ETSU Football announces 2024 promotional schedule with new traditions, changes

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (WJHL) — East Tennessee State University’s (ETSU) athletic officials announced this season’s football promotional schedule on Monday.

A news release from Buccaneer Athletics said the full slate of fanfare and fun begins with the university’s annual “Meet the Team” event, taking place on Aug. 19 at William B. Greene Jr. Stadium from 6-8 p.m.

The meet and greet is free to the public and includes several activities for kids such as field goal kicking, passing drills, and an area to suit up like a Buc team member and have your photo taken midfield. 2024 schedule posters will be given away during the Meet the Team event as well.

A full list of this season’s promotional games and events can be found below:

• Football Promotional/Theme Schedule
  • Sept. 7 vs. UVA Wise – Together We Win rally towel giveaway courtesy of College of Public Health (First 2,500 fans)
  • Sept. 14 vs. North Dakota State – Pack Greene Stadium
  • Oct. 5 vs. Chattanooga – Homecoming (Theme – Bucs Take Flight)
  • Oct. 12 vs. Samford – Bucky Bobblehead Giveaway to the first 1,000 fans courtesy of BrightRidge
  • Nov. 9 vs. Western Carolina – Family Weekend
  • Nov. 16 vs. Furman – Senior Day

Football fans will see a slew of upgrades and changes at Bucs home games this season, including a new Food City Fan Zone location at Lot 21 between the parking garage and Warf-Pickel Hall. The fan zone opens four hours before each home game.

A BrightRidge Media Zone will be near Lot 21, as well, providing free Pepsi products and TV screens to check up on games happening across the nation. This is the home spot of the Grill Talk Pregame Show, too, which features Voice of the Bucs Jay Sandos podcasting live three hours before kickoff, ending right before the Buc Walk.

Fans will now have access to the stadium’s gates 90 minutes before kickoff, according to ETSU. Pregame activities in the stadium include a kicking challenge, quarterback skills challenge, and foot races. Another new fan festivity this season is called the “Pizza Scream,” where the loudest fan in a randomly selected section will receive a free whole pizza. People hoping to get involved in pregame and halftime activities should find the Guest Services tent once inside the stadium.

Another addition to Bucs Football is a new fourth-quarter tradition, where everyone in the stands is encouraged to sing along to “Wagon Wheel.”

“As soon as the third quarter ends, we invite all fans to sing along with the Johnson City anthem as we prepare for the final quarter of action,” the release states. “As mentioned earlier, Wagon Wheel rally towels will be available at the Food City Fan Zone, so make sure to pick yours up before entering the stadium.”

The Bucs’ first home game is scheduled for Sept. 7 hosting UVA-Wise. Tickets to games can be found at ETSUTickets.com.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather.