ESPN’s College Gameday comes to town kicking off the 2021 season

ATLANTA — Yes they are coming to our city. ESPN’s famous “College Gameday” show is kicking off the early beginning of the 2021 football season in Southeast Atlanta this weekend.

The renowned show and the crowds that usually go along with it will be in the Summerhill neighborhood where Georgia State’s “Center Parc” stadium is situated Saturday morning ahead of Saturday night’s MEAC vs. SWAC Challenge featuring North Carolina Central and Alcorn State.

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Channel 2 Action News reporter Berndt Petersen spoke with Keisha J. Kelly on Friday.

Kelly is the CEO of “Black College Experience” , which specializes in sports at historically black colleges and universities (HBCU). Kelly said having Gameday in Atlanta for this game is a very big deal.

“It’s a major thing for me to not only cover it, but to be out here to see it and travel around,” Kelly said. “It’s big for us to see our institutions on the big stage.”

Former UGA Football star David Pollack who is a football analyst on the College Gameday show said being here for this particular game means a lot.

“It’s the most memorable shows we do,” Pollack said. “As a person who goes to them all, it’s the most memorable ones we do.”

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College Gameday Host Rece Davis said he is very excited to talk about the history between the two traditional HBCU football powers.

“They have a rich history and a rich heritage,” said Davis.

Kelly said she is proud to see the HBCU’s getting top billing to start the season. There is not a full slate of games on Saturday and that means this matchup will get lots of attention.

“College Gameday. You have all the HBCU love you can get. We have Good Morning America here,” Kelly said. “To actually see two HBCUs on this platform is amazing. We don’t always get the coverage. But to see this happening today is amazing.”

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