat Fiesta (Group 2) | Johnson Coliseum |
| 1 p.m. | Bearkat Learning Community social | Vick House |
| Open Houses | ||
| 10 a.m. | College of Education | TEC Building 279 |
| 10 a.m. | Estill Building | Estill Building |
| 10 a.m. | Alumni Association | Alumni & Visitor Center |
| 11 a.m. | College of Business Administration | Smith-Hutson |
| 1 p.m. | College of Criminal Justice | C J Foyer |
| Pregame at Bowers Stadium | ||
| 2 p.m. | US Army helicopters land | Intramural Fields |
| 3:30 p.m. | Classic Car Cruise-In | Bowers Stadium North Lot |
| 4 p.m. | Bearkat Alley Pregame Tailgate | Bowers Stadium North Lot |
| U.S. Army 18-wheeler tour | ||
| Veterans Resource Center display | ||
| ROTC Rock Wall | ||
| Food and music | ||
| 4:15 p.m. | Bearkat Band march to tailgate | SHSU Mall to Bowers Stadium |
| 4:30 p.m. | Bowers Stadium gates open | |
| Houston Texans Cheerleader | Inside north Bowers entrance | |
| autograph session | ||
| 5:40 p.m. | Family Weekend pregame show | |
| Sam Houston vs. Gardner-Webb | ||
| 6 p.m. | Kickoff | |
| Halftime | "Hillcrest Ford Heroes" celebration | |
| Bearkat Marching Band performance | ||
| Post-Game | Magic In The Sky fireworks display | |
