Terps To Participate in Gridiron Bash
March 13, 2008
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The University of Maryland and New York City-based MSL Sports and Entertainment announced Thursday that the school will play host to Gridiron BashTM The Ultimate Fan CompetitionTM on Saturday, April 19 in Chevy Chase Bank Field at Byrd Stadium.
Gridiron Bash, an endeavor to combine spring football and live music on campuses around the country, will feature a Terps football scrimmage followed by performances of two nationally-renowned bands with local ties.
The Maryland football team opens the festivities at 2 p.m. ET with a scrimmage, giving fans their first opportunity to see the 2008 edition of the Terps.
Later that day there will be live music sandwiched around a pep rally. Maryland-based, roots-rock band O.A.R. (Of a Revolution) kicks off the music portion of the day-long event at 7 p.m.
In keeping with the football gameday theme, the audience will then get treated to a pep rally followed by a performance from multi-platinum, MTV award-winning pop punk band Good Charlotte, which also hails from state of Maryland.
"This is a unique opportunity for our fans and the local community," Maryland Coach Ralph Friedgen said. "They'll have a chance to see us play twice in the spring under game-like conditions, and see live music in a gameday atmosphere."
Maryland is one of nearly 20 universities participating in the inaugural event, which will take place over a two-day span (April 18-19). Other schools include Tennessee, Penn State, Colorado, Texas A&M, Arizona State, Kansas State, West Virginia and Rutgers.
Musical acts performing around the country include ZZ Top, Fergie, Counting Crows, the Goo Goo Dolls and Kelly Clarkson.
Admission to the scrimmage is free. Tickets for Gridiron Bash, priced at $37, go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday through the University of Maryland ticket office. Fans may call 1-800-IM-A-TERP or click here. All seating in the stadium will be reserved.
One week after Gridiron Bash, Maryland football fans will have their final opportunity to see the Terps before the season opener vs. Delaware on Aug. 30.
The Terps will play their annual Red-White Spring Game on Saturday, April 26 in Chevy Chase Bank Field at Byrd Stadium. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. The game culminates Maryland Day, a family celebration which takes place on campus. As always, the Red-White Spring Game is free.
At the core of Gridiron BashTM is a fan contest --The USA TODAY Bash for Cash SeriesTM -- that will establish which of the participating schools has the most passionate and supportive fans. The USA TODAY Bash for Cash SeriesTM winners will be determined by adding up the total attendance at the Gridiron BashTM event and combining that with the number of fans who text/call in to vote for their school. MSL projects total attendance to be about 1 million.
The USA TODAY Bash for Cash SeriesTM winning university will receive a $1 million contribution to their General Scholarship fund, with second and third- place schools receiving $500,000 and $250,000 respectively. Presentation of the winning schools will be aired live on FOX Sports Net.
FOX Sports Net will air a one-hour recap of the event at 9 p.m. ET on April 19 and 20.
"We're thrilled to bring Gridiron Bash to The University of Maryland. The event will set a new tradition around spring football and feed the appetite of fans looking to be involved with the program beyond the season," says Shawn Garrity, president of MSL Sports and Entertainment and a former linebacker at Syracuse. "Gridiron Bash truly is the ultimate fan competition. It offers fans the ideal opportunity to give back to the universities."
