08/30/12 kb

HAYS, Kan. -- Tiger Gold on Friday, an embryonic tradition at Fort Hays State University, will spread into the community on Thursday, Sept. 6, so that more people can wear Tiger Gold on Friday, Sept. 7.

The Community Kickoff is from 5 to 6:30 p.m. at the Robbins Center, home of the Alumni Association and the FHSU Foundation, on the university campus.

Free Tiger Gold T-shirts will go to the first 500 people to show up at the Robbins Center, where Victor E. Tiger and the FHSU Cheer Squad will be among the greeters. Cheerleaders will provide face tattoos, and light refreshments will be available.

Eagle Communications will provide music and live remotes, and orders can be placed for gold polo shirts with the TGOF logo. The Community Kickoff is sponsored by Eagle Communications, the Hays Chamber of Commerce, Golden Belt Bank and the university.

"Eagle is proud to partner with FHSU on the Tiger Gold on Friday project. We have a long-standing relationship with the university and encourage everyone to wear gold on Fridays to support the Fighting Tigers," said Andy Stanton, marketing specialist for Eagle.

Charlene Nichols, assistant alumni director, said the idea for TGOF "originated in focus groups the Alumni Association sponsored before launching the Tiger T-shirt project." The goal was to promote Tiger spirit by encouraging people on campus and throughout the community to show their support for FHSU by wearing school colors, preferably gold, every Friday.

"The members of the TGOF committee are very appreciative of the sponsors for this project and the community launch," said Nichols.

The Brand Implementation Team, a university standing committee known more simply as Brand IT!, is leading an effort to establish the practice of wearing gold on Fridays as a tradition.

Tiger Gold on Friday was launched at the Back to School Picnic on Aug. 20.