2011 Gannon Golden Knights

Football Dan Teliski, Director of Athletics Media Relations

Gannon Football Team Kicks Off 2012 Season Thursday Night Against Lake Erie at Home; Variety of Events Scheduled for Season Opener Including Pregame Concert by the Romantic Era

Head coach Brad Rzyczycki will lead Gannon onto the field for the first time as a head coach Thursday night at Gannon University Field.
ERIE, Pa. - The Gannon football team kicks off the 2012 season Thursday, August 30 against Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) foe Lake Erie at Gannon University Field. Game time is scheduled for 7 p.m. Gates and ticket windows will open at a special time of 5 p.m. for Thursday's opener.

Tickets cost $5 for adults and $3 for non-Gannon students and senior citizens. All Gannon students, staff and faculty are admitted free of charge by showing their school ID at the gate.

Numerous activities are planned for fans attending Thursday's contest, so everyone is encouraged to come early and enjoy the festivities.

Activities planned throughout the night include:
  • Sports Radio 1330 The Fan will be broadcasting “The Sports Blitz” live from the Gannon University Field entrance. Jim LeCorchick and the crew will broadcast live from 4-6 p.m.
  • A student tailgate party sponsored by the Gannon Student Development Department for Gannon students will be located in the Gannon University Field parking lot. Free pizza will be available for Gannon students with their school IDs, beginning at 5 p.m.
  • An alumni party sponsored the Gannon Alumni Office will be located in the parking lot of the former Antler's building at 4th and Sassafras Streets from 5-6:30 p.m. Alumni, boosters and football parents are welcome to attend, but it is requested to RSVP with Mark Gaeta at 814-871-7466.
  • The Romantic Era is scheduled to play in front of Gannon University Field from 5:30-6:30 p.m. The band includes former Gannon football student-athletes Connor Kimball, Parris Williams and Ben Griffith.
  • The Gannon cheerleaders will have a tattoo table set up in the Gannon University Field parking lot, providing tattoos to kids and anyone interested.
  • The Gannon Bookstore will be on hand with Gannon clothing and merchandise available for sale.
  • T-shirts sponsored by the Gannon Student Government will be given to the first 100 Gannon students at the student tailgate party.
  • There will be a Residence Hall Challenge. The group with the most people in attendance will receive a free pizza party.
  • The Pride of Pennsylvania ROTC Battalion Color Guard will present the flag during the national anthem which will be sung by Mary Glover. Gannon volleyball standout Lauren Sazama will lead the pregame prayer.
  • Random prize drawings sponsored by the Gannon Bookstore will be made throughout the game.
  • A special performance by the Gannon Dance Team will occur at halftime.
  • Halftime contests will include a kicking contest between Gannon fraternities and sororities.
  • Much more planned throughout the game.

Thursday's game marks the Gannon head coaching debut of Brad Rzyczycki, who served as the Golden Knights' assistant head coach and defensive coordinator the last five seasons under former head coach Jim Kiernan. Rzyczycki will attempt to become only the second head coach in school history to win his Gannon debut. Lou Tullio is the only coach to accomplish the feat with a 27-0 shutout of Alliance in 1949.

Gannon is 11-13-1 all-time in home openers, including a 3-1 mark during the last four seasons. The Golden Knights are 12-12-1 all-time in season openers.

Thursday marks the fifth consecutive year Gannon and Lake Erie have opened against each other. The first four games have been decided by a combined 12 points.
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