• Brad Paisley to headline Traditions Rally 2015

    Brad Paisley at Baylor

    For several years now, Baylor students and the Waco community have celebrated the start of football season with a combined pep rally and concert known as Traditions Rally. In 2012, Texas country artist Cory Morrow headlined the event; in 2013, it was singer-songwriter Ben Rector; and last fall, it was former American Idol winner Phillip Phillips.

    This year, we’re taking it up a notch. On Sept. 11, country music superstar Brad Paisley will play Traditions Rally, right in the heart of the Baylor campus.

    The concert is part of Paisley’s “Country Nation College Tour Presented by Zaxby’s,” which also includes stops at Virginia Tech, Arkansas and Texas, among others. The evening will begin with a student-only tailgate, followed by the community pep rally, opening act The Raging Idiots (featuring Bobby Bones and Eddie from “The Bobby Bones Show”), and Paisley; a fireworks show over Pat Neff Hall will conclude the festivities.

    [EVENT DETAILS: For students || For the community]

    At 4 p.m., the IFC All-Student Tailgate will begin in Baylor Park behind South Russell. Here, students will receive wristbands which allow access to a reserved section for the pep rally and concert. Freshmen are encouraged to wear their Line jerseys and slime caps.

    The main event will take place on Fountain Mall. For security reasons, attendees will enter the area through four secured gate locations, beginning at 5:30 p.m. The grassy area of Fountain Mall will be standing room only; a temporary grandstand at the back of the mall, directly in front of Moody Library, will welcome additional fans. Capacity will be limited, and the gates will close when capacity is reached, so plan accordingly.

    At 7 p.m., a season-opening pep rally will feature the Golden Wave Marching Band, spirit squads and members of the Bears’ 2015 football team, with the opening act going on about 7:30 and Brad Paisley about an hour later.

    FYI, parking options will be limited due to the football game the next day. Guests are encouraged to park at the Ferrell Center and ride shuttles to a drop-off spot near the event gates. Leave your lawn chairs, blankets, food and drink at home; they won’t be allowed in. (Here’s a complete list of prohibited items and behavior.) If you get hungry, an assortment of food trucks will be parked just off Fountain Mall, behind Morrison Hall.

    Make sure you stick around after the show for the fireworks display over campus. Because when we do a Traditions Rally, we do it right.

    Sic ’em, Bears!