DANBURY, CONN. — In 1969 Richard Nixon was president, the first astronauts landed on the moon, and Western Connecticut State University was still a college. That same year, a group of athletes formed WestConn’s first football team.

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the university’s football team and the team is inviting everyone to join in the celebration the weekend of Oct. 2. The weekend kicks off with a reception at 7 p.m., Friday, Oct. 2, at the Hall of Fame in the O’Neill Center on the university’s Westside campus, 43 Lake Ave. Ext. in Danbury. On Saturday at 9 a.m., there will be a continental breakfast at the President’s Box in the Westside campus Athletic Stadium followed by an 11:30 a.m. lunch at the same location.

Then celebrants can watch the Colonials play against Morrisville State at noon on Saturday from the President’s Box. The weekend winds down with a reunion dinner Saturday that starts with a cocktail hour at 6 p.m. and dinner at 7 p.m. in the Grand Ballroom in the Westside Campus Center. Dinner choices include beef tenderloin with horseradish cream sauce, chicken Marsala and eggplant Rollard. There will be an open bar with beer, wine and soft drinks and a hard liquor cash bar.

Tickets for the entire weekend are $100 and can be purchased before Saturday, Sept. 19, by calling WestConn’s Alumni Office at (203) 837-8290.

For more information, contact the Office of University Relations at (203) 837-8486 or Alumni Office at (203) 837-8290.

Western Connecticut State University offers outstanding faculty in a range of quality academic programs. Our diverse university community provides students an enriching and supportive environment that takes advantage of the unique cultural offerings of Western Connecticut and New York. Our vision: To be an affordable public university with the characteristics of New England’s best small private universities