 "Photo: Jerry Rogers - Echo staff photographer")
Sep. 19--DURHAM -- To commemorate the first meeting of Duke University and N.C. Central University on the football field, both universities and their student unions have organized a celebration for the entire Durham community from 5:30-11 p.m. on Thursday at Historic Durham Athletic Park, 428 Morris St.
The family-friendly event will feature activities for children, local food vendors, live music and performances by university student organizations. Bull City Football Fest is free and open to all residents, visitors and students from both universities.
The Bull City Football Fest kicks off a weekend full of activities leading up to the Bull City Gridiron Classic at Duke's Wallace Wade Stadium at 7 p.m. Sept. 26.
"This game is a long time in the making and will be an important and historic moment for Duke, NCCU and the City of Durham," said Duke President Richard H. Brodhead. "It will be an exciting game and a wonderful weekend for the entire community."
Thursday's event will feature the official pep rally for the game beginning at 6:30 p.m. and will include remarks from Duke head football coach David Cutcliffe, NCCU head football coach Mose Rison and Durham Mayor Bill Bell. The Duke University Marching Band and the NCCU Sound Machine will perform, as will both schools' cheerleaders.
The event also includes a children's activity area with carnival games, moon bounces, an inflatable obstacle course, bungie runs, rock climbing, arts and crafts and free snow cones and cotton candy. Following the pep rally, there will be a special meet and greet with the university mascots, the Duke Blue Devil and the NCCU Eagle.
The evening will conclude with a concert by bands The Sammies and The Dickens.
"This is an exciting opportunity for both institutions and the Durham community," said NCCU Chancellor Charlie Nelms. "It is my hope that this is the beginning of one of the strongest cross-town rivalries in the Southeast."
Tickets for the Bull City Gridiron Classic will be available for purchase at the event. Tickets are also available at www.durhamchamber.org -- click the Calendar of Events tab -- and at www.GoDuke.com online.
For more information about the Bull City Football Fest or the Bull City Gridiron Classic, please contact David Jarmul of Duke at (919) 684-3973 or Cindy Fobert of NCCU at (919) 530-7266.
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Bull City Football Fest
Here's a look at Thursday's schedule:
- 5:30-6:30 p.m. -- DJs from WXDU and WKNC playing music.
- 6:30-7:20 p.m. -- Pep rally featuring head coaches, football team captains, marching bands and cheerleaders.
- 7:20-7:25 p.m. -- Proclamation by Durham Mayor Bill Bell.
- 7:30-9:10 p.m. -- Performances by student groups from Duke and NCCU, including: The Pitchforks (a cappella), DefMo (hip hop dance), Inside Joke (sketch comedy), Sabrosura (Latin dance) and Stop Motion (break dancing).
- 9:10-10:00 p.m. -- Concert by The Sammies.
- 10-11 p.m. -- Concert by The Dickens.
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