Join the "Put Your Best Fairmont Forward" Initiative

Fairmont State University and the Department of Athletics have announced plans for the 2010-2011 Community Engagement Initiative. The plan, titled "Put Your Best Fairmont Forward," is centered around FSU's nationally televised football game against West Liberty at 8 p.m. Sept. 30.

(How to watch the game:Fans can watch the game live across the country on CBS College Sports Network and providers include: Cablevision, Charter Communications, Comcast Cable, Cox Communications, DIRECTV (613), Dish Network (152), Insight Communications, Mediacom, Time Warner Cable and Verizon FIOS.)

If you're in the Fairmont area, tune in to WTCS-AM 1490 from noon to 12:30 p.m. Sept. 29 to hear Interim Director of Alumni Relations Emily Swain and Director of Athletic Media Relations Adam Zundell preview the game and all this week's exciting activities. You can also listen live on the web stream at www,1490wtcs.com.

On Sept. 30 from 6:10 to 7 p.m., you can also hear Tony Caridi and crew n the Metronews Statewide Sportsline broadcasting from the FSU campus. For information on how to listen, visit http://www.wvmetronews.com/main.cfm?content=progsched&show=sportsline

Fairmont State's 2009-2010 Community Engagement Initiative was recognized as the best in the WVIAC and one of the best in the country. For more information on last year's initiative, visit: http://www.fightingfalcons.com/news/default/31/9191/

"This game is a great opportunity for us because we can show everyone across the country the best of what Fairmont State and the community have to offer," said Director of Athletics Rusty Elliott. "We obviously are trying to engage local groups and students so that the atmosphere that night will be electric, but we also want to use our role to help us give back to the community."

In order to give back, Fairmont State has organized "Read & Feed" through its Student-Athlete Advisory Committe (SAAC). Everyone coming to the game will be asked to bring a can of food and/or a gently used children's book that will be collected by the SAAC at the stadium entrance. Later, members of SAAC will then organize its different athletic teams to distribute the items throughout the area to help aid local food banks, as well as schools and libraries.  

"We hope to once again have over 5,000 people in attendance that night, and if every single person brought something, this could be an amazing project for the community," said Frank Keenan, a member of the football team and president of the SAAC. "It should be a great night for a game, and a great response from this effort would be would be a victory for our area."

Keenan will also help organize members of the football team and the SAAC to go into the community and personally invite people to the game and promote the "Read & Feed" activity.

In addition to the "Read & Feed," FSU is partnering with two organizations locally to help generate energy and excitement for the game. Fairmont State has announced, in conjunction with Main Street Fairmont, a Scarecrow Contest in which anyone in the community, as well as campus groups, are invited to decorate lamp posts with Fairmont State-themed items leading up to the game. (Download the entry form here <http://www.fightingfalcons.com/media/2010-11/football/news/Scarecrow%20Contest_Rules_Registration%202010%20FSU.pdf> , or call Main Street Fairmont at 304-366-0468.) 

"This initiative is a great opportunity to partner with Fairmont State and the downtown business community to support not only athletics but the university as a whole," said Vera Sansalone, Director of Main Street Fairmont.  

Also, for the second-straight year, FSU will once again partner with the Marion County Chamber of Commerce and Marion Regional Development Corporation to host a Pre-Game Tailgate the night of the West Liberty game. In addition, the Chamber of Commerce and Main Street Fairmont are organizing to "Paint the Town Maroon" in which local store fronts will be decorated in maroon and white.   

"The Marion County Chamber and Fairmont State have been great partners over the year and this is a perfect opportunity for chamber members, their families and employees to come out and show their support for FSU, Pierpont Community & Technical College and the college community," said Tina Shaw, President of the Marion County Chamber of Commerce. "We are looking for a large turnout and are thrilled to be a part of the excitement."

The night of the game, Fairmont State and Pierpont Student Government will be holding a Pre-Game Tailgate/Pep-Rally in the student lot adjacent to the FSU tennis courts starting at 5 p.m. The band "Vintage Drive" will be performing throughout the evening in that lot. Free "Falcon Fanatic" T-shirts and hot dogs will be given to students at that tailgate. In addition, the Department of Intramurals will be hosting games and activities in the lot for students as part of the tailgate.

The Alumni Association will be sponsoring an Ice Cream Social at the game and giving away glow bracelets for the game under the lights. The alumni tent will be located inside the stadium behind the scoreboard. Fairmont State will be bringing in the nationally recognized East Fairmont High School band to provide entertainment throughout the game and at half time. 

"As you can see, this is a huge event with many different components and groups involved, and we hope we have something for everyone," said Elliott. "We hope it is a great night of football, and a great night for Fairmont and Fairmont State University."

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