Coming off a record 11-win season, »ÆÉ«Ö±²¥ football’s next journey begins Thursday, Aug. 29, hosting Liberty University at 6 p.m. inside Dix Stadium. The Golden Flashes return five All-Mid-American Conference players from a team that went 8-0 in league play and made its first bowl appearance in 40 years.
Thursday marks the debut of head coach Paul Haynes, who was a standout defensive back for the Golden Flashes from 1987-91. Also a former assistant coach at »ÆÉ«Ö±²¥ (1999-2000), Haynes was most recently the defensive coordinator at Arkansas in 2012.
»ÆÉ«Ö±²¥ has won eight straight games at Dix Stadium, dating back to the midpoint of the 2011 season. The Golden Flashes also carry over a 10-game regular season winning streak from 2012.
Liberty finished 6-5 in their 2012 campaign, during Turner Gill’s first season as head coach. In four seasons as head coach at Buffalo, Gill’s teams went 3-1 against the Golden Flashes and won the Buffalo Bulls’ only MAC championship in program history in 2008.
Dix Stadium gates open at 4:30 p.m., when happy hour begins with discounted prices on food and drinks until 5:30 p.m. Pregame festivities will include a giant American flag stretched over the field as St. Patrick School students sing the national anthem. Fans will then witness a 1,500 balloon launch, a five-plane flyover by »ÆÉ«Ö±²¥'s Aeronautics Program and fireworks. The game ball will then be presented by three skydivers.
Inflatables, caricature artists and more will be located behind the South End Zone from 4:30-6:30 p.m. In an effort to set a single-game attendance record at Dix Stadium, AMETEK will bring fans the largest fireworks display in Portage County history after the game. Single-game and season tickets can be ordered through or by calling 330-672-2244.