Texas football kicks off season Sunday with Fan Day celebration
By Steve Lansdale
AUSTIN, Texas — The University of Texas will kick off the 2016 football season with Fan Day, Sunday, Aug. 7 at Darrel K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium.
The day will start with an open practice at 9:35 a.m. (gates open at 9) that will give fans their first look at the newest version of the Texas team, which opens the season Sept. 4 at home against Notre Dame.
Free parking for Fan Day will be available in Manor Garage (directly west of Mike A. Myers Stadium), LBJ lots 37, 38 and 39 (directly west of Frank Denius Fields) and in Lot 70 (south of Mike A. Myers Stadium), as well as on the street along Robert Dedman Dr.
After the open practice, fans are welcome to line up on the east concourses between Section 27 and Section 31 for autographs from the Longhorns — offensive players will be on the upper level, while defensive players will be on the lower level; fans will create separate lines to meet players separated by position groups. Head coach Charlie Strong will be available for photo ops — photos with Strong will be taken by Texas Athletics personnel and fans can download the FREE photos online — while his assistant coaches will be signing autographs inside the Red McCombs Red Zone.
Commemorative 18-by-24-inch schedule posters will be provided for autographs (limit one per person); as a reminder, posters featuring student-athlete autographs may not be sold per NCAA rules. No outside items — footballs, t-shirts, tickets, etc. — may be brought in for autographs. Due to time constraints, photos with players and assistant coaches are also not permitted. Player autographs and photo ops with Coach Strong will last from 1:30-3:15 p.m.
Fans may also participate in many interactive activities in the Gate 25 plaza following practice. All autographs and activities are free and on a first come, first served basis. Large crowds are expected so please prepare accordingly.
