Contact: Maridith Geuder
STARKVILLE, Miss.--With the university's home football season opening Thursday [Aug. 30] against Louisiana State University, Mississippi State officials are predicting that fans, students, employees, and visitors may experience some circumstances that require patience.
"Because classes will remain in session and administrative offices will remain open, fans arriving early for the 7 p.m. kickoff may find some game-day parking lots occupied," said Chris Nettles, events operation manager.
The ESPN-televised game against the Tigers "is an especially big event that will have major complicating factors," he said. "Parking lots occupied during the university's regular operation should become available to fans as students and employees transition out between 4-6 p.m."
Drivers finding their reserved parking spaces occupied will be asked to go to Humphrey Coliseum's Lot 36 for an alternate space, Nettles said.
Recreational vehicle owners normally assigned to Lot 36 will be required--for this game only--to relocate to the Open RV Park at the end of Stone Boulevard, south of the Blackjack Road intersection. Their assigned reserve lot passes will assure admission.
Also for this game only, commuter students will be permitted to park in the large grass lot south of Blackjack, entered via Buckner Lane. Large signs will direct commuters to this area.
"We will make every effort to accommodate the unusual demands on available parking spaces," he said.
Fans also should be aware of other weekday game day changes:
--Because MSU is continuing a normal weekday schedule, no "football" areas will be available before 2 p.m. Thursday. The popular Junction lawn adjacent to Davis Wade Stadium will open at 2 p.m. with the playing of the "Hail State" anthem on the Chapel of Memories carillon, followed immediately by Army ROTC cadets' firing of their salute cannon.
--For pre-game day activities Wednesday [29th], the Junction will open at 4 p.m. prior to the 6:15 p.m. pep rally scheduled for "spot broadcasts" by ESPN.
The "Cow Bell Yell," as the event is being dubbed, kicks off at 5:30 p.m. with a performance by BARK, a classic rock-and-roll band led by MSU President Robert H. "Doc" Foglesong. Comments by Coach Sylvester Croom and Foglesong, as well as appearances by the Famous Maroon Band and MSU cheerleaders, will be featured.
As for traffic management, personnel with the Mississippi Department of Transportation, Mississippi Highway Patrol and local law enforcement agencies will be assisting MSU officials both Wednesday and Thursday.
"All pep rally activities will end at 9 p.m. and the Junction will be closed from 11 p.m. Wednesday until 2 p.m. the next day," Nettles said.
Even though event circumstances may be unusual, he said "members of the MSU family and all others coming to the game are being asked to help make it a good beginning to a football season."
For more information about campus activities during this time, visit the MSU Game Day Web site at http://www.gameday.msstate.edu.
For more information about Mississippi State University, see http://www.msstate.edu/.