CEDAR CITY, Utah, Aug. 20 - Southern Utah University's Thunderbird Club will be hosting two of its annual fall kickoff events in the next two weeks, the Meet the Team Watermelon Bust and the Prime in the Pines dinner.

The Watermelon Bust is slated for Saturday from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and will be held at Thunderbird Park, the grassy area east of Eccles Coliseum. Student-athletes from all 17 of the University's sports programs will be on hand to meet fans of all ages in attendance. The Watermelon Bust also serves as the kickoff for the Athletic Club's auxiliary club, the ThunderKids Club. Parents of children ages 12 and under are encouraged to sign their kids up for the club to take advantage of ticketing deals and other benefits available only to club members.

Prime in the Pines is scheduled for Tuesday, Aug. 28, at the SUU Mountain Center, located approximately eight miles up Cedar Canyon on Highway 14. The annual prime rib dinner will be served at 6:30 p.m. and coaches and team captains will be on hand to talk about the upcoming seasons. Prime in the Pines serves as the Thunderbird Club's official kickoff function and those interested in joining the club can do so that night to receive all club benefits, such as priority seating opportunities at football and basketball games and the complimentary prime rib dinner.

For more information on either club, interested persons should contact Ken Beazer at 435-865-8354 or via email at beazer@suu.edu.

The Athletic Club will also begin its weekly no-host coaches luncheons on Monday at noon at the Cedar City Crystal Inn. In-season coaches and student-athletes attend each luncheon to talk about upcoming games and review past contests.

-- SUU --