NORMAL ( 25News Now ) - The Illinois State University Redbirds kick off their home football schedule Saturday against Morehead State, but with the new home season comes changes to the tailgating rules.

The tailgate lots will open Saturday at 1 p.m. and will close at kickoff at 6 p.m. Tailgate lots for the rest of the home schedule will also open five hours before kickoff and close when the games begin.

However, Illinois State University police chief, Aaron Woodruff, said homecoming will be a little more lenient with the lots opening two hours earlier for the match against Youngstown State on Oct. 18.

Woodruff added that this will help promote more safety measures when it comes to tailgaters drinking.

“It is a real concern when we’ve seen a lot of near misses over the years and almost

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