Coming off an important Big East victory over Syracuse Sunday in a noisy Carrier Dome, West Virginia Universitys football team and coaches are anxious to hear from their hometown fans as they prepare for Saturdays (Sept. 10) 6 p.m. home open against Wofford at Milan Puskar Stadium.

The annual pep rally known as FanFest is set for 5 p.m. Friday, Sept. 9, in front of the Mountainlair.

The event is free and open to the public, and fans are asked to not only show their support for the Mountaineers, but also for the victims of Hurricane Katrina.

Along with appearances by the team, coaches, Mountaineer Marching Band, cheerleading squad and Mountaineer, the Student Health Advisory Board and WVU Student Government Association are joining forces to collect donations for Hurricane Katrina relief.

A table will be set up from 4-6 p.m. Friday in front of theLair to continue monetary collections. All funds go to the American Red Cross; checks should be made payable to: ARC Hurricane Katrina.

FanFest will also include free food beginning at 4:30 p.m. and special giveaways.

SGA also will be selling tickets to the 84 Lumber Classic golf tournament Sept. 12-18 at Nemacolin Woodlands Resort as part of a fund-raiser to benefit SGA s Student Memorial Scholarship and other charitable organizations.

FanFest is sponsored by Cellular One, Coca-Cola, WVU s Office of Institutional Advancement, the Mountaineer Maniacs and the Student Government Association.