MARQUETTE — Three days of festivities will surround the celebration of Northern Michigan University’s 1975 national championship football team, which will now include the retirement and raising to the Superior Dome rafters of quarterback Steve Mariucci’s No. 18 jersey.

That ceremony will take place during the Wildcats’ football game against Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference foe Grand Valley State at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 11.

It’s the final part of the three days of celebrations that begin on Thursday, Oct. 9.

That’s when a Welcome Party for NMU Alumni & Friends will be held at Blackrocks Brewery on North Third Street in Marquette from 5-7 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 9. Admission is free to all to welcome members of the championship team and includes a cash bar, food trucks available and live music in a laid-back atmosphere.

The following day is a 1975 Football Team Lunch just for members of the returning team at the Northern Center on campus from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. It’s scheduled to focus on an Upper Peninsula favorite, a pasty lunch.

Team members from 50 years ago are asked to email alumni@nmu.edu or call 906-227-2610 for information and an exclusive ticket link for all these festivities.

On Friday afternoon, the public is invited to attend for free a Former Players Panel Discussion at Vandament Arena from 1:30-3:30 p.m. Former Wildcat players from all decades will be featured sharing stories, insights and memories.

Mariucci will serve as moderator, while coach Herb Grenke, winningest coach in Northern football history, will welcome guests and speak about that remarkable era.

Among panelists already scheduled are Fred Smith, class of 1978; Keith Ponder, 1980; Jerry Rosburg, 1983; Rick Popp, 1988; Matt Hoard, 1997; and Jake Witt, 2021.

RSVP through the NMU Tickets website is encouraged but not required.

The public is also invited to attend for free the current Wildcats’ football team practice in the Superior Dome from 3:45-4:45 p.m. on Friday.

Friday’s busy day is capped off from 6-9:30 p.m. with the 1975 Football Celebratory Dinner. Members of the ’75 team need to RSVP to reserve a seat, while tickets at $75 per person are required for all others through the NMU Tickets website.

Also held at the Northern Center, this dinner program honors the history of NMU football with special emphasis on the 1975 national titlists and also on the retirement of Mariucci’s jersey.

It includes a cocktail hour with hors d’oeuvres, plated dinner, cash bar and program. The latter will include heartfelt memories and recalling of accomplishments, an in-memoriam tribute and guest speakers, with the Class of 1977’s Bobby Tuma serving as master of ceremonies.

Required attire is listed as business casual.

The Saturday of the football game and jersey retirement ceremony starts out at 11 a.m. with a 1975 Championship Viewing Double Feature, two films that will last until about 3 or 3:30 p.m. shown in Vandament Arena on campus.

Doors open at 10:30 a.m. and admission is again free to the public. The first film will be a one-time showing, now in full color, of the 1975 NCAA Division II Championship game lasting about 2 1/2 hours.

Then after about a 15-minute intermission, the 65-minute-long film “Put Your Hand on the Line” will be shown. That documentary highlights the enduring journey of the championship team.

Snack and beverage concessions will be available, and this is intended as a relaxed event, as attendees can come and go as they please throughout.

An RSVP through NMU Tickets is encouraged but not required.

Before the 7 p.m. game, a pregame tailgate gathering is scheduled for behind the Superior Dome from 4:30-6:30 p.m. with free admission for all. Bring your own food and beverages as tents, tables and chairs will be available.

And the game itself has an admission charge of $15 with tickets available online at NMU Tickets.

Story contents based on a Northern Michigan University Sports Information press release previewing the events. Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee’s email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.