January 28, 2008
Texas A&M University and the New York City-based MSL Sports and Entertainment today announced that the university will host Gridiron Bash The Ultimate Fan Competition the day before the Maroon & White spring football game.
The historic event will take place during the evening of April 18 at Kyle Field and include a live performance by Rock and Roll Hall of Fame mega stars, ZZ Top, (named "Official Texas Heroes" by the Texas House of Representatives), as well as a giant yell practice introducing the Fightin' Texas Aggie football team and new head coach Mike Sherman along with many former football legends and other festive fan activities.
According to a report on Billboard.com, the April 18 event, billed as the largest single-day sports and entertainment event to take place on college campuses, will visit about 20 universities. Among the schools participating are Texas A&M, Kansas State, Colorado, Tennessee, the United States Military Academy, West Virginia, Penn State, Utah, Washington, Iowa, Arizona State, Maryland, Rutgers, South Carolina, Kentucky, UTEP, Auburn, Alabama and Boston College.
Tickets for the concert and Maroon and White Game combined are $40 and go on sale Wednesday, Jan. 30 at 8 a.m. central at the Texas A&M athletic ticket office and can also be purchased through www.gridironbash.com and AggieAthletics.com. Seats for the concert are reserved while the spring game will be general admission. The 12th Man Television will be utilized for both the concert and the game.
Texas A&M student tickets are $35 if they are purchased at the Kyle Field ticket office.
For fans just wanting to attend the Maroon & White Game, tickets are $5 while Texas A&M students and younger are admitted free of charge. Plenty of fan activities will surround the Maroon & White Game including an autograph session with the new staff and players as well as a fireworks display after the game.
"There is a lot of excitement surrounding the arrival of Coach Mike Sherman and the Aggie football team," Bill Byrne, Texas A&M Director of Athletics, said. "We've had excellent crowds for our spring games, but this is an opportunity for our Aggie fans to show the country how passionate the 12th Man is concerning football. Even if they can not attend the events surrounding the weekend's activities, our fans can still take part in other areas to help give back to this great institution. I know Aggie fans love a challenge."
At the core of Gridiron Bash is a fan contest - The USA Today Bash for Cash Series - that will establish which of the participating schools has the most passionate and supportive fans. The USA Today Bash for Cash Series winning university will receive a $1 million contribution, with second and third place schools receiving $500,000 and $250,000 respectively. Presentation of the winning schools will be aired live in conjunction with a soon-to-be-announced national television partner.
"We're thrilled to bring Gridiron Bash to Texas A&M University," Shawn Garrity, president of MSL Sports and Entertainment and former Syracuse linebacker, said. "The event will set a new tradition around spring football and feed the appetite of fans looking to be involved with the program beyond the regular season. Gridiron Bash truly is the ultimate fan competition. It offers fans the ideal opportunity to give back to the universities."
"I'm very excited about all of the activity surrounding the Maroon & White Game," Aggie head football coach Mike Sherman said. "A great crowd will inspire our team and will help in recruiting even more talented student-athletes to Texas A&M."
Texas A&M baseball head coach Rob Childress and the Aggie baseball team moved the start of the Friday baseball game against Baylor to 6 p.m. so fans can watch baseball and head across the street to Kyle Field to enjoy ZZ Top.
Parking will be reserved for Friday evening due to Aggie baseball at Olsen Field as well as football parking lots A,B and C. The surface lots are available for anyone with a valid Texas A&M University parking permit. A charge of $5 will be issued for any other surface parking lot.
Prior to the Maroon & White game on Saturday afternoon, the nationally-ranked Aggie softball team will host Kansas at the Aggie Softball Complex at 2 p.m. Tickets for that game are also available on aggieathletics.com.