Colorado Mesa University will honor first responders and veterans at its 2025 football home opener, scheduled for Saturday, September 6, at Stocker Stadium. The Mavericks will play Eastern New Mexico University, with kickoff set for 6 p.m.
The pregame ceremony is being organized by Lenton Thomas, who leads the CMU Football Alumni Chapter. It will start at 5:40 p.m. with a helicopter fly-in carrying the official game ball to midfield. Robin Brown, Senior Vice President of Development at CMU, CEO of the CMU Foundation, and former US Army Captain, will deliver the ball to referees.
Jennifer Holdren, a CMU alumna from the class of 2005 and Community Hospital’s Director of Surgical Services, will present the flight crew with an autographed football signed by the Maverick football team. Community Hospital serves as the exclusive sports medicine provider for CMU Athletics. Holdren has previously served on the CMU Alumni Association Board and remains active in local healthcare leadership.
First responders and veterans attending Saturday’s game will receive free admission for themselves and one guest. The event will include a moment of silence to remember those lost since September 11th and recognize local heroes’ courage and resilience.
This year also marks the centennial anniversary of Colorado Mesa University’s football program. The university is launching a yearlong Century Celebration initiative to commemorate Maverick spirit and tradition. Additional information about this initiative is available at https://www.cmucentury.com/.
CMU encourages members of the Grand Junction community to arrive early and be seated by 5:40 p.m. to witness the fly-in ceremony ahead of the new season’s opening game.
