Football excitement is here!

With the start of the football season set for Thursday night, Sept. 2, at 7 p.m. in Dix Stadium, Kent State's ambitious "90Ksu: Everyone Counts" initiative continues to move full speed ahead.

The Department of Intercollegiate Athletics is rapidly approaching the halfway mark of its goal of 90,000 tickets sold - all with a single snap yet to be taken in the 2010 football campaign. As a matter of fact, season ticket sales are up more than 40 percent over last year's number.

Intercollegiate Athletics unveiled the brand new pre-game tailgate experience at its inaugural Fan Experience night Aug. 19. More than 1,000 fans of all ages turned out to enjoy the food, music and inflatables in the Field House before moving to Dix Stadium for a scrimmage and autograph session with the coaches and players.

"The support for our 90Ksu initiative from the university and the surrounding communities has been tremendous," says Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Joel Nielsen. "We sold more than 100 season tickets in the five days following our Fan Experience night because the people that came out had a great time at the event. Now our job is to keep this positive momentum going while providing six memorable game days both on and off the field."

General admission season tickets are available for $30 while Kent State faculty and staff receive a 20 percent discount on chairback season tickets. After opening the six-game home slate Thursday night against Murray State, the Flashes return to Dix Stadium for Homecoming Oct. 9 against Akron.

We'll see you at Dix Stadium!