The Saline Reporter
A Heritage Newspaper
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Saline to take field at EMU for 'Showdown'
Hornets to open grid showcase with Northville rematch
By Nathan Bomey, Staff Writer
PUBLISHED: March 31, 2005
The Saline Varsity Football team will get a taste of a Division 1 collegiate atmosphere in August.
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The Hornets were selected as one of eight teams to play at Eastern Michigan University's Rynearson Stadium. The fall opener is part of the Detroit Metro Sports Commission's inaugural Big Day Prep Showdown.
Saline will open the event against Northville at noon Saturday, Aug. 27.
"I thought that it would be great for our kids," Saline Coach Mike Glennie said. "I think it's going to be a great day for high school football."
Saline and Northville will tangle in the first of four games at EMU. Allen Park and Trenton will play at 2:30, Lake Orion and Troy at 5, and Novi and Chelsea at 7:30.
The Hornets were already planning on playing Northville this season. The game will be substituted for one of Saline's road games.
Glennie said that played a factor in the Hornets' decision to accept a bid to the Big Day Prep Showdown. He said he would have been hesitant to "give up a home game" at Saline's new stadium, which has been regarded as one of the best venues for high school football in the state.
Sponsors include WXYT AM 1270, The Detroit Free Press and Spirit Airlines.
Advance tickets, available at the high school, are $9 for adults and $7 for students. Children six and under are free. Tickets at the gate will be $10. One ticket is good for all four games.
"The DMSC is excited to host this exciting high school sporting event," DMSC Executive Director Dave Beachnau said in a news release. "We expect that the Big Day Prep Showdown will attract 20,000 fans for a full-day of the thrill and emotion of high school football as eight teams begin their quest for the state championship."
Rynearson Stadium is expected to have synthetic turf by the time the season starts. For years the Eagles have played on artificial turf. The new surface is exactly what the Hornets are used to at their stadium.
The event also will give the Hornets a chance to get an early look at Southeastern Conference rival Chelsea.
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