Cash collection bins will be set up near each of the four entrances of L.T. Smith Stadium/Jimmy Feix Field, with the proceeds evenly distributed to the Red Cross and the University of New Orleans, a fellow member of the Sun Belt Conference with WKU. Also, WBKO-TV will have a trailer near Smith Stadium’s lower practice field that will begin collecting canned goods, clothing, and other items of need for residents from the Gulf Coast at 9 a.m. (CDT).
The seventh-ranked Hilltoppers will kickoff against rival Eastern Kentucky at 6:30 p.m. Saturday.
With UNO closed for the fall semester, Western President Dr. Gary Ransdell also announced this week that WKU has offered to host the Lady Toppers’ basketball game against the Privateers originally scheduled to be played at UNO (the Hilltoppers are already slated to host the Privateers on Saturday, Jan. 28) if Lakefront Arena cannot be reopened in time for the 2005-06 season. Western would pay UNO’s travel expenses and essential game management costs out of the gate receipts, then send the school the balance of the gate receipts to help rebuild its campus.
In fact, Ransdell has offered to make Diddle Arena available to UNO for any games they wish to play in Bowling Green, and has encouraged all other Sun Belt Conference schools to make the same offer to New Orleans.
“Our friends at the University of New Orleans are in desperate need of financial assistance,” said WKU Director of Athletics Dr. Wood Selig. “Saturday we will attempt to raise awareness and funds for UNO and the American Red Cross.”
