The teams facing off in this year’s TaxSlayer Gator Bowl aren’t wasting any time. They’re already starting to arrive in town to start practicing for the 74th annual bowl game in Jacksonville.
In addition to the practices, the players will be kept busy with a full slate of events.
While many of the events are only for the teams, the ones that are intended for the general public are noted in bold. Here’s a look at what the North Carolina State Wolfpack and Texas A&M University Aggies are doing while visiting the First Coast:
Wednesday, December 26, 2018
12:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.: Texas A&M practice at the University of North Florida
Thursday, December 27, 2018
2:55 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.: NC State practice at Fernandina Beach High School
12:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.: Texas A&M practice
Friday, December 28, 2018
10:25 a.m. – Noon: NC State practice
10:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m.: Texas A&M practice
11:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. :TaxSlayer Gator Bowl Lunch with Debbie Yow Philanthropy Event, Young Women 6th Grade and older TIAA Bank Field, Debbie Yow, will address young women (6th grade and older) from Northeast Florida. She will highlight her career path as a woman in sports, discuss the importance of being a good role model, and share advice on the journey from middle/high school into college and the workforce.
2:00 p.m.: Texas A&M Player outing Mayport Naval Station - Players will tour ships, helicopters and interact with Mayport sailors.
2:00 p.m.: NC State Player outing to Top Golf - Players will enjoy an afternoon challenging their teammates in competitive points scoring golf games that all levels of talent can play.
5:00 p.m.: Team service event benefiting Blessings in a Backpack
Each team’s players will stuff 500 bags of food for school children in Northeast Florida. These children are at risk of hunger on the weekends and the bags which will include non-perishable food as well as an inspirational note from players and coaches. North Carolina State will be at the Omni Amelia Island Plantation Resourt and Texas A&M will be at the Sawgrass Marriott Resort.
Saturday, December 29, 2018
11:45 a.m.: NC State practice
12:30 p.m.: Texas A&M practice
2:00 p.m. NC State player outing to Mayport Naval Station
4:00 p.m. Texas A&M Player outing to Top Golf
Sunday, December 30, 2018
11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.: Dream Team Visit – TIAA Bank Field. Select players and cheerleaders from both teams will visit with the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl Dream Team who are battling life–threatening illnesses to provide an opportunity to meet role models and is a way for the players and cheerleaders from both universities to lift the spirits of these children.
4:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.: Team pep rallies at Deck the Chairs at Seawalk Pavilion in Jacksonville Beach. Open to the public.
Monday, December 31
2:00 p.m. – VyStar New Year’s Eve Run – The annual 5k runs through downtown Jacksonville with proceeds benefitting charities across Northeast Florida. Registration page. Open to the public.
4:30 p.m. – Happy Hour at the TaxSlayer Tailgate Party. Open to the public.
7:30 p.m. - 74th Annual TaxSlayer Gator Bowl at TIAA Bank Field. Open to the public.
For tickets and additional details visit the TaySlayer Gator Bowl website.
Bill Bortzfield can be reached at bbortzfield@wjct.org, 904-358-6349 or on Twitter at @BortzInJax.
