ESPN will air its “”College GameDay”” pregame show Saturday on the UA Mall. The network, though, has yet to announce exactly where on the Mall the program will set up as ESPN prepares for the Wildcats’ showdown versus the University of Oregon.
Neither the network nor Arizona Athletics must reveal the set location beforehand, but an announcement could come as early as Tuesday, Athletics Director Jim Livengood told the Daily Wildcat.
“”I think one big possibility is over by (the east side of) Old Main, where you can see the mountains and the palm trees,”” said Jeff Wolfson, who is surveying possible sites for ESPN. “”That’s basically, I think, what (makes) this university what it is.””
The “”GameDay”” crew could also set up on the Mall by Cherry Avenue or in front of McKale Center, he added.
ESPN’s “”College GameDay”” chooses one college campus each week to host its multi-hour pregame show leading into that week’s premier college football game.
Saturday will mark the first time the UA has hosted “”GameDay.””
The Wildcats did play in a “”GameDay”” game at fourth-ranked Penn State for the opening game of the 1999 season. Third-ranked Arizona lost that game, 41-7, and finished the year with a 6-6 record.
“”GameDay”” will air on ESPN from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. on Saturday, with the game starting at 6 p.m.