The inside of Chilton County High School’s football stadium will soon be a busy place with Tiger Day scheduled on Saturday beginning around 2 p.m. (Photo by Brandon Sumrall | Special)

Chilton County High School will hold Tiger Day on Saturday, its annual preseason celebration for residents and football fans in Clanton.

According to CCHS Gridiron Club president Chris Smith, the tradition has been rejuvenated over the past four years.

“We’ve got to have a strong sense of community pride,” Smith said. “That is the first step in producing a winner.”

The band will be part of this year’s festivities, which has not been the case in recent years.

By adding the band, Smith believes that the atmosphere will reflect even truer to the gameday experience.

Saturday’s schedule of events will begin at 2:30 p.m. with scrimmages from Clanton Middle School and followed by the junior varsity and varsity squads at 3:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. respectively.

Each of the scrimmages will be under the discretion of the coach.

“The younger kids need to see the work ethic that the varsity displays,” Smith said. “It’s a positive for the entire program.”

A break in the action will take place, as the “Pride of CCHS” Band will perform on the field immediately following the conclusion of the varsity scrimmage.

The band will also perform the national anthem to signal the start of the second half of the schedule that will include two 25-minute halves for the midgets division, while a pair of 30-minute halves will be given to the minors and majors teams.

“When you see kids of all ages involved, you know that the program is headed in the right direction,” Smith said.

The Clanton Blue team will face off against the Clanton Orange team with a running clock used during each of the contests.

“For many of these players, it is the first time that they will have the chance to play on a high school field and in front of a crowd like that,” Smith said.

With the last game expected to start at 8 p.m., it is truly a daylong event and an opportunity for the community to demonstrate their love of football.

“This gives parents the opportunity to see all of their kids on the field at the same time, which never really happens except for once a year,” Smith said.

Tickets for the event are $5 for adults, $3 for children under 12, while children 5 years old and younger will get in free. Concessions will also be available.

For information or questions regarding Tiger Day, email cchsgridiron@hotmail.com or visit www.facebook.com/cchsgridironclub.