BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — For the fourth-straight year, the WKU Hilltoppers will host their annual Louisville Kickoff Party, presented this year by the WKU Greater Louisville Alumni Chapter, at Buffalo Wild Wings in the Shelbyville Road Plaza (4600 Shelbyville Road) on Thursday, July 27.
The event is set for a 6 p.m. ET start and will feature the back-to-back Conference USA Champion Hilltoppers and first-year head coach Mike Sanford.
"It's really important for our program to be in Louisville," Sanford said. "It's not the actual capital of the state, but for all intents and purposes – economically, socially, culturally – Louisville is as important an area as there is, both in recruiting and in developing relationships with our alumni. There are 17 players on our roster from the Louisville-area, so having our Red Towel displayed prominently in 11 high schools is a big deal in Louisville."
The upcoming event will feature autographs, prizes and giveaways and food specials. Sanford, select WKU Football assistant coaches, WKU Director of Athletics Todd Stewart and select Hilltoppers of local interest will also speak at the event. Fans will also have the chance to get their photo taken with a plethora of hardware, including the 2015 and 2016 C-USA Championship trophies as well as all three of WKU's bowl trophies, including the Bahamas, Miami Beach and Boca Raton bowls.
Big Red Vette Raffle tickets will also be available for purchase for a chance to win a 2017 Corvette.
WKU features more Louisville-area players than any other football program in the state, with 17 Hilltoppers doting the roster from 11 different high schools in the area.
The Hilltoppers and Sanford begin their 2017 campaign at home against in-state foe Eastern Kentucky on Sept. 2. Kick is set for 6 p.m., as the two schools meet again on the gridiron for the first time since 2008 in a renewal of the most-played football series in the Commonwealth.
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