See the Blue and Gold Scrimmage, and Meet the Aggies, too

by Dave Jones
August 11, 2011

The Blue and Gold Scrimmage comes with something extra this year: Meet the Aggies, a festival for Aggie football fans of all ages, with picture-taking and autographs, guided tours and an invitation to young people to take to the field before the scrimmage to warm up with the players.

The fan fest and scrimmage are all free, the evening of Thursday, Aug. 25, at Aggie Stadium. Coupons for free hot dogs will go to the first 500 fans, and children will have opportunities to describe the scrimmage action, by way of the public address system or on radio.

“The goal is to create a new annual tradition that uses Aggie football as a means to bond families together and build a sense of community and pride,” the athletics communications staff said in a news release.

Traditionally, the Blue and Gold Scrimmage has been held on the last Friday in August. This year’s event has been moved up a day to give the Aggies a full week before their opening game at Arizona State. (Another scrimmage is scheduled from 10:45 a.m. to noon Saturday, Aug. 20.)

The fan fest, in conjunction with the Aug, 25 scrimmage, "will focus on the game day experience and allow fans a behind-the-scenes look at how a college football game operates,” the news release states.

Guided tours are planned in the press box, the team locker room and on the sidelines during the scrimmage, allowing fans to get a feel for the intensity and high energy of college football. Video highlights from past seasons will be playing continuously in the Bruce Edwards Club Room on the stadium’s west side, and the Causeway Classic and Golden Horseshoe trophies will be on display.

When the scrimmage ends, fans will be welcome on the field to greet the players, and to get pictures and autographs. Fans will be invited to gear up for their photos, in real Aggie football equipment.

The Aggie Information Booth will be bustling with activity:

Ticket sales
Memberships in the new Junior Aggie Club ($25 for admission to most home athletics contests in 2011-12)
Pictures and autographs with students who participate in other sports besides football
Information about other sports at UC Davis

The Aggie Pride Outlet store will be selling old uniforms, at discounted prices, along with new Aggie merchandise.

The fan festival is scheduled to run from 6 to 9 p.m. Warm-ups with the team start at 6, and the guided tours will start after kickoff at 7.