Game Day is here. Excitement is peaking. School spirit is high.
Wear your blue. Paint your face. Do whatever you feel to show your support tonight. One Panther alum swears he is dressing as the "GSU Baby" on the cover of ESPN The Magazine.
Come early. Tailgate. Meet new Panthers fans in the parking lots and in the stands.
Make noise. Yell as loud as you can. Give the team the Dome-field advantage.
It is history in the making and YOU can be a part of it all.
This historic first-game is for all the GSU VIP's. That is all the students who paid their fees to help start the program and who will be able to tell their grandkids one day that they were at the first game. That is for all the season ticket holders who have come forward to show their support. That is all the faculty and staff at GSU who have demonstrated support in multiple ways.
The historical significance of this event is obviously not going unnoticed throughout the city and state as a guest-list of well-known and historic citizens who may attend the inaugural game is impressive.
Indicating they might be in attendance Thursday evening are (in no particular order):
• Governor and Mrs. Sonny Perdue
• Ambassador and Mrs. Andrew Young
• Senator Johnny Isakson
• Lt. Governor and Mrs. Casey Cagle
• Speaker of the House and Mrs. David Ralston
• Chancellor of the University System of Georgia Erroll Davis
• Former Governor Roy Barnes
• Parker “Pete” Petit, businessman who made cornerstone commitment for Georgia State Football Practice Complex
• John and Helen Aderhold, longtime Atlanta philanthropists. Mr. Aderhold's helped get Georgia Dome built and the Olympics to Atlanta. Mrs. Aderhold has served on GSU Boards and The Learning Center bears her name.
• Coach and Mrs. Dan Reeves, who was GSU's consultant in beginning the feasibility study for football
• Mr. and Mrs. Herman Russell, proud alum who founded one of the largest construction firms in the country and helped build many of Atlanta's historic buildings.
• Atlanta Braves former coach Leo Mazzone, who spoke to the Panthers team
• Homer Rice, former Georgia Tech A.D. from 1980-1997.
• John Dewberry, former Georgia Tech QB for Curry, 1983-85
• CAA Commissioner Tom Yeager
Tickets have been selling faster and faster every day leading up to the game, indicating a large crowd. Students get in free with their valid Panther ID card that shows they have paid their fees, but only the first 8,000 of the 31,000-plus will get to sit in the lower bowl. Free shuttles are running for the students.
Dome doors open at 6 p.m. (90 minutes before kickoff for every game). Band Intro at 7:24. National Anthem at 7:27.
This is it, plain and simple. Are YOU ready for some FOOTBALL, GSU style?
