Notre Dame One of Six Schools To Host College GameDay For Football And Basketball In The Same Year
ESPN's College GameDay show is coming to South Bend, Indiana this weekend as the No. 25 Fighting Irish take on No. 11 Louisville in men's college basketball. If you recall, Notre Dame has already hosted College GameDay this school year -- when Notre Dametook on Stanford on the gridiron.
Now, it is a pretty good testament of how well-rounded a school's athletics program is if it is capable of bringing GameDay to town for two different sports -- that feat has been accomplished by 17 different schools. But it is even more impressive when a school gets the show to visit for two sports in the same academic year.
(Note: I say "academic year" because the football season occurs in a separate year -- ex. 2012 -- than the basketball season -- ex. 2013 -- so when you are looking up the years, remember to stagger them for accuracy)
Here are the schools that have had ESPN College GameDay for two separate sports in the same academic year:
- Oklahoma State (2004-05)
- Texas (2005-06 and 2008-09 -- the only school to do this twice)
- Ohio State (2006-07)
- Florida State (2011-12)
- Michigan (2011-12)
- Notre Dame (2012-13)
Not only is it a testament of the quality of the athletics program, it is also a testament of how great the fans are -- ESPN wants to show crazy, loyal, passionate fans that are obsessed with their teams. Even more importantly, ESPN wants to see a student body that is the ultimate support group for all things their school. In that respect, the Leprechaun Legion for Notre Dame is second to none. I'm sure we will make Notre Dame proud this weekend. And more importantly, the Irish will get their second College GameDay win of the year.
Go Irish.
