Ole Miss Sports Productions cameraman Will Trap videotapes one of the ESPN set crew at work. Photo by Robert Jordan/Ole Miss Communications
The University of Mississippi is no stranger to unique opportunities or the national spotlight. This weekend will bring both.
For the first time ever, ESPN’s “College GameDay” will grace the Grove with its presence, bringing along the lights, camera and action.
The news was announced Saturday night, and the anticipation of the “GameDay” crew’s arrival has caused quite a stir around campus.
“I think it’s a great thing for Ole Miss,” said Michala Burman, a senior integrated marketing communications major from Hopkinsville, Kentucky. “Being a senior, nothing like this has happened before and it’s going to be a great experience in my last year.”
Kevin Zeek, a junior accounting major from Alpharetta, Georgia, said he expects the atmosphere in the Grove to be similar to when Ole Miss hosted Texas two years ago.
“I expect it to be a lot like that, but with a lot more national attention,” Zeek said. “I think it’s a huge opportunity not only to grow the Ole Miss football brand, but the university brand as well.”
Zeek said he plans to attend as many GameDay events as he can over the next few days.
Set up crews began arriving Wednesday night and have started setting up around the Grove stage. At 5:30 p.m. Thursday, the GameDay bus will arrive in the Circle to film an intro video that will be televised as part of the Saturday morning program. Students, employees and fans are encouraged to greet the bus at the Circle. The most-represented student organization will receive a limited number of VIP passes to the show.