Football Frenzy Firing Up This Week at Cal Poly

With their team not only competing for the first time ever in the NCAA Division I-AA playoffs, but winning their first post-season game last Saturday, Cal Poly football fans have something to celebrate.

And celebrate they will this week with a midday pep rally on campus Thursday and a Poly Playoff Bash on Saturday at the Downtown Brewing Company in San Luis Obispo.

Mustang fans are encouraged to wear green and gold and cheer on the football team at a pep rally Thursday beginning 11 a.m. at the University Union on campus. The Cal Poly Band, stunt and dance teams, Musty the mascot and the Mustang Maniacs will provide entertainment.

The team will head to Texas on Friday morning for the quarterfinal-round NCAA Division I-AA football playoff game at Texas State. On Saturday, Dec. 3, the game will kick off at 1 p.m. PST (3 p.m. CST) in Bobcat Stadium, San Marcos, Texas. It will be televised on ESPN2. Both teams are in the I-AA playoffs for the first time.

Cal Poly Athletics and the Cal Poly Alumni Association invite the community to a Poly Playoff Bash on Saturday to watch the game on the big-screen TV at Downtown Brewing Company.

The party starts at noon with complimentary appetizers served until 1 p.m. Throughout the afternoon, Downtown Brewing will serve hot wings for 25 cents and house brew for $1.50. Clear Channel's John Hanson will host the event and give away prizes. The community is invited to wear green and gold and enjoy the game with other Mustang fans.

Cal Poly is the first California school to earn a berth in the NCAA Division I-AA playoffs. The Mustangs (9-3) defeated Montana 35-21 last Saturday in Missoula, Mont., while Texas State (10-2), the fourth seed in the 16-team field, rallied from a 35-16 deficit to beat Georgia Southern 50-35. The Mustangs and Bobcats have met once before -- Cal Poly beat them 38-21 last season in Mustang Stadium.

The game will be broadcast live on KXTY Radio (99.7 FM) as well as on the Internet at www.GoPoly.com with Randy Scovil doing the play-by-play and Joe Harper providing color commentary.

The game also will be televised nationally on ESPN2. Tickets to the game at $10 general admission can be purchased at the Cal Poly Ticket Office on campus or by calling (805) 756-5806 or 1-866-GoStangs.

Contact: Susan McDonald, Public Affairs, (805) 756-7109, slmcdona@calpoly.edu