The Jacksonville Jaguars return home to TIAA Bank Field on Sunday, Nov. 8 to host the Houston Texans in the team's annual Salute to Service game honoring our nation's service members, veterans and their families. The matchup kicks off at 1 p.m. and will be broadcast regionally by CBS, locally on WJAX, and on radio on WJXL (1010AM, 92.5 FM) and 99.9 FM Gator Country. This week's game is presented by CSX.
TIAA Bank Field will be open for a limited capacity crowd on Sunday and tickets are still available at www.jaguars.com/tickets. Fans watching from home can also tune in to Jags@Home, a second screen viewing experience that gives fans an all-new way to connect with the team on game day and take home cash prizes.
SALUTE TO SERVICE
The Jaguars, alongside generous corporate and individual donors, have partnered with the Greater Jacksonville Area USO and the City of Jacksonville Veterans Resource and Reintegration Center to provide complimentary tickets to more than 3,000 active duty, retired and reservist military personnel and their families to Sunday's game.
At halftime of the Salute to Service game, fans will have the opportunity to watch 100 recruits from all branches of the military take their Oath of Enlistment, which will be administered by Lieutenant Colonel Sean Bell. Bell has completed overseas tours in Egypt, the Republic of Korea, Iraq, Afghanistan, Germany, and Belgium and deployed in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom.
This year, the Jaguars partnered with TAPS (Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors), which provides comfort, care and resources to all those grieving the death of a military loved one. The Jaguars will honor U.S. Army Spc. Kelly Mixon. Mixon was an avid marching snare drummer and earned a spot on the Jacksonville Jaguars drumline, the D-Line, prior to his military service. A trained sniper who was promoted to the rank of specialist, Mixon's unit deployed to Afghanistan in June 2010. He was tragically attacked by a suicide bomber in December 2010.
To honor Mixon, members of THE ROAR of the Jaguars, Jaxson de Ville, and D-Line members will wear Kelly's initials on armbands for game day. Players will have the opportunity to wear a custom decal on their helmet to honor Mixon.
PREGAME PATRIOTISM
This week's national anthem will be performed virtually by the Ceremonial Band from Navy Band Southeast under the direction of Lieutenant Clint McClanahan. Established in 1995, Navy Band Southeast is one of 11 official U.S. Navy bands. Following the national anthem, a flyover will be performed by two B52 Bombers from the 343 Bomber Squadron, Air Force Reserve Command. The squadron was first activated during World War II and the unit has earned a Presidential Unit Citation and Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation.
Prior to the anthem, the starting lineup will be introduced virtually by veterans of the Wounded Warrior Project in Jacksonville. In addition, the First DUUUVAL presented by Duval Motor Company will be delivered moments before kickoff virtually by the 146th Expeditionary Signal Battalion stationed in Camp Buehrig, Kuwait.
COMMUNITY AND MILITARY HONOREES
During Sunday's game, the Jaguars will honor Major General James Eifert, the Adjutant General of Florida, as the Honoree of the Game presented by Dr. Patrick Basile. In his role, Eifert serves as the senior military advisor to the Governor, responsible for the overall management, readiness and mobilization of both U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force elements of the Florida National Guard. He received his commission from the United States Air Force Academy in June 1982 and graduated from the United States Air Force Fighter Weapons School in December 1992. He has commanded at the squadron, group, wing and state levels and has led multiple F-15 combat deployments.
As the game enters the fourth quarter, the Navy Mutual Bell Ringer will be Technical Sergeant Rick Dansereaufrom the 78th Air Base Wing (U.S. Air Force). Dansereau is stationed in Warner Robins, Ga. and has served in the military for 11 years with deployments to Afghanistan, Korea, Qatar and Japan.
In 2020, the Jaguars recognize frontline workers during each game as a salute to the healthcare workers and first responders who have supported the community's health and wellbeing during the COVID-19 crisis. This week's honoree is Airman 1st Class Connor Skidmore,who works in medical logistics at Patrick Air Force Base in Brevard County, Fla. Along with his logistics flight team, Skidmore has worked to ensure that clinics and hospitals have been properly supplied with all the necessary medical materials they needed to treat Covid-19 patients.
The TIAA Bank Community Champion of the Game for Week 6 is Ira Khountham, an entrepreneur who launched Never Starve Again, a catering service established in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and social injustice. This year he has donated 1,000 meals to frontline workers and 100 more meals and water to protestors throughout the city.
JAGS@HOME ADDS NEW PRIZES
For fans that can't be in the stadium this year due to COVID-19, the Jaguars have introduced Jags@Home, a second screen viewing platform designed to complement the game-watching experience and give fans watching from home an all new way to connect with the team. On game day, fans can visit www.jagsathome.com on their computer, tablet or mobile device and get bonus analysis, statistics and traditional game day content. Once the game is underway, fans can participate in live trivia and predictive gaming for the chance to win cash prizes. This week's Jags@Home installment will name multiple winners each quarter, with more than 24 winners every single game. Jags@Home is hosted by Jaguars Digital Reporter and Host Ashlyn Sullivan and social media influencer Eric V. Dunn.
A COMMITMENT TO FAN HEALTH AND SAFETY
The Jaguars and all stadium partners have created a contactless experience for the limited capacity crowd attending games at TIAA Bank Field this season. Accommodations include physically-distanced parking, new security screening and ticket-scanning procedures, cashless concessions, mobile ordering and pod seating. In addition, the Jaguars have added more than 750 hand-sanitizing stations throughout the venue, and certified disinfection specialists will be at the stadium on game day cleaning all high touchpoint areas with hospital-grade disinfectant. TIAA Bank Field has also transitioned to a smoke-free facility beginning with the 2020 season. For complete details on stadium preparations, please visit www.jaguars.com/stadium.
KEY FAN REMINDERS:
Here are some key reminders for fans during the 2020 season:
- Fans should not come to the stadium if they have COVID-19, are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 such as fever, cough or shortness of breath, or know they've been exposed to COVID-19.
- Face coverings are required at TIAA Bank Field and strongly encouraged in all parking lots. Fans will be required to wear face coverings upon entry and throughout the stadium except when actively eating or drinking. Fans will receive consistent reminders about the need to mask up and support the team on Sunday.
- Tailgating is strongly discouraged.
- Fans should still use the Official Jacksonville Jaguars app to access their secure digital tickets on game day, which feature a dynamic barcode to prevent screenshots or counterfeit tickets. Fans can still conveniently transfer tickets to friends or family via email or text using their mobile device.
- The NFL's clear bag policy is in effect at TIAA Bank Field. Fans are encouraged to leave all bags at home, but, if one is necessary, it should be either a clear bag no larger than 12" x 6" x 12", or a non-clear bag no larger than 4.5" x 6.5." Strict size enforcement will be in place for all non-clear bags.
- Thanks to Alert Today Florida, fans riding their bikes to all Jaguars home games can take advantage of free, secure parking. Jaguars fans can park their bikes as early as three hours before kickoff by visiting the bicycle check-in tent located between Gates 1 and 2 on the west side of TIAA Bank Field.
GAME DAY TIMELINE
10 a.m.: Media Will Call opens near Gate 1
10 a.m.: Game day ticket office opens (north end zone between Gates 2 and 3)
10 a.m.: Stadium parking lots open*
11 a.m.: TIAA Bank Field seating bowl and all gates open*
11 a.m.: Fan Entertainment Zone presented by PRI Productions opens (south end zone between Gates 1 and 4)
12:30 p.m.: Pregame festivities including performances by THE ROAR and D-Line
12:56 p.m.: National Anthem
1 p.m.: The First DUUUVAL
1:02 p.m.: Kickoff
* New time for 2020
