The old saying is that anything worth having is worth waiting for. The Stetson football team has been waiting for nine months to finally get back on the field, and the long wait will come to an end on Saturday night at Spec Martin Memorial Stadium.
 
After having their originally scheduled season-opener against Presbyterian cancelled last weekend by Hurricane Dorian, the Hatters will take on the Wildcats of Louisiana College Saturday afternoon. The game is scheduled for a 6 p.m. start and will be broadcast on ESPN+.
 
In response to the devastation in the Bahamas from Hurricane Dorian, Stetson Athletics and the Stetson Student-Athlete Advisory Council are partnering with Diamond Girl Media, Inc., Rescue Life and Orange Theory Studios to collect emergency relief items for the people on Grand Bahama Island.
 
"The Bahamas were devastated by Dorian and the Stetson community is committed to providing help," Director of Athletics Jeff Altier said. "Please join us in providing help by bringing your donations to the football game on Saturday."
 
Fans are encouraged to bring items from the list of emergency needs to all Stetson Athletics home events over the next two weeks. Items needed include: water, baby formula, bug spray, mosquito coils, lights and matches, feminine care products, can openers, chain saws, generators, extension cords, gas cans, paper towels, toilet paper, any kind of camping gear, tents, tarps, non-perishable food items, water pumps, flashlights, batteries, towels, pet supplies and more. Cash is also a welcome donation.
 
See the attached flyer for complete details on the relief effort. Donated items will be delivered to the people of the Bahamas on September 25.
 
Gates will open at 5 p.m. All Stetson University students – with a valid student ID – will receive free admission to all Hatters home football games this fall. First-year Stetson students will lead the team out of the tunnel and onto the field before the game. The first 250 students through the student entrance on the north end of the stadium will receive t-shirts, beach towels and water bottles and will have first choice of seating on Hatter Hill.
 
Stetson students can also catch a free ride to the stadium for the game. Pick up will be from the Athletic Training Center (ATC) parking lot at 5 p.m. Buses will depart the stadium for the return trip 10 minutes after the game ends.
 
In addition to cancelling the game against Presbyterian for a second consecutive year – the planned 2018 game was called off because of Hurricane Florence – the Hatters will go into the game against the Wildcats with just two days of game-week preparation.
 
The Hatters did practice last Friday and Saturday before evacuating from campus. The squad will be back on the Watson Family practice field at the ATC for the first time on Thursday evening, and will return for a Friday morning practice before squaring off against LC Saturday night.
 
It is not the first time that Stetson has played Louisiana College. The programs crossed paths on November 1, 1924, in Tampa, with the Hatters taking a 32-0 victory in that game. Stetson has also played four other teams from the state of Louisiana and has an overall record of 2-5 in those games.
 
Stetson has an overall record of 29-23-2 in season openers going back to the first game in program history in 1901 against Florida Agricultural College. The Hatters are 20-4-1 in season-openers at home and comes into the 2019 season riding a six-game home win streak.
 
About Stetson University Athletics: Stetson University's Athletics Program has a vision of developing a culture of champions athletically, academically and within the community. This vision is accomplished through a mission of recruiting and developing student-athletes, coaches and staff, creating a culture of champions, within and outside of competition. The department operates with five core values: Championship Culture, Integrity, Excellence, Pride/Tradition and Leadership. To learn more about the Vision, Mission and Core Values for Stetson Athletics, visit GoHatters.com and click on Mission Statement under the Inside Athletics tab.