The Demopolis Quarterback Club has more than 100 tickets to move before Tuesday night’s third annual Draw Down event, the biggest fundraiser of the year for the group.

“We understand times are tough for everyone and we’re not trying to pester anybody, but if they want to buy (a ticket), we want them to,” Demopolis Quarterback Club president Kenny Freeman said. “As of (Thursday) evening about 5:30, we were at 161 tickets and we need to sell 299.”

The Draw Down takes on added significance given that the club skipped its rodeo fundraiser this year. Additionally, the Demopolis High football team has more than 100 players practicing for the upcoming season, a stark increase over the roughly 75 that participated in 2009.

“It costs a lot more money to supply that many kids,” Freeman said. “To outfit one player with practice clothes and game clothes costs about $1,000.” The Draw Down is Tuesday evening at the Demopolis Civic Center.

That event will also open the registration period for Demopolis’ first Football 101 class, an initiative designed to help interested ladies learn more about the game.

“Deborah Mitchell came up with it. Deborah has been a consistent worker with the quarterback club,” Freeman said. “(Demopolis High head football coach Tom) Causey is all for it. He likes the idea of the ladies learning more about football.”

The class, which will take place in either the DHS field house or cafeteria, will cost $25 and will provide students an in-depth look at some of the basics of the game as well as a commemorative T-shirt.

“It’s 101 basic football,” Freeman said. “(Causey is) going to go over positions, who the guard is, who the tackle is and what some of the responsibilities are. A lot of the ladies understand better what’s going on than some of the men do. Some of the men may need this too because with some of Coach Causey’s schemes it can be kind of hard to understand what is going on.”

Freeman said he hopes the event becomes an annual occurrence.

“We hope to expand on it. We really do,” Freeman said.

The club is also prepping for its second annual Fan Day, which will take place the evening of Aug. 7. Start times for the event have yet to be determined.

“It’ll have different activities for younger groups and older groups,” Freeman said.