Troy will honor DeMarcus Ware at football season-opener

Troy’s football season-opener vs. Stephen F. Austin on Sept. 2 will also be “DeMarcus Ware Day” on the Troy campus.

Ware, who starred at linebacker for the Trojans from 2001-04, was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame last weekend. The Auburn native spent 12 seasons in the NFL with the Dallas Cowboys and Denver Broncos and ranks ninth in league history with 138.5 sacks.

“DeMarcus Ware is not only the most outstanding football player in Troy football history, he is also a patriot, a loyal Trojan, and a model alumnus. I am very proud of him,” Troy chancellor Jack Hawkins said. “His enshrinement in the Pro Football Hall of Fame was earned and reflects the best of Troy football. His acceptance speech was generous in his praise for his family and his alma mater. I encourage all Trojans to join us for the home opener as we honor DeMarcus, an outstanding American.”

DeMarcus Ware is shown during his playing days at Troy. Ware, the 2003 Sun Belt Conference Defensive Player of the Year, spent 12 seasons in the NFL and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Aug. 5. (Troy athletics photo)

In honor of Ware’s jersey No. 94, all general admission tickets for Troy’s game vs. Stephen F. Austin have been reduced to $9.40. No. 94 jerseys will be on sale at the school’s bookstore and Ware — who is scheduled to be in attendance — will be honored throughout the game with video highlights from his playing career and his Hall of Fame induction speech.

Ware, the 2003 Sun Belt Conference Defensive Player of the Year and a two-time all-conference pick, was drafted No. 11 overall by the Dallas Cowboys in 2005. He was the first Troy player and first Sun Belt player selected in the first round.

Ware spent his first nine seasons in Dallas, then three with Denver before retiring after the 2016 season. He was a nine-time Pro Bowler, four-time first-team All-Pro and won a Super Bowl ring with the Broncos after the 2015 season.

“DeMarcus Ware is one of the greatest players to ever step on a football field in the history of the game, and we are incredibly proud to call him a Troy Trojan,” Troy athletics director Brent Jones said. “He is as first-class of a person as you will ever encounter, and we are ecstatic to welcome him home to The Vet and celebrate his remarkable career as a Trojan, Cowboy and Bronco.”

Troy’s game with Stephen F. Austin kicks off at 6 p.m. Sept. 2 at Veterans Memorial Stadium. For ticket information, visit TroyTrojans.com/FBTickets or call 877-878-WINS (9467).