FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. -- The Northern Arizona Blue-White spring football game will be held on Saturday, April 27, at Lumberjack Stadium at 2:30 p.m. FOX Sports Arizona will televise the game live.
“It is a great opportunity to showcase the NAU football program across Arizona and the nation as we prepare for the 2013 season,” said NAU coach Jerome Souers. “We have high expectations for the season, and the spring game will culminate our month-long spring preparation with an exciting group of returning players. We invite fans and alumni to join us at Lumberjack Stadium for a fun-filled day of football, or watch from home if you can't join us in Flagstaff."
The Lumberjacks finished with an 8-3 overall record and a No. 20 national FCS ranking in 2012. NAU posted several milestones during the season, including winning eight consecutive games for the first time since the 1958 season. NAU also beat an FBS opponent for the first time since 1987 with its 17-14 victory on Sept. 8 over UNLV and won at Montana on Sept. 22 for the first time since 1997.
The Lumberjacks return 18 starters in 2013, including eight on both sides of the ball. Souers brings back 14 all-conference performers from 2012, including All-Big Sky first-team selections running back Zach Bauman, senior cornerback Anders Battle and senior safety Lucky Dozier. All-American punter Andy Wilder highlights the special-teams unit after leading the nation in punting average last season.
The game will be produced by NAU-TV, with "Voice of the Lumberjacks" Mitch Strohman and Kevin Stephens calling the action. Reggie Eccleston will be the sideline reporter. FOX College Sports Pacific will also show the game to its national audience.
“This is an exciting and historic moment for Northern Arizona University and the Big Sky Conference,” said Strohman. “Through our NAU-TV Network and our partnership with FOX Sports Arizona and FOX College Sports, we'll showcase the mountain campus and the Lumberjack football program to both a regional and a nationwide audience that thirsts for college football.”
Fans can begin tailgating at 10 a.m. in the parking lot adjacent to Lumberjack Stadium for the game. There will be free parking in and around Lumberjack Stadium or available garage parking in the San Francisco Parking Garage. Doors to the spring game will open at noon, and admission is free. Fanfest will start inside Lumberjack Stadium at noon and will include face painting, the NAU Bounce House, pictures with Louie The Lumberjack and more. Following the game, fans are invited to say for a postgame autograph session with NAU players.
FOX Sports Arizona is a regional sports network available in Arizona and New Mexico in 2.5 million households and nationally via satellite via the sports package. FOX Sports Arizona is on DirecTV 686 and Dish Network 415. NAU-TV is available in Flagstaff on Suddenlink Cable channel 4 and 104 in HD and online on www.NAU-TV.com.
