Football fans can expect a surprise from the skies tonight at Kelly/Shorts Stadium.

In honoring Army veterans and celebrating future soldiers on Veteran’s Day, the Central Michigan University ROTC has coordinated skydivers to come in.

The “Fastrax” Army skydiving team will descend into the stadium with lit flares on their legs, leaving colorful, smoky trails.

One parachuter will carry the game ball and deliver it to the officials upon touchdown.

“I just hope they don’t get hung up on the uprights,” said Maj. Ryan Finley, a member of the “Chippewa Battalion’s” cadre, jokingly.

Before the Veteran’s Day game at 8 p.m. today against Toledo, cadets will be outside Kelly/Shorts Stadium to serve classic tailgate sustenance to veterans in attendance.

“We’re cooking hot dogs and hamburgers for all the veterans that show up,” Finley said.

The ROTC is expecting about 500 veterans and their families to come to the game. Tailgate begins at 5 p.m.

New and old

Many cadets involved in the celebration today are excited to partake in the experience.

“Parachuting that football into the stadium is going to bring a lot of attention,” said Cdt. Cpl. and Eaton Rapids freshman Nick Vandermoere.

Cdt. Col. Jennifer Howell, graduating in December, is looking forward to having a big send-off at her last football game.

“I’m excited (the parachuting is) finally going to happen, weather permitting,” the Mount Pleasant senior said.

During halftime, the cadets, veterans and new army enlistees will take to the field to be honored for their future and past commitments and sacrifices.

“The concept of it is you have the new standing next to the old,” Finley said.

He said cadets do not get to see enough of the continuity of the military.

Brigadier General John Kulhavi, a ’65 CMU graduate, Vietnam veteran and former Board of Trustees member, will lead the group, and the Michigan Army National Guard Band will be on hand to perform.

E-mail the author: Connor Sheridan