Hokie ClubNEW YORK – Respected ESPN broadcaster Rece Davis made a guest appearance on the network's Get Up program on Wednesday and revealed that Virginia Tech was his top location to host College Gameday, college football's signature pregame show! Davis' assertion was seconded by the network's Maria Taylor, who was part of the broadcast crew who called Tech's 24-3 season-opening win at Florida State.
START JUMPING ⚡@ESPN_ReceDavis revealed his favorite locations for @CollegeGameDay
— Virginia Tech Football (@VT_Football) September 19, 2018
And yes, @Virginia_Tech was No. 1️⃣
📽️ via @GetUpESPN #Hokies 🦃 pic.twitter.com/ZntLCikUJZ
In 2017, College Gameday returned to Blacksburg for the first time since 2007 as Davis, Taylor, Kirk Herbstreit, Desmond Howard, Lee Corso and David Pollack broadcasted live to a national audience on Alumni Mall with the iconic Torgersen Bridge as a backdrop.
Which @CollegeGameDay location is your favorite?@ESPN_ReceDavis gives his: pic.twitter.com/kTOK5tleW2
— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) September 19, 2018
Since College GameDay's first show in Blacksburg on Oct. 16, 1999, the Hokies and the live production have always enjoyed a special connection. Virginia Tech became only the third school to serve as the host for College GameDay twice in the same season, as the show served as the opening act for Tech victories over No. 16 Syracuse and No. 19 Miami in 1999.
"During the Hokies' run to the championship game in 1999, it was the amazing spirit of Virginia Tech that helped us take GameDay's road shows to a level we'd never imagined," ESPN's Chris Fowler said in 2015.
In an effort to bring a sense of normalcy back to a vulnerable community, College GameDay and ESPN broadcast the first Tech football game after the April 16 tragedy on Sept. 1, 2007 vs. East Carolina.