10 things to know about the 2019 Towson Tigers football season
Here is everything you need to know when the nationally ranked Tigers hit the field this fall
By Kyle Hobstetter on September 6, 2019
When asked to describe the Towson University community, Towson Tigers football coach Rob Ambrose reiterates why he came back to coach his alma mater in 2009
“Who wouldn’t want to be here? Who wouldn’t want to be a part of this?”
Now in his 10th season with the Tigers, Ambrose is ready to lead a high-power offense and a young energetic defense onto Minnegan Field at Johnny Unitas Stadium in a quest to win their third Colonial Athletic Association league crown and make a splash in the FCS Playoffs.
And he is hoping the fans are ready to show up and make some noise, because to him, there is nothing quite like a loud and rowdy Towson Tigers fan base.
“When we were at our best…we had a bigger team than just the guys on the field,” Ambrose says. “We packed the stands. And opposing coaches told me they hated coming here, because our fans made a difference.
“If this year is going to be successful, it’s not going to just be the football team. It’s going to be the whole community.”
Towson University and Towson Athletics are ready to get the 2019 football season underway. Here are 10 things students, staff, faculty and fans need to know before heading to Unitas Stadium this fall.
Tickets are free to anyone with a TU OneCard
Anyone with a Towson University OneCard receives one free ticket to all Towson Tigers’ home football games. Just bring your card to the entry gates at Unitas Stadium, and swipe to enter. Want to bring a friend who isn’t enrolled at TU? Companion tickets are just $10 and can be purchased on game day, or before, at the Unitas Stadium box office the week of the game.
Faculty and Staff can bring a guest with one complimentary ticket. Additional tickets may be purchased for $10 at the Unitas Stadium box office.
Tailgating is bigger and better than ever
Towson University wants to provide Tigers fans with the ultimate college football experience. One of the essential parts to any college football game is tailgating. So, TU is ready to beef up its tailgating presence this season with more welcoming and exciting pregame festivities, with parking lots opening four hours before the game.
TU and Towson Athletics are working with a new SAFE company to make tailgating a more festive and friendly environment, while making sure everyone stays safe. Some keys rules to remember are no glass, keep hot grills five-to-10 feet away from vehicles, trees and branches, and of course…no underage drinking.
Learn more about Towson University’s tailgating policy.
A more interactive Tiger Zone
The Tiger Zone will return this season to Unitas Stadium's Lot 13 and will be bigger and more interactive than past seasons. Tiger Zone staples like tents, games, food and music will return. But a new feature will be Towson College Game Day, which is similar to ESPN College Game Day, but will be focused on the Tigers, and will be presented by students from former WBAL sports anchor Keith Mills' sportscasting class
The opening of “The Infield”
This season, Towson Athletics will introduce The Infield which will be located on the track by the east end zone. The Infield will feature the Greene Turtle Tent, which will have food and beer special throughout the game. The tent will open 45 minutes prior to kickoff and close at the end of the game. ALL Tiger Fans are welcome, with fans 21 and over with proper ID being allowed to purchase beer.
The Infield will also feature a Family Fun Zone. The Family Fun Zone will have inflatables, face painting and other activities dedicated to children.
Join the Tiger Rush in the season home opener
The Tigers want to welcome all freshmen and new transfer students by having them lead the team onto the field in the season’s home opener on Sept. 7 against North Carolina Central. The game will also be the annual Gold Rush game, and student can receive their first TU Football shirt before “rushing” the field with the team.
Students interested in participating should meet at the tunnel before the start of the game.
The New Towson ROARwards App
Tiger fans can now get rewarded for attending TU football games. With the new Towson ROARwards app, fans can earn points for checking in at Towson Athletics home events, then more points for sharing on social media. Points can be claimed for rewards, including various merchandise and an Apple Watch, and/or experiences, like being honored at a future TU game on the video board. Various other rewards will be added during the season.
The Towson ROARwards app can be downloaded for free through the Apple App Store or Google Play.
New In-Game Activities
While the Tigers will be providing the action on the field, TU Athletics is ready to keep the party going during a timeout. With new fan cams (including the air guitar cam, bongo cam and Lion King inspired “Simba Cam”) there will also be new in-game contests and on-field promotions where prizes will be awarded.
Tigers racking up Preseason Honors
Before the season starts, many are predicting several Tigers to have a big year. Quarterback Tom Flacco, running back Shane Simpson, kicker Aidan O’Neill, running back Yeedee Thaenrat and wide receiver Shane Leatherbury were all named to various preseason All-American teams.
Flacco was also named the 2019 CAA Preseason Player of the Year, while Simpson, Leatherbury, O'Neill and linebacker Robert Heyward were placed on the preseason all-conference team. Flacco and Simpson were also named to the 2019 Walter Payton Award Watch List, which is awarded to the most outstanding offensive player in the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision (FCS).
The Tigers are ranked in the Top 10
After sneaking into the playoffs last season, the first time since 2013, the Tigers
aren’t catching anyone by surprise this season. Coming into the team's first home
game, the Tigers are ranked in the top 10 in two national polls.
The Tigers are currently ranked No. 8 in the STATS FCS Poll and No. 9 in the American
Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Preseason FCS Coaches' Poll.
Six Home Games and a trip to the Swamp
For the first time since 2015, the Tigers have six games in the friendly confines of Unitas Stadium. The Tigers will also play 12 regular season games, which hasn’t happened since the 2014 season. The biggest challenge will be on the road against college football blue blood Florida, who is ranked No. 11 AP Top 25 poll and No. 10 in the Coaches’ poll.
Check out the complete Towson Tigers Football schedule
The Tigers’ first home game is against North Carolina Central on Saturday, Sept. 7. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. For more information about the game, follow Towson University Athletics' Gameday Central page.
For more information about Towson University athletics, check out the Towson Tigers website.