By: by Mike DeGeorge

About Kennesaw State University

About Atlanta Braves

Kennesaw State University and the Atlanta Braves announced Friday that the Owls will host a football game at SunTrust Park in the 2018 season.The game on Saturday, November 17, 2018 between Kennesaw State and Jacksonville State University will be the first football game played at the new, 41,000-seat home of the Braves that opened in Cobb County in April.Representatives from the Braves, KSU and JSU participated in a joint press conference Friday afternoon at SunTrust Park to make the announcement. Also Friday, a celebration on the plaza at the Battery Atlanta is planned for 5:30 p.m., along with an on-field recognition before Friday night's Braves game."This is a historic day for so many reasons," said, Director of Athletics at Kennesaw State. "I can't thank Mike Plant and the Atlanta Braves organization enough for allowing the Owls to play the first football game at SunTrust Park. We are excited to provide our student-athletes, coaches, fans, and alumni the opportunity to see our football team play in such an incredible and unique venue. I know this will be a great event for Cobb County and the Northwest Georgia region."SunTrust Park's baseball playing surface will be converted to a football field with the field running from homeplate to left field. ( see attached rendering "We couldn't think of a better way to bring football to SunTrust Park than with Kennesaw State," said Mike Plant, Braves president of development. "was integral in making this happen and we're excited to host this game for Cobb County and Kennesaw State students, faculty and alumni."Under head coach, Kennesaw State is entering its third season of football in 2017. The Owls have won 14 games over their first two seasons, and came one win shy of a Big South Conference title in 2016. Jacksonville State, coached by John Grass, is a perennial power in the Football Championship Subdivision. The Gamecocks have posted a 33-6 record over the last three seasons, reaching the FCS Playoffs each year and playing for the national championship in 2015.Kennesaw State announced that its football season-ticket holders for the 2017 season will have first choice at seating location for the 2018 game at SunTrust Park. Season tickets for 2017 are on sale for $99, plus applicable donation to the Owls Fund. The SunTrust Park game will be part of the Owls' 2018 season-ticket package.More information specific to the 2018 game, including game time, ticket prices, student tickets, and premium seating packages has yet to be determined.Also in 2018, the Owls will open the season at Georgia State, which now playing its home games in the Braves former home – Turner Field. Kennesaw State's other non-conference opponents in 2018 include Samford, Tennessee Tech, Alabama State, and Clark-Atlanta.With 33,000 students, Kennesaw State University is the third-largest university in Georgia and one of the fifty largest public universities in the country. KSU offers more than 150 undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees and boasts more than 100,000 alumni. The Owls offer 18 Division-I intercollegiate sports, including a football program that debuted in 2015. KSU competes in the ASUN Conference and is a member of the Big South Conference for football. Under the leadership of Director of Athletics, Kennesaw State teams have won 19 conference titles and made 23 NCAA postseason appearances over the last seven seasons.Based in Atlanta since 1966, the Braves are the longest continuously operating franchise in Major League Baseball. Since 1991, Braves teams have earned two National League wild cards, 15 division championships, five National League pennants, and a World Series title. Atlanta Braves games are telecast on Fox Sports South and Fox Sports Southeast. Radio broadcasts can be heard in Atlanta on 680 the Fan (AM), WYAY-FM (106.7) and regionally on the Atlanta Braves Radio Network. Follow the Braves at braves.com, facebook.com/braves, and twitter.com/braves.Fifth Third Bank is the Official Bank of Kennesaw State Athletics. Fifth Third Bank Stadium, the signature athletics landmark on the Kennesaw State University campus, is a world-class facility that has been recognized as one of the premier multi-use outdoor athletics venues in the country. In the fall of 2015, it became the official home of Owls football team and is also home to Owls soccer and lacrosse.Keep up with Kennesaw State Athletics by following KSU on Twitter @KSUOwlNation and or by liking Kennesaw State Owls on Facebook. You also can follow Kennesaw State football at @KennesawSTFB and The Owls fund on Twitter at @TheOwlsFund.