Planning Kicks Off for Fourth Annual Pilgrim's Pride Bowl Classic

MOUNT PLEASANT, TX, August 17, 2007 - Plans are now underway for the fourth annual Pilgrim's Pride Bowl Classic to be held December 8, 2007, at Sam Parker Field in Mount Pleasant. The game will pit one of the two top-ranked teams in the Southwestern Junior College Football Conference against a top-ranked junior college team from another conference.

"Every year the Pilgrim's Pride Bowl Classic becomes a bigger, more exciting event for northeast Texas, and this year will be no exception," said Terry Myers, superintendent of Mount Pleasant Independent School District (MPISD) and a bowl committee member. "Although last year's game crowned a national junior-college football champion, we are planning even more excitement for this year."

Proceeds from the game help fund scholarships and other programs at MPISD.

Pre-game festivities will begin at 10:30 a.m. with a wide assortment of activities and entertainment, including high school bands, drill teams and cheerleaders from across east Texas. Lonnie "Bo" Pilgrim, senior chairman of Pilgrim's Pride Corporation, is expected to kick off the game just before 1 p.m. with the ceremonial coin toss and afterward will award trophies to the winning team and the outstanding defensive and offensive players.

If last year's game is any indication, fans are in store for a memorable event. The 2006 Pilgrim's Pride Bowl Classic featured a classic match-up between the two top-ranked junior college football teams in the country - top-ranked and undefeated Blinn College from Brenham, Texas and #2 Pearl River Community College from Poplarville, Mississippi, which came into the game with a 10-1 record. With more than 6,000 screaming fans watching, the Blinn Buccaneers won the national championship with 19-6 victory.

For tickets to the 2007 Bowl Classic, fans should contact Ferol Holcomb, MPISD Ticket Coordinator, at (903) 434-8587. Ticket prices are $10 for reserve chair-back seats, $8 for reserved seats and $6 for general admission. Tickets are on sale Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the MPISD Field House on the campus of Mount Pleasant High School, 2110 N. Edwards, Mount Pleasant.