Mercer will kick off its 2024 football season at 7 p.m. Aug. 29 in Five Star Stadium, where the Bears will face off against Presbyterian College. Here are three things to know before you go.

New football coach on board

Mike Jacobs talks to a group of people. A banner behind him shows a Mercer football player waving the American flag.
Mercer football head coach Mike Jacobs talks to the team. Photo by Mercer Athletics

Mike Jacobs will make his debut as the Bears’ head coach at the home opener. He’s been hard at work since coming on board in January. A 21-year coaching veteran, Jacobs boasts the nation’s sixth-best winning percentage among active coaches at the NCAA Divisions I and II levels. In 2023, he led Lenoir-Rhyne to a 13-2 season and took the team to the semifinal round of the NCAA Division II Playoffs. Now Bears fans will get a chance to see what he’s made of.

Blanco Brown brings ‘TrailerTrap’ to Black Field

A concert poster for the Ford Football Concert Series for Blanco Brown, presented by the International Cherry Blossom Festival. The event is Aug. 29 and includes a first-year tailgate, free food for students, inflatables for kids and students, and a student bucket hat giveaway at the game sponsored by Lofts at Mercer. The location is Black Field. Tailgating starts at 3 p.m. Concert time is 5 p.m. Mercer football home opener starts at 7 p.m. The poster includes an image of Blanco Brown wearing a southwestern-style shirt and black cowboy hat.
Blanco Brown will perform at 5 p.m. Aug. 29 as part of the pregame festivities on Black Field. Graphic by Mercer Athletics

Blanco Brown will headline the Ford Football Concert Series, performing during pregame festivities before Mercer’s home opener. The Grammy-nominated songwriter and producer has worked with pop and hip-hop acts including Fergie, Childish Gambino, Kane Brown and Chris Brown. But you may know him from his foray into country music, where he made a name for himself blending classically country and traditionally hip-hop sounds into what he calls “TrailerTrap.” His viral hit “The Git Up” spent 12 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country chart, and “Just the Way,” a collaboration with Parmalee, peaked at No. 3.

Tailgating begins at 3 p.m. on Black Field, including a first-year student tailgate sponsored by The Lofts and inflatables for kids. Brown’s performance, presented by the International Cherry Blossom Festival, will start at 5 p.m.

Local fans can get tickets for just $4.78

Graphic for 478 Day featuring football tickets for $4.78. Mercer football plays Presbyterian College at 7 p.m. Aug. 29. Blanco Brown performing pregame at 5 p.m. On the left of the graphic is a Mercer football player in uniform and peering out over sunglasses.
Fans can purchase general admission tickets for just $4.78 as part of 478 Day on Aug. 29. Graphic by Mercer Athletics

The Bears will pay tribute to the Middle Georgia community on Aug. 29 as part of 478 Day. As part of the promotion, fans can purchase general admission tickets for just $4.78 by visiting mercerbears.com/478day. Group packages of 15 tickets or more can be purchased by calling the Mercer Athletics Ticket Office at (910) 952-1740.

Mercer vs. Presbyterian College  

When: 7 p.m. Aug. 29
Where: Five Star Stadium 
Tickets: $4.78-$25, buy online at mercerbears.tixr.com 
On TV: ESPN+ 
On Radio: Mercer Sports Network — 100.9 The Creek FM or sportsmic.com

Feature photo: Mercer cheerleaders pump up the crowd during the Bears game against Wofford on Oct. 21, 2023. Photo by Christopher Ian Smith

 

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