The Citadel's cheerleaders will be among the hoard of fans and supporters of The Citadel football team when the Bulldogs depart their bus in front of the Altman Athletic Center Saturday afternoon.

Fans are encouraged to join the cheerleaders in wishing the team well as they open the home portion of the 2006 schedule on Saturday, September 9, at Johnson Hagood Stadium against Charleston Southern in the contest that is billed as the “Chucktown Throwdown.”

The Citadel holds a 3-0 lead in the series that began in 2002.  CSU, co-champions of the Big South Conference last year, is 1-0 on the season having defeated Presbyterian, 21-13, in Clinton this past Saturday.  The Bulldogs are 0-1, having dropped the season's opener at Texas A&M, 35-3, in College Station.

Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m. and the team is expected to arrive at the driveway going to the Altman Athletic Center off of Fishburne Street around 5 o'clock.

“We appreciate the effort of our cheerleaders and all of the fans who will be there to wish us well,” said second-year coach Kevin Higgins.  “We hope to have a good turnout for the game, and believe me, the spirit and enthusiasm our fans display means a great deal to our team.”

Fans will see another part of the revitalization effort of Johnson Hagood Stadium on Saturday with the opening of the new West Side Grandstands and the new, state-of-the-art scoreboard.