West Virginia University football fans motoring to the Jan. 1, 2007 Toyota Gator Bowl can make aMountaineer connectionalong the way near Beckley at Tamarack, the nations first retail center for handcrafts.
In addition to connecting with friends and others traveling south, fans will enjoy free logo items, such as face tattoos and lapel blinkies courtesy of WVU . The Beckley Register-Herald will offer a special bowl edition newspaper wrapped in a WVU window banner. Tamarack will serve free soft drinks or coffee to those wearing the Mountaineer colors, and offer discounts on blue and gold merchandise.
Tamarack welcomes fans Dec. 28-30 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Dec. 31 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Fan Center fliers with information on WVU , the Gator Bowl and Jacksonville-related activities will also be available.
This is the fifth time Tamarack, WVU and the Beckley Register-Herald have served as aMountaineer Connectionpoint for fans traveling to WVU bowlcities. Previous stopovers have been held for the Sugar Bowl, the Continental Tire Bowl and other Gator Bowls.
To reach Tamarack, take the I-77 S / I-64 E interchange to Beckley at Exit 45. Tamaracks red, peaked roof is easily spotted on the right at the end of the exit ramp.
After arriving in Jacksonville, Fla., fans are encouraged to stop by the award-winning Mountaineer Fan Center, jointly sponsored by WVU s Office of University Advancement and Marketing, the WVU Alumni Association and the WVU Foundation.
It will be located at the Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront Hotel (third floor Terrace Pavilion #1 ballrooms). Thousands of fans are expected to participate in this popular event being dubbed,The Mountaineer Connection.
The Center will operate from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 30; and from 9 a.m. to 1.p.m. Sunday, Dec. 31.
On game day, Jan. 1, the venue will change to Alltel Stadium from 10 a.m. to noon so that fans can pick up bright gold Flying WV foam hand waves to take into the game.
Kickoff is 1 p.m. at Alltel Stadium. CBS will broadcast the contest nationally. For additional bowl information, go tohttp://alumni.wvu.edu/events/gator_bowl_2007.