The excitement about the upcoming football season is about as high as the outdoor thermometer. And it will be even higher on Thursday when the City of Troy Public Relations and Tourism Department hosts “Countdown to Kickoff” on the square in downtown Troy.

Shelia Jackson, public relations and tourism director, said the 2019 football season promises to be a great one with the potential for some gridiron runaways as well as nail-biters.

“In the South, we have many seasons but there is no season like football season,” Jackson said. “And, right here in Troy we have great football with Troy University, Charles Henderson High School and Pike Liberal Arts. We’re looking forward to Thursday and the Countdown to Kickoff and the Meet and Greet with the coaches from our three Troy teams.”

Jackson said the community is anxious to meet Troy University’s new head football coach, Chip Lindsey, and to hear his expectations for the 2019 football season that will include rival games with Appalachian State and South Alabama and grudge matches with Georgia Southern and Southern Mississippi.

“We’re expecting the CHHS Trojans and the PLAS Patriots to be around when the playoffs begin,” Jackson said. “We’ll be looking forward to hearing CHHS Coach Brad McCoy and PLAS Coach Gene Allen talk about who’s back and who will be stepping up for their teams.”

The Brown Bag on the Square “Countdown to Kickoff” will be from noon until 1 p.m. Thursday and will include meet and greets with the local coaches and entertainment by D.J. Red and DJ Hendock.

“We’ll have free hotdogs and door prizes so it will be a great way to kick off the football season that opens Friday night in Troy with the cross-county rivalry jamboree between the CHHS Trojans and the Pike County High School Bulldogs and the PLAS Patriots at Morgan Academy.

Troy University opens at home against Campbell University on August 31.

“We invite the Troy community to kick off the 2019 football season at Brown Bag on the Square at noon on Thursday,” Jackson said. “And encourage everyone to support our hometown teams throughout the 2019 football season.”