Late August, each student of ACU’s freshman class received an email inviting them to be a part of a brand new tradition coming to Wildcat football games. The students were asked to sign up to help display a 105 feet wide American flag on the field at Wildcat Stadium before all home football games this upcoming season. As the new season begins, Wildcat Athletics aims to add many exciting elements to Gameday, many of which the university has never seen before. Like the Wildcat Country Tailgate and Big Purple Band performance, this new flag tradition is meant to raise morale and get fans excited before the game.

For the historic first game at Wildcat Stadium against Houston Baptist, Wildcat Athletics recruited around 70 freshman to carry the large flag out onto the field as part of the pre-game festivities.

Shae Fender, one of those students chosen, said that she signed up to carry the flag because she thought it would be fun to get involved and a great way to meet new people in the freshmen class. “I’m pumped,” Fender said. “Maybe this is the start of a tradition that will stay at ACU Football games for a very long time.”