UL Works To Pack Cajun Field For Tuesday Night Matchup On ESPN

LAFAYETTE, La. (KPEL) -- The Ragin' Cajuns' Tuesday night football matchup with Arkansas State is two weeks away, and UL officials are working to ensure the seats are filled at Cajun Field.

Eric Maron, Assistant Director for Athletic Marketing, says the ESPN game is a big one for the university and presents an opportunity to showcase the school to the country.

"Showing that we have great fans, fun fans and involved fans is good for the university and good for athletics," Maron says. "It helps in recruiting both athletics and future students."

The game will be sponsored by Coca-Cola, Maron says. The soda company will give away free tee-shirts to the first fans at the gate.

Dwight Andrus Insurance will also sponsor the AFLAC Nascar car which will be on display by State Farm Gate A, Maron says.

During halftime, Maron says recruits from around Acadiana will be sworn into the Marine Corps. at the 50 yard line. MidSouth Bank will also sponsor a $500 prize to a lucky UL student, Maron says.

The university will promote the game through traditional advertising on radio, television, and billboards. He also says they'll use social media and some guerilla marketing "to reach as many fans as possible."

UL officials are also making sure to open up the hospitality of Cajun Field to visiting Red Wolves fans. In a video unveiled on the university's Facebook page Monday, Arkansas State fans are invited to come down the weekend before the game to experience Acadiana's Cajun culture.

Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. on Oct. 23. The last time the Cajuns faced off against the Red Wolves, the two teams were competing for supremacy of the Sunbelt Conference. Arkansas State ended up winning that contest 30-21.