The No. 16 Youngstown State football team plays their conference home opener on Saturday night against Illinois State at Stambaugh Stadium. Plenty of activities are around the stadium and tailgate lots will be busy prior to the 7 p.m. kickoff. Tickets are available by calling (330) 941-1978.
Tailgating lots (M-24 and M-7) will open at 1 p.m. Beer will be on sale in both lots at that time and fans will be allowed in to start their tailgating festivities. Parking in the M-26, M-27 and decks will be available at that time.
Kids Tailgate Fun Day, presented by State Farm, begins at 4 p.m. in the M-7 Tailgate Lot. The Kids Tailgate Fun Day is free and open to everyone. Tailgate activities will include bounce-a-round games, inflatables and skill games, clowns, face painting, Pete & Penny Penguin photo ops and game-ticket giveaways.
The first 500 children ages 12-and-under will receive a YSU Season-Ticket T-Shirt courtesy of Armstrong Cable and Coca-Cola. This special shirt will allow kids to gain entrance to all YSU remaining football home games and 2013-14 men's and women's basketball home games at NO charge.
Members of the Youngstown City Police, the Youngstown Fire Department, the Mahoning County Sheriff's Office and YSU Campus Police will participate with safety vehicles. The safety service units will have various safety-related displays to interact with the children and adults.
Also in the M-7 Lot, the Lead Belly Boys will start their performance at 4 p.m.
At the Beeghly Center, the YSU volleyball team is in action against UIC. First serve is set for 4 p.m. Admission is free.
Members of the YSU Football Alumni will be holding their annual Tailgate Blast in the M-7 Lot starting at 4 p.m. as well.
Former Penguin and NFL player Tim Johnson will be signing autographs in the M-24 Lot in the NewsRadio 570 WKBN tent. All proceeds ($10 donation) benefit the Penguin Club, Carmine L. Cassese Scholarship as well as Student Nonprofit Leadership Organization (SNLO).
The YSU football team will make its tailgate walk at approximately 4:45 p.m. through the M-24 Lot. Fans are encouraged to lineup and greet the team as it heads towards the stadium. Members of the YSU Marching Pride will join the walk up to Stambaugh Stadium.
Fans in attendance will receive a Youngstown State license plate cover courtesy of McDonald's, Farmers National Bank and 21 WFMJ. Near the stadium, YSU Car Coach donors will be displaying vehicles and providing information about their dealerships.
Members of the YSU baseball program will be selling merchandise near the M-24 Lot. The YSU Bookstore will be selling items at the game on the West Concourse. During the game members of the softball team will be selling 50/50 Raffle Tickets. Women's Golf team members will be selling "Y" Powerband wristbands as well.
As always, YSU students are admitted free with a valid student ID. Tickets on gameday are $19 for reserved and $15 for general admission.
For those individuals who cannot make Saturday's game can follow the game via LIVE STATS | LIVE AUDIO | LIVE VIDEO. Video is available for $11.95 while stats and audio are free.
ESPN3.com and the Watch ESPN App will also have coverage of the game. Click Here to Watch.
Saturday's Schedule
9 a.m. - Athletic Ticket Office opens
1 p.m. - Tailgate Lots (M-24 and M-7) open | Parking available in M-26/M-27
4 p.m. - State Farm Kids Day begins (M-7) Lot
4 p.m. - Lead Belly Boys Band Performance (M-7) Lot
4 p.m. - YSU Football Alumni Tailgate Blast
4:40-4:45 p.m. - YSU Football "Team Walk" Through M-24 Tailgate Lot
5:30 p.m. - Stambaugh Stadium Gates Open
5:30 p.m. - Alumni Dinner in Stambaugh Stadium Gym C
5:30 p.m. - North/South/East Side Ticket Booths Open/Handicap Parking Available behind East Stands
5:45 p.m. - YSU Marching Pride/Lowellville High School Band "Icebreaker"
6 p.m. - 570 WKBN YSU/Pizza Hut Tailgate Show Live from M-24 Lot (Tim Johnson Autograph Signing)
6 p.m. - Mosure Hall of Gridiron Glory Opens
6:45 p.m. - YSU Marching Pride Pregame Show
7 p.m. - Tailgate Lot Closes
7:05 p.m. - YSU vs. Illinois State
Halftime: Farmers National Bank Presentation, Champion High School Marching Band, YSU Marching Pride
Postgame: Fifth-Quarter Call-in Radio Show on 570 WKBN
Game rebroadcast televised on MyYTV live at 10 o'clock Saturday on Channel 13 and 108 on Armstrong Cable and Channel 247 on Time Warner Cable and again at noon on Sunday.
On Instgram and Twitter fans are encouraged to use #GoGuins when posting photos, videos or tweets. If you need assistance in the tailgate lot contact YSU police @YSUpolice on twitter.
