Taking the family to a major college sporting event in West Virginia, Pennsylvania or Ohio can be an expensive and time-consuming endeavor, but it doesn’t have to be that way for Ohio Valley football fans. West Liberty University is making every home football game this season a family fun day.
WLU President Robin C. Capehart said, “We want West Liberty football games to be a family event, with fun activities for the younger children to enjoy while their parents watch our great football team in action. Every home game will be ‘family day.’
“For college football fans in the Upper Ohio Valley, WLU football is the best game in town!”
Family fun days on the hilltop campus will include giveaways for adults and children, special events and organized activities for children at the special KidZone tent. Planned activities include face painting, costume contests, puppet shows, a Halloween haunted house and giveaways of shirts and toys.
The KidZone tent will be open every game day at noon; kickoff is at 1 p.m.
The first home game, Sept. 10 against the Southern Connecticut State University Southern Owls, has been designated Blackout Day. All fans are encouraged to wear black in support of the Hilltoppers and the first 500 attendees will receive a free T-shirt.
On Sept. 24, when the Hilltoppers battle the Fairmont State University Falcons , the first 500 ticketholders will received a WLU visor.
The annual Homecoming game will be played on Oct. 8 against the West Virginia State Yellow Jackets, with all of the usual pageantry, parades, tailgating and other traditional alumni events.
Zach Amedro Day will be celebrated on Oct. 29, when the Seton Hill Griffins visit Russek Field. Children accompanied by an adult will get into the game free and have a chance to meet the Hilltoppers’ record-setting quarterback, the leading passer in NCAA Division II history. Zach graduated from WLU in 2010.
Roger Waialae Bobblehead Day will mark the final home game of the season on Nov. 5 against the Mountain Lions of Concord University. Fans will have the opportunity to receive a free bobblehead to honor WLU’s successful head coach.
Fun activities and free T-shirts won’t be able to distract fans from the most exciting football in the region, however, as Coach Waialae‘s Hilltoppers have led the nation in scoring and total offense each of the past two seasons. They hope to build on their 7-3 2010 campaign with another run at the national NCAA Division II title in 2011.