GameDay sets Tuscaloosa visit

TUSCALOOSA - ESPN is coming to town Saturday, this time for an all-day, all-night celebration of Crimson Tide football.

Alabama head coach Nick Saban confirmed Monday afternoon that the cable television giant will be televising its wildly popular College GameDay show live from the Quad beginning at 9 a.m. Saturday.

"It's certainly an honor for us to have GameDay come to the University of Alabama," Saban said. "It's special exposure for us. It's special to have those people come and be a part of our program for a day.

"We certainly want to have nothing but the greatest hospitality, respect and admiration for what they do so that they have a positive experience here, and I think that goes without saying that our fans welcome them and create an atmosphere that's special for everyone to see."

The network will also telecast the Alabama-Georgia game at 6:45 p.m. Saturday night - the second straight week the team of Mike Patrick, Todd Blackledge and Holly Rowe will show the game to the nation.

The GameDay appearance marks the fifth time the show - hosted by Chris Fowler, Lee Corso and Kirk Herbstreit - has been in Tuscaloosa.

Unfortunately for Alabama, GameDay appearances have not been all that kind. The last time the show was here was in 2005, when LSU downed then-No. 4 Alabama 16-13 in overtime.

"I just heard that," Tide senior defensive back Simeon Castille said. "I'm sure our fans will be excited. I don't really get to partake, but it will be good for our fans and this university and all that.

"I love when we play on ESPN. Everybody's watching, so it will be fun."

Before that, Alabama went 0-3 in games that the GameDay crew broadcast live from the Capstone. The show also emanated from high-profile Alabama games at Birmingham's Legion Field.

"I have to stay focused and do what I've been doing every week," Tide redshirt freshman running back Terry Grant said.

"None of us can get the GameDay in our head and worry about what's going on around here, we have to stay focused on this team."