September 11, 2019
Media Advisory -- ‘T. Rexes’ to take part in ‘Dino Dash’ at halftime of Saluki football game Saturday night
Reporters, photographers and news crews are encouraged to cover a unique race Saturday night during halftime of Southern Illinois University Carbondale’s football game against UT-Martin at Saluki Stadium in Carbondale. The game starts at 6 p.m.
This showdown will also be for honor, pride and bragging rights. As a part of Family Weekend festivities, an inaugural “Dino Dash” featuring students and faculty representing each of the eight colleges is set. Participants will don inflatable “T. Rex” suits and try their best to use their short legs and arms to score a touchdown as they race against each other down the field.
An idea from Layla Murphy, Recruitment and Retention Coordinator in the College of Liberal Arts, the purpose is to not only make the contest a fun part of halftime, but more importantly, add to the list the memorable experiences of being a Saluki.
The plan might sound simple, but the tiny arms of the T. Rex add an element of difficulty to the challenge. The T. Rexes will start at the south end of the field, run to the 50-yard line where they will try to pick up a football, and then run the rest of the way to the end zone. All of the dinos will start at the same time, with the first to score a touchdown winning. A video of a similar T. Rex race at Emerald Downs racetrack in Auburn, Washington is here.
Each of the eight colleges will participate and Murphy anticipates about 11 entries this year. She hopes to find an appropriate traveling trophy for the winning college to crow about until next year’s race.
The goal is to have the race become an annual event with community dino sponsors and provide students “some fantastic memories of the crazy things they did and saw in college,” Murphy said.
For more information, contact Layla Murphy, recruitment and retention coordinator, College of Liberal Arts, at 618/453-1697.