Field’s ready to go. All that’s left is for Fort Valley and Albany to get after it in Columbus

Jimmy Lee Jackson has been marking and preparing football fields for big games for nearly 40 years. He started marking lines by shaking flour from a small cup for games at the Phenix City Boys Club. Now, he uses a paint striping machine to get fields ready for college football games.

Jackson is the guy responsible for getting the field at A.J. McClung Memorial Stadium in Columbus ready for this year’s Fountain City Classic between Fort Valley State University and Albany State University. Kickoff is Saturday at 2 p.m. EST.

Jackson says he enjoys his work and gets lots of compliments.

“It’ll be outstanding everybody will get a chance to see a good, you know a good painting job on it,“ Jackson said, “and you know maybe they’ll go down and take pictures around it and something to keep souvenirs.”

There are several other events Saturday that are part of a week-long celebration of the Fountain City Classic, now in its 29th year. Saturday events include:

▪ Tailgate Village, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., A.J. McClung Memorial Stadium, 600 Fourth St.: Parking $5. Tailgating $50 (4 spaces). Grassy area $50. Large tents $50. RVs and campers $150. Early bird setup is Thursday, from 3-7 p.m., if you registered ($25 online). Setup for everyone else starts Friday at 8 a.m. No golf carts or motorized vehicles allowed.

▪ Vendor Village, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at A.J. McClung Memorial Stadium, 600 Fourth St., and 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. at Columbus Convention & Trade Center, 801 Front Ave.: Women’s and men’s fashion and accessories. Fraternity and sorority apparel. Jewelry. New and old CDs.

▪ Parade, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., from Colin Powell Parkway in Phenix City to Ninth Street and Broadway in Columbus: Featuring university presidents, alumni, homecoming courts, bands, students and Fountain City Classic committee.

▪ Game, 2 p.m., A.J. McClung Memorial Stadium, 600 Fourth St.: Advance tickets available at ticketmaster.com for adults $20, children/students $12. Tickets at the gate for adults $25, children/students $15. The ASU “Marching Rams Show Band” and the FVSU “Marching Blue Machine” will perform at halftime.

▪ After Party, 10 p.m. to 2 a.m., Columbus Convention & Trade Center, 801 Front Ave., Ballroom B: Admission $10 in advance, $15 at the door.

Staff writer Mark Rice contributed to this report.

This story was originally published November 2, 2018 at 5:07 PM.