Rivalry Week is upon us. The Blue Jays take on the Holy Cross Tigers on Friday, Sept. 29, with kickoff at 7:15 p.m. at Tad Gormley Stadium. Friday festivities, of course, kick off much earlier in the afternoon.

THROUGHOUT THE WEEK

Gameday T-Shirts 

It’s Rivalry Week, and now is the time to get ready for the Great American Rivalry Game. Fans can show their Blue Jay Spirit by wearing the Gameday Rivalry T-shirt on Friday night. Shirts are $10 / $15 for 2X and larger. Ladies and youth sizes are available. Students may purchase shirts in the Student Commons before school and at lunch through Friday morning. Others may purchase shirts inside the Banks St. entrance before school until 8 a.m. and at lunch (12 noon – 1 p.m.).

For students, Friday will be a Rivalry Game Shirt Day. It will be an opportunity for students to wear this year’s shirt and show their Blue Jay Spirit throughout the school day.

Tickets

Pre-sale tickets are $6.00 each for adults and students and $3.00 for children (ages 6-11) and are sold daily at the switchboard from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and in the student commons on Friday during lunch.  All tickets purchased at the gate are $8.00 each. Please encourage your family and friends to purchase pre-sale tickets as Jesuit retains all pre-sale revenue and also to avoid the lengthy lines at the gate.  Note that student ID’s will be accepted at the gate.

PRE-GAME ON FRIDAY AFTERNOON

Rivalry Tailgate Party

The festivities for the 98th meeting of Jesuit and Holy Cross will start at 4 p.m. outside the stadium. Complimentary food and refreshments will be provided at the tailgate party, which will conclude as the Krewe of Rivalry parade leads fans into the stadium for the game.

Jesuit and Holy Cross families will meet for a combined tailgate beginning at 4:00 p.m. Jesuit families should meet at the blue and white tent (outside Tad Gormley Stadium on the Marconi Drive side) where complimentary hamburgers, hot dogs, and soft drinks will be served. Rivalry t-shirts will be on sale and Jesuit’s Student Council will be on hand hosting fun events filled with Blue Jay Spirit.

Young Alumni Great American Cookoff

The new addition to the Rivalry Tailgate Party is the inaugural Jesuit Young Alumni Great American Cookoff. Blue Jays from the Classes of 2000 to 2013 will compete in a cookoff at their personal class tents, which will make up the Young Alumni Row. Celebrity Blue Jay Judges — Aaron Burgau ’92 (Patois/Central City BBQ), Brian Landry ’94 (Borgne), and Justin LeBlanc ’99 (Bevi Seafood) — will choose the winning team. The Blue Jay community is invited to experience each class’s culinary masterpieces when the cook-off ends. Blue Jay fans of all ages should bring their appetites for this culinary treat!

Krewe of Rivalry Parade

At 6:15 p.m., the Krewe of Rivalry Parade will be led by Jayson and Holy Cross’s Thunder the Tiger. The parade will feature each school’s marching band, cheerleaders, dance team, and this year’s Legends of the Game and Distinguished Military Alumni honorees.

DURING THE GAME

Fans won’t want to leave their seats as each school will recognize a Distinguished Military Alumnus, Legend of the Game, and Scholar-Athlete.

The presentation of the Golden Football will follow the game and conclude Friday’s festivities, but the weekend celebration at that point will only be just beginning. Alumni Homecoming continues on Saturday with the annual Alumni Homecoming Mass and Reception on Jesuit’s campus.