Wofford College is pleased to welcome two very special performance groups – the US Army Silver Wings Parachute Demonstration Team and the Panthers’ PurrCussion drumline - for this Saturday’s regular season home finale with Chattanooga. Kick-off is slated for a 1:35pm and the contest will be televised on ESPN3. The event will be Wofford’s Salute to the Military Day presented by the Wofford Army ROTC.
All active duty military, reservists, veterans or Wofford ROTC alums are able to reserve a complimentary ticket to the game AND purchase a discounted ticket to the contest for family members in advance. Please click here for complete details! Those with military affiliation should show a military ID if purchasing on gameday at Gibbs Stadium. Tickets for the general public are $27 for adults and $12 for children age 3-12, call (864) 597-4090 or log onto woffordterriers.com to order.
The US Army Silver Wings will descend onto the Gibbs Stadium turf during halftime as part of a special presentation to military veterans. The Panthers’ PurrCussion will perform as part of the pregame Terrier Walk, halftime and throughout the game in Section H2.
Saturday will mark the first time either performance group has visited a Wofford football game. Members of PurrCussion performed for the “Panthers Party” to open Carolina Panthers Training Camp at Wofford in late July this year.
Wofford Army ROTC will also be accepting jackets for homeless veterans as part of Helping Hands 4 Homeless Veterans, a veteran-run not for profit organization which honors, recognizes, and assists homeless veterans and their families by providing information and resources to address their specific needs. They will be accepting jackets and coats at the weapons display located on the plaza behind the press box tower. There will also be a number of displays around the stadium including a South Carolina Army National Guard M2A2 Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicle (located near the Terrier Tailgate Park student tailgate area on McDowell St.) and a South Carolina Army National Guard Lakota helicopter that will be landed just outside the front gates to the stadium.
GAME NOTES
Wofford (7-2, 5-2) and Chattanooga (5-4, 4-2) can both lay claim to a share of the Southern Conference championship with a win on Saturday. The Terriers claim a share with a win, while the Mocs must beat Wofford and Elon on Nov. 17 to claim a share of the crown. An NCAA FCS playoff berth likely hangs in the balance for both teams as well.
Wofford senior fullback Eric Breitenstein is also within striking distance of setting the Wofford career rushing record. He stands 37 yards shy of the record held by Shawn Graves (5,128 yards, 1989-92), a mark most thought would never be broken. Graves (#1) and Jerry Richardson (#51) are the only two football players to have their numbers retired by the College.
Twenty-four seniors on the team and football support staff will be recognized in a pre-game ceremony beginning at 1:15 pm.
MORE ABOUT THE US ARMY SILVER WINGS
The Silver Wings are the official Fort Benning, Georgia, Command Exhibition Parachute Demonstration Team.
The Silver Wings’ mission is to perform live aerial demonstrations in support of the United States Army, and Ft. Benning public relations and recruiting.
The Silver Wings is comprised of Soldiers from throughout the Fort Benning airborne community. They have diverse backgrounds and various military specialties. The average age is 33 years old and the average number of free fall jumps range between 200-2500 per team member. The team represents the professionalism and dedication of the specially trained Soldiers that are products of the United States Army Infantry Center and Schools, to include Airbone, Pathfinders, and the Army elite Rangers.
For almost three-quarters of a century small, highly trained groups of Soldiers have been inserted behind enemy lines to disrupt the movement of enemy troops and supplies to the front lines. These brave Soldiers have frequently used parachutes as a means to infiltrate without detection. Although most of the U.S. Army Airborne forces use round parachutes to insert a large number of paratroopers in a given location, some specialized units within the Rangers and Special Forces, and other elite Army units, use the Ram Air canopy as their primary means of precision infiltration behind enemy lines.
The Silver Wings use the military variant of the ram air parachute, which allows a free fall parachutist the ability to jump with more than 100 lbs. of additional equipment and weaponry attached to him. In addition to the extra weight, the jumper must also withstand high winds, frigid temperatures and low oxygen levels, all of which require the jumper to be highly skilled and physically fit.
When exiting the aircraft, normally from an altitude of 12,500 feet, the Silver Wings free fall for about two miles at approximately 120 miles per hour. They fly their bodies to perform maneuvers using their hands, arms, legs and shoulders as flight controls. The parachutes used by the Silver Wings are considered flexible wing gliders, designed for maneuverability and precision.
Every Silver Wings performance is done in honor of those they represent, the Soldiers that serve our country, as well as those that paved the way in sacrifice and glory.
MORE ABOUT THE PANTHERS’ PURRCUSSION DRUMLINE
Hear the rumble and rally of the Panthers drumline - PurrCussion - at every home Carolina Panthers game as they perform for fans outside Bank of America Stadium, introduce Panthers players before the game and much more!
PurrCussion features a combination of groove, chops, visuals, choreography and high energy, making them enjoyable to fans of all ages. Drawing talent from across the Carolinas, the ensemble consists of snare drums, tenor drums, bass drums, and cymbal players.
