Bone crunching tackles, the Mountaineer Fight Song, Flying WV banners. Ah, the sights and sounds of Mountaineer game day. Before you put on your blue and gold face paint, here’s what you need to know about ticketing and tailgating for the Oct. 22 night game against Virginia Tech.

How to get your hands on tickets

Beginning Wednesday (Oct. 15), student tickets will be available from 9 a.m.-6 p.m., Monday through Friday, at the Mountainlair Box Office. Tickets will be distributed on a first-come, first serve basis with extended ticketing hours9 a.m.-7:30 p.m.on game day.

Tickets will be issued at no charge to WVU students with valid ID cards. Mountaineer Cards will be swiped by a card-reader and a hard ticket for a reserved seat will be issued. Lost or destroyed tickets will not be replaced.

A WVU student may bring a maximum of 10 valid Mountaineer Cards including his/her own for student tickets. A limited number of guest tickets will be available for $30 each. Guest tickets must be purchased at the time student tickets are picked up and are limited to two per valid ID (maximum of four per transaction).

A limited number of student parking permits (50) also go on sale starting Wednesday. Students may purchase them on a first-come, first-serve basis in the Student Organizations Wing in the Mountainlair. Parking permits are $7. No parking permits will be sold after 4 p.m. game day.

Advance tickets to the public are available daily at the Mountaineer Ticket Office in the Coliseum by calling 1-800-WVU GAME or online at WVUgame.com for $30 each.

Game plan for fans, students, alumni

Mountaineer Field gates will open 1hours prior to game time. Both reserved tickets and valid Mountaineer Cards are required for admittance to Mountaineer Field. WVU students should enter the specified student gates on the east side of Mountaineer Field. An additional four student gates will be open to ease traffic getting in and out of the stadium.

The WVU Alumni Association will host a pre-game open house from 3-6 p.m. on game day at Erickson Alumni Center. Alumni may enjoy free Coke products and hors d’oeurves as they groove to the Wild Hog Band. Admission is free and guests are encouraged to park in the Krepps Park parking area across the street; cost is $5 per vehicle.

For students, a pre-game party will get under way two hours before kickoff and will be highlighted by a live band in the Pit. Since this is one of the most anticipated games of the season, the Student Government Association wanted to plan something special that students would remember.

“When students look back at their time in college, they will remember times like the Virginia Tech game. They will remember the excitement and the amount of Mountaineer pride in the air,”said Student Government Association President Charlie Battleson.

In addition to live music, free hotdogs and soft drinks will be available until the Pit closes at kickoff. (more)

Pit regulations

Here’s the lowdown on Pit rules at the Virginia Tech game.

* Only charcoal grills are permitted in the Pit; no other types of fires are allowed.

* Vehicles should enter the lot before kickoff. Vehicles that leave may not re-enter.

* Alcohol is restrictedPermit holders of legal age, with a driver’s license and ID card may bring one keg of beer (or 6 cases) into the lot per vehicle. Cans of beer (no bottles) are permitted.

* One six-pack of beer per person of legal age (walk-ins) is allowed; alcoholic beverages and wine are not permitted.

* Beer sales from kegs, etc. are prohibited and distribution of beer in plastic cups to underage students is not permitted. Underage students are not permitted. Those in violation will have Pit and game privileges revoked and be subject to disciplinary action.

* Throwing of frisbees, footballs, etc. is not allowed for safety reasons. No pets are permitted. Limited accessible parking is available. Walk-ins are welcome.

Special halftime band performance

The”Pride of West Virginia,” WVU ’s Mountaineer Marching Band, will entertain WVU students and fans during a special halftime performance.

The band will pay tribute all the men and women who have served and are presently serving in the Armed Forces, said director John Hendricks, by performing Lee Greenwood’s famous song,”God Bless the USA .”The audience will be asked to sing along as the band performs; the words will be projected on the video scoreboard.

As part of the tribute, the band will unveil the University’s new 60 ft.-by-120-ft. American flag which will serve as the band’s backdrop towards the end of the song. The Department of Intercollegiate Athletics is organizing a spectacular fireworks display to conclude this special halftime presentation.

WVU alumnus Stuart Robbins and his wife Joyce donated the money for the new flag. Robbins, a Parkersburg native, is a 1965 Arts and Sciences graduate and the vice chair of the WVU Foundation Board of Directors.