Students at game can enter $5000 raffle

MootPoint · October 4, 2005

Students at game can enter $5,000 raffle

Bryan Shettig

Staff Writer

October 04, 2005

NT students attending the Mean Green football game today are able to enter a raffle to win $5,000 for tuition fees, housing and textbooks.

The Mean Green football team plays Troy University at 6:30 p.m. at Fouts Field.

This is the first time a raffle such as this is held at an NT football game, said Rick Villareal, director of athletics.

“We try and do different things every year and come get the students involved,” Villareal said.

The event is part of Student Appreciation Day, Villareal said. There will be 3,000 free T-shirts given out during the game as well as raffles each quarter.

In the first quarter of the game, students will have their names drawn to win premium parking passes for next semester.

Students without a parking pass for this semester will receive a current one.

During the second quarter, more premium parking passes will be handed out as well as a $250 gift certificate for textbooks.

In the third quarter, premium parking passes will be accompanied with a $500 certificate for books.

Student athletes are not eligible for any awards.

At the beginning of the fourth quarter, one student will win the cash prize: $5,000 for school-related expenses.

“That [money] includes tuition fees, books, parking passes and if there is money to spare, even housing,” Villareal said.

The athletics department is paying for this out of their promotional budget, which Villareal says is between $110,000 and $120,000 a year.

Some students seem to be reacting positively already.

“I think [the raffle] is absolutely wonderful and is a great tool the athletics department is taking advantage of to get students to go to the game,” said Kaycie Tugman, Burkburnett senior and Eagle Talon treasurer.

Anida Napkaphone, Mineral Falls junior and Eagle Talons spirit chair, said, “I think it’s a great incentive, and not just because it’s our school but because the game is being broadcasted nationally too.”

Mean Green’s football match again Troy University will be featured on ESPN2 and is expected to have an attendance in excess of 500 people( or ), according to www.unt.edu.

Current NT students with a school ID card can attend games for free at the student gate at Fouts Field.