Southeastern NEWS

                                                       Southeastern Louisiana University
                                           Public Information Office
                                           publicinfo@selu.edu
                                           SLU 880, Hammond, LA 70402
                                           504/549-2341/fax 504-549-2061
    Date: 3/5/01
      Contact:                           Christina Chapple   8

SLU'S "FLOOD THE FIELD" HONORS FIREFIGHTERS
     HAMMOND   Hammond fire chief Paul Collura  hurled a few baseballs in his day   
"When I was younger," he said --  but he has never tossed an official first pitch.
     He will get the chance on March 13 when he delivers the game-starting throw at
Southeastern Louisiana University's Alumni Field. Collura has been chosen for first pitch honors 
at the Lions vs. University of Southern Mississippi baseball game. Southeastern is dedicating the
match to area firefighters, proclaiming the evening as "Flood the Field" night at the university
diamond.
     "Flood the Field" is the brainchild of Southeastern's "CLAWS" Committee, a group of
university staffers charged with "Connecting Lion Athletics With Students." The committee
comes up with creative ways to package athletic events with fun activities to increase student
interest and attendance.  
     In mid-February, for instance, the committee staged "Jammies in the Jungle" at a men's
basketball game, encouraging students to wear their pajamas to the game to win special prizes.
Later this month, they'll stage the "2001 Survivor Challenge," a take-off on the popular
"Survivor" television show that will pit student teams against each other in a variety of contests
scheduled to take place between baseball game innings.
     As a way to bring both students and community members out to the ball park on March
13, the CLAWS Committee decided to invite area firefighters to be the focal point of fun, games
and giveaways between innings. Fire departments were a natural partner with a  "Flood the
Field" theme, explained Veda Abene, a CLAWS Committee member and assistant to the dean of
Continuing Education. 
     "Well, 'flood'... 'water'...'fire'... firefighters!" she said, laughing. "One thing kind of led 
                             (MORE)
FLOOD THE FIELD   Add One
to the other."
     Collura, who has helped Southeastern extend the invitation to his and neighboring
departments, said the event sounds like fun. "I think quite a few of the firefighters are showing
up," he said. He said Amite, Independence and Ponchatoula firefighters have also been invited
and all are being offered free game admission.
     The firefighters don't plan to come empty-handed. The Hammond and Amite
departments plan to bring their ladder trucks and fire trucks from Ferrara Fire Apparatus, Inc. in
Holden. Southeastern's mascot, Roomie the Lion, will ride to the field atop Hammond's truck.
     The first 250 community members to arrive at Alumni Field will receive coupons for free
hotdogs and beverages, while the first 150 Southeastern students will get free t-shirts with a
special "Flood the Field" logo. 
     Children can get their picture taken with Roomie and can stand on the field with their
favorite Lions players during the playing of the National Anthem. They can also sign up for the
"Roomie Base Chase." Two children will be chosen to chase Roomie around the diamond and
win baseballs autographed by Southeastern coaches Greg Marten, Johnny Brechtel and Mark
Gosnell.
     After the fifth, seventh and eighth innings, Southeastern students will compete in games
such as the "Fastest Fireman" run (who can run the bases the fastest dressed in firefighters'
garb?), the "Dizzy Bat" contest and a water balloon toss.
     In between each inning, the CLAWS Committee will announce the names of
Southeastern students chosen to participate in the "2001 Survivor Challenge."
     For additional information about Flood the Field, call Abene at 985-549-2301.
                             -SLU-
Press release available online at www.selu.edu/NewsEvents/PublicInfoOffice/newsp01.htm