Purdue to host athletic extravaganza next month

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Purdue Athletics will host The Tipoff Before the Kickoff at Mackey Arena on Oct. 12, adding the official start of basketball season to the excitement of homecoming weekend and the Boilermaker football team's clash with Wisconsin the following day at Ross-Ade Stadium.

The evening will begin at approximately 7:45 p.m. with the annual Night Parade. The parade will start at the Morton Community Center in West Lafayette and travel through Chauncey Village on State Street before cutting up University Street and culminating at Mackey Arena.

The parade will be followed by the traditional Homecoming Football Pep Rally, held at Mackey Arena this year instead of its typical location at Slayter Hill, at approximately 8:30 p.m. Purdue head coach Danny Hope and the Boilermakers are slated to be in attendance the evening before their key Leaders Division showdown with Wisconsin.

The Tipoff Before the Kickoff will continue with the basketball portion of the evening at approximately 9:15 p.m.

The tentative schedule includes a performance by a musical recording artist, introductions of both the Purdue men's and women's basketball teams, a performance by the student-athletes from both teams, shooting and slam dunk competitions and remarks by head coaches Matt Painter and Sharon Versyp.

The Tipoff Before the Kickoff is open to anyone and admission is free. The doors to Mackey Arena will open at 8 p.m. Select seats in the lower bowl of Mackey Arena will be reserved for members of the band, students and other groups.

The homecoming football game against Wisconsin is scheduled to start at noon the following day. The Purdue Athletics Department has asked fans to wear either gold or black to the football game, depending on their seat location at Ross-Ade Stadium, in a show of support for the Boilermakers.

Fans with tickets in sections 101-105 and 116-124 have been asked to wear gold, while fans with seats in sections 106-115 and 125-134 have been requested to don black attire for the showdown with the Badgers.

Tickets for the football game remain available, with prices starting at $25 apiece. Season tickets for both the 2012-13 men's and women's basketball seasons, as well as mini-plan ticket packages for men's basketball games, are now on sale through the Purdue Athletic Ticket Office.

Tickets may be purchased over the phone at 1-800- 49-SPORT, online at purduesports.com or in person at the Athletic Ticket Office, located on the concourse level on the east side of Mackey Arena.

nssports@news-sentinel.com