The Daily Gamecock

College GameDay comes back to our city

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Students breaking out facepaint and “Maty Mauk likes Nickelback ” signs can only mean one thing — ESPN’s College GameDay is coming back to the Horseshoe.

The weekly marquee matchup show will head to Columbia Saturday to do a live three-hour pre-game show for USC's game against unranked University of Missouri.

“GameDay seeks to be at the biggest game of the week,” said Dave Nagle, director of communications at ESPN.  “You have two solid teams, new rivals in the SEC. [College GameDay has] been to Columbia (South Carolina) before, and it’s a great scene, and we are looking forward to another great Saturday morning there.” 

The matchup with Missouri, who joined the SEC two years ago, has already blossomed into a new rivalry, with each Columbia team annually fighting for the Mayor's Cup.

College GameDay wants to capture that atmosphere.

College GameDay is returning to Columbia for the seventh time and the third time since 2010. The Gamecocks are 3-3 in the times GameDay has visited campus.

Last year’s game in Columbia, Missouri featured a double-overtime thriller that ended with a missed field goal and a Carolina victory.

The last time College GameDay visited the historic Horseshoe was in 2012 for the annual clash between South Carolina and the Georgia Bulldogs. And the Gamecocks won that game in dominating fashion, beating the rival 35-7. 

"We're always fired up to get those guys here," coach Steve Spurrier said. "We've had some good fortune when they come around. Hopefully that will continue."

Spurrier's not the only one getting pumped — students are just as excited to welcome the GameDay crew back to the Horseshoe.  

"I was so excited this morning I almost messed up my haircut because I jumped so high out of the salon chair," Student Body President Lindsay Richardson said. "My advice to everyone this week is to save up your energy and your voice to bring the best and loudest fan excitement College GameDay has ever seen."


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