Second annual Wildcat Day to feature pep rally, pizza, fireworks

The second annual Wildcat Day on Saturday, August 23, will feature a pep rally, free pizza and hot dogs, and fireworks, a press release said.

The 2014 Oak Ridge High School football squad will also be introduced.

Wildcat Day starts at 7 p.m. August 23 at Ben Martin Track at Oak Ridge High School. It’s been organized by members of the Oak Ridge Quarterback Club.

“Although the planning window is short, the organizers hope to recreate the success of last year’s community pep rally that drew over 3,000 Wildcat fans,” said Len Hart, president of the Quarterback Club. “The Quarterback Club has been busy this summer with fundraising efforts, including the recent success with the Temptations concert. We just wrote a check to complete the grading and reseeding of the bank at Blankenship’s north end zone. Before we knew it, Wildcat Day was upon us—something Coach Gaddis assured us he wanted to do the week before the first football game.”

In fact, Coach Joe Gaddis, Oak Ridge High School’s head football coach, would like to make Wildcat Day an annual event, a press release said.

“These kids are putting in lot of hard work at practice,” Gaddis said. “To see the amount of fans we had at last year’s community wide pep rally will give them a big motivational push as we kick off the season against Farragut on August 29.”

Fans can begin arriving at 7 p.m. for free pizza, provided by Pizza Inn, as well as hot dogs and drinks. Wildcat players and coaches will be on hand to talk about the upcoming season with the crowd members before the formal pep rally begins at 8 p.m.. The evening will conlcude at dark with a fireworks show.

The Oak Ridge Quarterback Club is made up of community leaders seeking to improve the Oak Ridge Schools football program by raising awareness, proving funds for further growth, and help fund future renovations of Jack Armstrong Stadium and Blankenship Field, the release said.