Get your game faces on Aggie fans! The first home football game of 2016 is set for Saturday, Oct. 1 at 1PM and there's plenty of pre-game fun planned in the new Tailgate section!
Goodwell, Okla.—It's finally here Aggie fans! Game Day in Goodwell will gear up on Saturday, Oct. 1 for the Aggies' home-opener against No. 6 Texas A&M-Commerce in a Lone Star Conference matchup at Carl Wooten Field.
Kickoff is set for 1 p.m., but everyone is invited to come out early and enjoy the new tailgate section located east of the stadium. Tailgating begins at 10:30 a.m. with plenty of fun games, giveaways and prizes lasting until 12:30 p.m. when the pre-game festivities begin inside No Man's Land Stadium.
This week the Aggies will face another tough LSC opponent as last year's regular-season champs come to town. The Lions were selected as pre-season favorites after going undefeated in conference play in 2015 (6-0). A&M-C is currently ranked number six in the nation among NCAA Division II programs and is listed at the top of the charts for Red Zone Offense, something the Aggies struggled with in last week's loss to Midwestern. The Lions also sit near the top-ten in the nation for kickoff returns, ranked 11th and averaging over 28 yards per return for the season. Panhandle is looking to improve on special teams after giving up a 73-yard kickoff return on the opening drive against MSU.
Coach Gaskamp is very excited to be playing at home and is confident that his team will be ready to play hard in front of a packed house this week and looks for another strong, competitive performance from the Aggies. Gaskamp hopes to see the tailgate section, which is right outside the team's locker room, full of spirited Aggie fans before the game. Reserved tents will be set up along with picnic tables for general use. Fans partaking in the pre-game tailgate must provide their own chairs, grills and other cookout items, but all are welcome to enjoy the various games that will be set up for free use throughout the designated area.
As game time approaches, the Aggie drum line will lead the cheer team and fans into the stadium for pre-game recognitions which will begin at 12:35 p.m. The team will remain on the field for a moment of silence and special presentation to the family of James Cameron, an Aggie football player who passed away in a tragic swimming accident this summer. Recognitions will continue with a special honored guest, former PAMC football player and WWII veteran Robert McAnarney followed by the introduction of the other fall sport Aggie Athletes. All are welcome to stay on the field and form a spirit line to welcome the team as they run in revved up and ready to go!
Saturday's game is sponsored by Panhandle Printing who is providing free t-shirts which will be given out to fans at the gates while supplies last. Those unable to make the game in person can keep up with live stats and video streaming via links available on the football schedule page of the opsuaggies.com website. It's always a great day to be an Aggie, and this Saturday it will be a great day to show off your Panhandle pride by packing the tailgate area and filling the stands with Revved Up and Rowdy Aggie fans!
