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FLORIDA TECH COLLEGE FOOTBALL IS HERE

By  //  September 7, 2013

panthers take on Stetson tonight - sold out


ABOVE VIDEO: Florida Tech Assistant Vice President for Athletic Fundraising, Matt Kilcullen, talks about the excitement on campus and in the community about the university’s first-ever football game tonight.

BREVARD COUNTY • MELBOURNE, FLORIDA— Florida Tech’s inaugural football season kicks off at 7 p.m tonight at Palm Bay High School and the excitement is palpable all across Brevard County.

Sean Ashley zeroes in on a wide receiver during practice last Saturday at Panther Field. (Amanda Stratford image)
Sean Ashley zeroes in on a wide receiver during practice last Saturday at Panther Field. Ashley has been named the starting QB for the Panther’s first-ever game vs. Stetson tonight. (Amanda Stratford image)

The Panthers’ schedule features some of the strongest competition in the country at the NCAA Division II level.

In their inaugural game tonight, Tech will play another first-year program, Stetson University from NCAA Division I-AA. Stetson previously played football from 1901-56. Less than 100 miles separates the institutions.

“Tonight’s first ever game is sold out and this will be a special night for Florida Tech,” said Matt Kilcullen, Florida Tech’s Assistant Vice President for Athletic Fundraising.

“I can’t wait for the kickoff and the ball is in the air. College Football in Brevard County is here.”

The Panther Prowl, which is the name of the student walk from the student center to the Varsity Training Center on campus, will begin around 4:15 p.m. The walk will be a site to see. The drum line of FIT’s Pep Band and Varsity Cheerleaders will lead the team. The walk will go past the Aquatic Center and touch the nose of the Panther statue. The walk will then proceed through the tailgating area, culminated with a song by the band.

Single-game general admission seats are also sold out, but tickets for the Panther’s remaining five home dates are available at FloridaTechSports.com, in person at the Clemente Center Box Office and by dialing 321-674-8032.

Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for seniors ages 65 and above, FIT faculty and staff with school ID, children ages 5-16 and active duty military with ID. Children under five years of age are free. Fans are encouraged to buy single-game tickets to guarantee a seat at a game and be part of the excitement of Panther Football.


ABOVE VIDEO: Florida Tech Head coach Steve Englehart, talks about preparations for the first game.


ABOVE VIDEO: A look behind the scenes into the Tech football locker room as the players get ready for practice – just days before the University’s first ever football game.

FIRST EVER COLLEGE FOOTBALL FOR FLORIDA TECH

Brevard County’s first and only college football team will be on national TV on Thursday, Sept. 19 at 8 p.m. ET from Melbourne, Fla.

Florida Tech, an affiliate of the Gulf South Conference in football, will play its first GSC game against none other than the defending conference champion, the University of West Alabama, at Pirate Stadium.

A challenging six-game home schedule awaits the first-year Panthers. It will begin with the program’s inaugural game on Sept. 7 at 7 p.m. against Stetson. Less than two weeks later on Sept. 19, FIT will host defending Gulf South Conference Champion West Alabama in a national TV game on CBS Sports Network at 8 p.m. ET. (Florida Tech image)
A challenging six-game home schedule awaits the first-year Panthers. It will begin with the program’s inaugural game on Sept. 7 at 7 p.m. against Stetson. Less than two weeks later on Sept. 19, FIT will host defending Gulf South Conference Champion West Alabama in a national TV game on CBS Sports Network at 8 p.m. ET. (Florida Tech image)

A challenging six-game home schedule awaits the first-year Panthers. It begins tonight with the program’s inaugural game against Stetson. Less than two weeks later on Sept. 19, FIT will host defending Gulf South Conference Champion West Alabama in a national TV game on CBS Sports Network at 8 p.m. ET. (Florida Tech image)

On Oct. 19, Shorter University from Rome, Ga. will travel to Melbourne for a 2 p.m. GSC showdown. Nicknamed the Hawks, they are in their last year of transition from NAIA to NCAA Division II’s Gulf South Conference. Since their program started in 2005, they have a winning record of 49-38.

HOMECOMING SET FOR OCT. 26

Florida Tech’s first official Homecoming Game is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 26 at 1 p.m. ET at Pirate Stadium. The Panthers will square off against Warner University, a first-year program at the NAIA level from Lake Wales, Fla.

TECH-FOOTBALL-053113-435-2The Crimson and Gray will oppose North Alabama, another NCAA Division II power, on Saturday, Nov. 9 at 2 p.m. ET. The Lions have won three NCAA Division II National Championships, nine GSC titles and appeared in the NCAA Division II playoffs 17 times.

In their last home game of their inaugural season, the Panthers will welcome Webber International University to Melbourne on Saturday, Nov. 16 for a 2 p.m. kickoff. An NAIA program, WIU is looking to build off a 4-6 season in 2012.

The Clemente Center is located on the FIT campus at 150 West University Blvd.

In addition to FIT’s six home games, it will play at Newberry College (Sept. 14), Delta State University (Sept. 28), defending NCAA Division II National Champion Valdosta State University (Oct. 5), Ave Maria University (Oct. 12) and the University of West Georgia (Oct. 31). The Panthers’ game at West Georgia will be shown live on regional television. Tickets for all away games are being handled by the athletic departments at the respective home institutions.

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