UNIVERSITY CENTER, Mich. – Saginaw Valley State University invites all area children to attend their upcoming football game at noon, Saturday, Oct. 17, 2009, against Ashland University. Children have the opportunity to experience a college football game as the Cardinals hosts NCAA Football’s eleventh annual “Take A Kid to the Game” (TAKG) program presented by Coca-Cola and sponsored by other Corporate Champions, AT&T and Pontiac. Kids, ages fourteen and younger, will receive a free ticket with the purchase of a full-priced adult ticket, to watch the Cardinals at Wickes Field. In conjunction with Take a Kid to the Game Day, SVSU will host a free basketball Community Youth Day event in which children in grades K-8 will have a chance to learn skills from basketball coaches Frankie Smith and Shannon Baugh, and athletes from their respective teams at 10:30 a.m. in O’Neill Arena.

Saginaw Valley State is one of more than 200 schools across the nation that hosting a game in this campaign focused on allowing youth the opportunity to attend college football games. The Take A Kid to the Game program is entering into its thirteenth year in the promotion of collegiate athletics.

“We encourage you to save the date. Saginaw Valley is excited about this event where kids from the community will have a chance to be apart of our game day experience and support NCAA Football’s Take A Kid to the Game program,” Mike Watson, athletic director at SVSU said. “This game day experience is an opportunity for children to spend quality time with a parent or role model and learn about sportsmanship that can be demonstrated on the playing field.”

Tickets for this special game, are available now and can be purchased at the SVSU ticket office. For more information, contact the ticket office at (989) 964-4261, tickets will also be available at the gate.

The Take A Kid to the Game program is one of the national promotions of NCAA Football, the marketing arm of college football. NCAA Football represents a coalition of the National Collegiate Athletic Association, the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics and the Conference Commissioners Association. Please visit the official website, www.ncaafootball.com, for further information on current initiatives and to explore the newly updated interactive website that is the premier location to get all inclusive college football information with up-to-date scores, stats, audio and video streaming and unique content form every division.

SVSU will host more Community Youth Days, sponsored by Graff Chevrolet, coming up in 2009. The scheduled dates are:
Dec. 5: 3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Free soccer clinic for girls and boys grades K-8 in Cardinal Gym. Stay for Cardinals men’s and women’s basketball as SVSU takes on Hillsdale College at 5 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Jan. 2: 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Free cheerleading clinic for girls and boys grades K-8 in the East Arena. Stay for Cardinals men’s and women’s basketball as SVSU takes on Lake Superior State University.
Feb 6: 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Free softball and baseball clinic for girls and boys grades K-8 in the East Arena. Stay for Cardinals basketball as the women’s and men’s basketball as the Cardinals take on Northwood University at 5 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Feb. 20: 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Free football clinic for boys in grades K-8 in East Arena, and volleyball for girls in grades K-8 in Cardinal Gym. Stay for SVSU basketball as the Cardinals take on Grand Valley State University at 5 p.m. and 7 p.m.

All clinics are conducted by SVSU coaching staff and student-athletes at SVSU’s Ryder Center, and sponsored by Graff Chevrolet. Clinic participants will receive free admission to the game that follows the clinic, as well as a coupon for a free hot dog and pop at the concession stand.