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Illinois Football Moves Season Opener From Saturday To Friday Night

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — Illinois has moved its season-opening football game against Kent State from Saturday to Friday night.

The Sept. 4 game will be the team's first non-Saturday home game since the 2001 Thanksgiving Day game against Northwestern.

Athletic director Mike Thomas said moving the game to Friday night should be a good start to Labor Day weekend for Illini fans.

"We are always exploring new ideas on improving our in-game atmosphere and trying to make the games as enjoyable as possible," Thomas said in a statement.

"We are introducing an exciting new tailgating area on the west side of Memorial Stadium this season, and an early-season night game is a terrific way to allow our fans to experience that area. We think this is a great way to kick off the Labor Day weekend."

The game will be televised by the Big Ten Network. The start time hasn't been set.

Copyright 2015 The Associated Press.

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