Fresno State Athletics
Football Salute to Services Game Set for Nov. 1
10/16/2014 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 16, 2014
By Jason Clay
jaclay@csufresno.edu
GoBulldogs.com
FRESNO, Calif.- The next home Bulldog football game on Nov. 1 against Wyoming will be Fresno State's Salute to Services game to bring recognition to the service men and women and all veterans of the United States as well as the third annual Football Family Food Drive.
"The Fresno State Bulldog coaching staff, players and families can't thank our service men and women enough for the sacrifices they make for all of us," head coach Tim DeRuyter said. "As a part of our respect for them and the entire community, this game is a way for us to both honor our American heroes and to give back to the community that has been so gracious to all of our football families, our wives and children."
Before the game, the coaches' families will be collecting non-perishable food items and accepting monetary donations at all entrances to Bulldog Stadium starting one hour prior to kickoff. All proceeds benefit the Community Food Bank. The Community Food Bank distributes food to those in need in Fresno, Madera and Kings Counties.
In-game, the team will be dressed in red, white and blue, with their helmets decked out with the USA Bulldog decal depleting the American flag.
Fresno State is also asking its fan base to help cover Bulldog Stadium in Red, White and Blue on Nov. 1.
▪ If you are seated in sections 14-20 and 23-29, wear BLUE.
▪ If you are seated in sections 9-13 or 30-32 (both red seats and premium bench seats), wear RED.
▪ If you are seated in sections 3-8 or 33-38, wear WHITE.
Throughout the game, Fresno State will pay homage to the various service groups both on campus and throughout the Valley. Fresno State will be donating 250 tickets to the 144th Fighter Wing of the California Air National Guard that is based in Fresno and the Lemoore Naval Air Station.
Additionally, discounted tickets of $17 are available for purchase by all military veterans through the Veteran Tickets Foundation, vettix.org.
A Marine veteran will be singing the National Anthem with the Fresno State Marching Band and ROTC displaying a large American flag on the field. The band's halftime performance will also have a patriotic theme with the flag coming back out on the field for their playing of "America the Beautiful."
The veterans participating in the Central Valley's Honor Flight No. 5 will be in attendance upon their return from Washington D.C. and will be recognized during the game, as will the Fresno State Veterans fraternity.
Other special honorees for the Nov. 1 game against Wyoming include the weekly honorary captains, current NFL players Davante Adams (Green Bay Packers) and Bear Pascoe (Atlanta Falcons) along with Stephone Paige, who spent 11 seasons in the NFL from 1983-94 after playing for the Bulldogs. The trio represent some of the best pass-catchers in Fresno State history.
The University, in the theme of supporting our Armed Forced, recently sent out 50 care packages to active service men and women that are currently deployed throughout the world on active duty. In those care packages was a personalized letter from coach DeRuyter, an Air Force veteran himself, thanking the service men and women for the sacrifices they and their families make for the freedoms that all Americans enjoy.
Game time for the Nov. 1 game has currently not been set, as that will be determined by ESPN who owns the broadcast rights to the game. ESPN sets the network the game will air on and the kickoff time generally 12 days out, which would be on Monday, Oct. 20.
Tickets to the game are currently available and can be purchased by calling 559-278-DOGS, online at GoBulldogs.com or in person at the Fresno State ticket office located in the northeast corner of the Save Mart Center.
"Be Bold" - The official home of the Fresno State Bulldogs is 940 AM ESPN Radio and ESPN Deportes 1600 AM.
