The Pirates kick off the 2009 season on Saturday as they host Tyler (Texas) in a non-conference matchup at Emmot Field. Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m. This will be the head coaching debut of Lamar James, who was formerly an assistant coach at ICC as defensive coordinator in 2006. James started his coaching career at the University of North Alabama and most recently was the defensive backs coach and special teams coordinator at Southeastern Louisiana University. Although the Pirates have not posted a winning season in more than a decade, James is hoping to change the attitude in a team that was picked to finish sixth in the Jayhawk Conference in the preseason poll. Saturday’s contest will be part of the opening weekend challenge between the Jayhawk Conference and the Southwest Junior College Football Conference - the top two junior college football conferences in the country. ICC has not had much luck in the challenge in the first three years against Cisco and Tyler but hope to turn things around this weekend.

*Several events will surround Saturday night’s season-opening game at Emmot Field. Booster Club tailgating is scheduled to begin at 5:15 p.m. in the parking lot outside the stadium. At 6:15 p.m., the hospitality tent will open. Booster Club members must show their hospitality pass that they received in order to get into the tent. For more information about these events and the Booster Club, contact the ICC Athletic Department at 332-5481.