The Jaguars are back at home for the first time in a month, and their game on Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens will have plenty of excitement in addition to what will happen on the football field.
Before the game, fans are urged to bring non-perishable food items to the stadium for the Jaguars' Second Annual Food Drive. Jaguars' wives, who will wear their husbands' game jerseys, will be on hand at all stadium gates to accept donations. Fans who bring five or more items on Sunday will receive a special edition Jaguars poster. All local Winn-Dixie stores are also accepting items through Sunday.
Fans attending the game will be able to cast their ballots for the annual AFC-NFC Pro Bowl, which will be played February 2 in Honolulu. Ballots will be passed out before the game at stadium entrances and can be dropped in boxes at the gates when leaving the stadium. In addition, America Online will distribute 10,000 disks after the game for fans who want to vote for the Pro Bowl teams online. This is the only home game in which Jaguars fans can cast their ballots. The 1997 Pro Bowl teams will be announced on December 12 on ESPN. The NFL is the only professional sports league that combines voting by fans, coaches and players in determining its all-star teams.
Jaguars punter Bryan Barker will receive the True Value/NFL Man of the Year Award in a pre-game presentation in recognition of his community involvement and talents as a professional athlete. Established in 1970, the True Value/NFL Man of the Year Award was created to recognize the commitment of NFL players to public service. It is the only NFL-sponsored award honoring players for the outstanding balance they achieve between professional and civic responsibilities. Barker is a finalist for the national award, which is presented annually at the Super Bowl.
In a tribute to Veteran's Day (which is the day after the game) and the many service personnel in the Jacksonville area, all veterans will receive a moment of recognition just prior to the National Anthem, after which four F/A-18 jets from Cecil Field's VFA 131 squadron will fly over the Jacksonville Municipal Stadium.
The Florida A&M "Marching 100" Band will provide the halftime entertainment. The "Marching 100" has been called 'the best college marching band in the country" by Sports Illustrated, and it appeared in the 1993 inaugural parade for President Clinton. In addition, the Florida A&M band has been the subject of feature segments on "20/20" and "60 Minutes."
All Jaguars season ticket accounts were mailed two team posters of the 1996 Jaguars squad, courtesy of Ford, the game's sponsor.
