TOWSON, Md. - After continuing the tradition of helping students move in to the dorms on Saturday morning, the Tigers returned to the practice field on Saturday afternoon as they continued their preparation for Kent State.

Towson opens its 44th season of football on Thursday night at Kent State. Kickoff at Dix Stadium is set for 7 p.m. The game will be broadcast back to the Baltimore area on Comcast Plus with Joe Beninati and Brad Jackson handling the broadcast.

When the Tigers face Kent State on Thursday night, they will be facing a program that is starting its 90th season. The Golden Flashes, who are members of the Mid-American Conference, have an all-time record of 315-206-28.

Kent State is the fifth NCAA FBS program that the Tigers have played through the years. This marks the fourth time in five years that Towson has opened the season by facing an FBS team on the road.

In 2008, Towson opened its season with a loss at Navy. In 2009, the Tigers dropped their season opener at Northwestern. Indiana beat the Tigers in the 2010 season opener. Last year, the Tigers lost to Maryland but that meeting wasn't the season opener.

Under the direction of Coach Darrell Hazell, the Golden Flashes' second-year coach, Kent State has nine starters returning on offense and eight on defense. Kent State posted a 5-7 record last year, winning four of its last five games.

Coach Rob Ambrose and the Tigers return to practice on Sunday afternoon.

Season tickets for Towson University football are on sale now by calling the Athletics Ticket Office at 1-855-TU-TIGER or going online to TowsonTigers.com. Season ticket packages begin at $55 per seat.