Gov. M. Jodi Rell has declared Friday, Sept. 4 “College Colors Day” in the State of Connecticut. “College Colors Day” is an opportunity for fans, alumni and students in Connecticut to wear the colors of their favorite college or university.

“College Colors Day” is a national annual celebration dedicated to promoting college traditions and spirit by encouraging people across America to wear apparel of their favorite college team on the Friday before the kickoff of the college football season. Other governors from across the U.S. are also making this official declaration.

“What better way is there to show spirit and pride in your favorite college or university than by wearing the school’s colors on the eve of the official kick-off of the 2009 college football season,” said Rell.

“College Colors Day is about more than just intercollegiate athletics and college football,” she noted. “It is a day to promote higher education and celebrate the achievements of all Connecticut colleges and universities. As college students get acclimated to campus and begin the fall semester, ‘College Colors Day’ is an opportunity to show students, faculty, and staff how much their respective schools mean to the citizens of Connecticut.

“Let’s have some fun on Friday by wearing a t-shirt, sweatshirt, tie, hat, or other college gear of your favorite school – whether they have a college football team or not,” Rell added.

Some of Connecticut’s colleges and universities begin their football season on Sept. 5, while others start later in September.

In April, Governor Rell took similar action when she declared Friday, April 3, through Sunday, April 5 as “UConn Huskies Blue & White Weekend” to celebrate the UConn men’s and women’s basketball teams’ trips to the 2009 Final Four.