MTSU Football To Pay Tribute to Dolly Parton in Season Opener

With the music world still reeling from the death of country music icon Dolly Parton, one college football program will be paying tribute to her in their season opener.

The Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders have announced that they will be wearing commemorative patches on their jerseys during their home opener to pay tribute to Parton, who passed away last week at the age of 80 after a brief battle with cancer.

Chris Massaro, the athletic director for MTSU, announced that a game-worn jersey will be donated to the Center for Popular Music. The Center, which is located on campus in the Scott Borchetta College of Media and Entertainment, contains multiple artifacts from Dolly's career.

The Blue Raiders kick off the season against Murray State on Sept. 5th, which Massaro said made the tribute appropriate as the date coincides with the hit movie "9 to 5," which Parton starred in.