MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Middle Tennessee State University’s Blue Raider football team will honor the life of country music icon and beloved humanitarian Dolly Parton by wearing a special commemorative jersey patch for the home season opener against Murray State on Saturday, Sept. 5.

Athletics Director Chris Massaro and Beverly Keel, dean of MTSU’s Scott Borchetta College of Media and Entertainment, unveiled the jersey patch design Friday, Aug. 28, at the Center for Popular Music, one of the world’s oldest and largest research centers devoted to the study of American popular music. The center’s collection includes artifacts from Parton’s career, several of which were on display for the announcement.

Parton, 80,  died Tuesday in Nashville after a brief battle with cancer.

“Coach (Derek) Mason and I were talking about how we can honor one of the great Tennesseans and one of the greatest people in the world,” Massaro said. “The football team is honored to wear this for our home opener.”

Massaro said the first of the game-worn jerseys will be donated to the center, known for its extensive holdings representing all genres and formats of music, and items reflecting the creation and dissemination of popular music.

“We can’t wait to have this as part of our collection,” said the center’s director, Charlie Dahan. “We have so much great Dolly stuff… so this is a wonderful addition.”

Massaro said MTSU will display QR codes on the Floyd Stadium scoreboard for fans to donate to Parton’s Imagination Library, a book-gifting program that mails free books to children from birth until they begin school in participating areas.

Massaro noted that the date of the game — 9/5 — made it even more appropriate, given Parton’s starring role and legendary song in the 1980 movie “9 to 5.”  Kickoff for MTSU’s season opener at Floyd Stadium is set for 6 p.m.

Information about tickets and game-day information can be found at www.GoBlueRaiders.com.

— Andrew Oppmann ([email protected])