The Prairie View A&M University football team wrapped up preparations for its season opener Friday and will open the 2018 season at Rice Saturday at 6 p.m.
Coverage of Panthers Training Camp on pvpanthers.com is sponsored by Texas Farm Bureau Insurance. Texas Farm Bureau Members can receive free tickets to Panther home athletics contests by showing proof of membership at the PVAMU
Ticket Office. Panther Nation can visit the local Texas Farm Bureau Agent in Waller to become a member today.
Friday only, fans can buy tickets online only for just $15 at pvpanthers.com/ricegame, with ticket pickup at Rice Stadium Will Call Gate 4 on Saturday. Tickets can also be purchased in person at Wolf's Department Store.
The Panther Sports Network radio pregame show, Panthers Countdown To Kickoff, begins at 5:30 p.m. online at pvpanthers.com/sportsnetwork. Interviews with senior LB
Anthony Stubbs and Head Coach
Eric Dooley will air. At halftime, Interim Athletic Director
Fred Washington will be interviewed, along with new PVAMU head soccer coach
Sonia Curvelo.
Saturday's game will also be video streamed online on ESPN+, the new online portal of ESPN, at the cost of $4.99 per month. The subscription comes with a free seven-day trial. The monthly subscription renews every 30 days, and would also be good to watch the Panthers – Sam Houston game on Sept. 8.
Since offseason weight training in early January to this last weekend of August, Dooley has worked to build the football team for Saturday's opener and beyond. The energy during game week maintained as it has all of camp, but the excitement has definitely increased as the week has moved forward.
"Practice has continued to be up-tempo this week," Dooley said. "For the most part during fall camp, they have been up-tempo. Guys pushed through the challenge, gave great energy, and they did the same this week. Now they get a chance to go against a different opponent. They've been going against each other since January. It was a tough spring practice session, and a tough fall camp. They're excited and ready to see where we are and face an opposing team. I want to see how we're going to matchup. I feel good about where we are, and what we bring to the table. They are raring to go."
On the eve of his first game as head coach, the usually low-key Dooley can't contain his eagerness to get to gametime Saturday.
"I've tried to take it as another game, but it's not," Dooley said, who will have numerous family, friends, and former players in attendance. "It's no sense of normalcy. "I'm full of excitement and emotion and ready to go."
