The UI Department of Intercollegiate Athletics announced plans today to take historic Kinnick Stadium and "paint it black" on Saturday, Oct. 22, when the nationally ranked Iowa Hawkeyes square off against Michigan in a game that pits the two teams that shared last year's Big Ten Conference championship.

The UI's "Black Out Saturday" will follow the same model as Penn State University's very succesful "White Out" games and other such events staged across the country: All fans attending the game are encouraged to help add another layer of "home field advantage" to the already outstanding game-day environment inside Kinnick -- as evidenced by the UI's 20-game winning streak at home -- by showing their support for Coach Kirk Ferentz's squad by wearing a shirt, sweater or sweatshirt that has black as its primary color.

"It's really kind of simple. Fans of the Hawkeyes can make a statement of their support by joining in the fun. It doesn't get much easier than reaching into the closet on game day and pulling out black," said Rick Klatt, the UI's associate athletics director for external affairs.

The UI has also commissioned the creation of a souvenir t-shirt to commemorate the first "Black Out Saturday." Short sleeve and long sleeve versions will be available at the Official Iowa Hawk Shop and a variety of retail outlets across the state later this month.

"We hope to have enough success that this will become an annual activity of our football program and other varsity sport programs at the UI as well," said Klatt.

Black Out Saturday
Retail Locations for Commemorative T-Shirts

Iowa City
Iowa City Coralville Convention and Visitors Bureau locations
Official Iowa Hawk Shop
Iowa Book and Supply
Collegiate Sports
Scheels, Coral Ridge Mall

Cedar Rapids
Collegiate Sports
Off Campus

Des Moines
Off Campus
Scheels, Jordan Creek Mall

On the Web
Bravo Sports Marketing