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With four days off before the team's next exhibition contest against the Chicago Bulls next Tuesday, the Pacers have planned a weekend jam-packed with community outreach initiatives in order to form what they hope to be lasting connections with fans, families, and coaches from all over the state of Indiana.
Here is what the team has scheduled:
Friday, October 16: #TouchdownPacers
Once again, the Indiana Pacers will be momentarily swapping out the hardwood for the gridiron as they split up and attend five area high school football games.
Here is a breakdown of which players are scheduled to be where, provided by Pacers.com:
Whiteland (5A) at Greenwood (4A)
Players: Chase Budinger, Toney Douglas, George Hill and Jordan Hill
North Central (6A) at Ben Davis (6A)
Players: Lavoy Allen, Rakeem Christmas, C.J. Miles and Shayne Whittington
Zionsville (5A) at Fishers (6A)
Players: Myles Turner, Rodney Stuckey and Joe Young
Northwest (3A) at Heritage Christian (2A)
Players: Monta Ellis, Solomon Hill and Glenn Robinson III
Hamilton Southeastern (6A) at Brownsburg (6A) at Victory Field
Players: C.J. Fair, Paul George, Kadeem Jack and Ian Mahinmi
On what will be the final night of the regular season for these teams before the start of the IHSAA state tournament, members of the Blue & Gold will have the rare opportunity to get away from the grind of training camp for a night in order to be fans of central Indiana high school football players. While in attendance, the Pacers will also be participating in the coin toss, handing out giveaways, and manning the Pacers prize table
Saturday, October 17: Jr. Pacers Coaching Clinic hosted by Frank Vogel
While the Pacers are out in the community greeting fans where they're at on Friday, approximately 100 Indiana youth basketball coaches will be coming to where head coach Frank Vogel is on Saturday for a coaching clinic at Bankers Life Fieldhouse as part of NBA's annual Jr. NBA Week (October 19 - 26).
Per SI.com, "The Jr. NBA program is intended for boys and girls ages 6-14 to help them learn the fundamentals of the game as well as 'emphasizing sportsmanship, respect, teamwork, and healthy living.'"
In addition to learning effective coaching strategies, the coaches in attendance will have the opportunity to pick Vogel's brain during a Q-and-A session moderated by Chris Denari.
Sunday, October 18: Pacers FanJam
After spending a night beneath the Friday night lights, the Pacers will return to Bankers Life Fieldhouse for their annual FanJam presented by CNO Financial Group.
Here is a schedule for the free event:
2:00 - 3:00pm: Autograph session with Pacemates, Boomer, Pacers personalities and alumni players
3:00pm: Pacers team scrimmage, performance by the Pacemates, Dunk Show by Boomer
4:00pm: Player autographs
While the intrasquad scrimmage will serve as a great opportunity for the fans to get better acquainted with the team's fresh faces, the highlight of the on-court activities will no doubt be whatever the team's veterans have in store for Myles Turner, Joe Young, and Rakeem Christmas. Damjan Rudez's performance of Iggy Azalea's "Fancy" was certainly a comedic treat last year.
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If you attend any of the team's community outreach initiatives this weekend, be sure to share details or photos from your experience in the comments section or as a FanPost.