Jan. 22, 2009
Notre Dame, Ind. – While the Notre Dame men’s basketball team plays host to No. 3/3 Connecticut at 7:00 pm ET Saturday night, the athletics department has put together a schedule of events for Irish students and fans attending the game and ESPN’s College GameDay broadcast at the Joyce Center.
ESPN’s College GameDay will be broadcast live from the Joyce Center at 11:00 am ET and 6:00 pm ET, leading up to the tip-off of the contest with the Huskies. GameDay is a live show featuring former Irish head coach Digger Phelps, along with Rece Davis, Hubert Davis, Jay Bilas, and Bob Knight.
The weekend will begin on Friday night at 9:00 pm, when Notre Dame, Saint Mary’s, and Holy Cross students will be allowed in Gate 5 of the Joyce Center to campout for seating at the game. Students who attend the campout (being held in the Joyce Center Fieldhouse due to the cold Michiana temperatures) will receive a wristband as they enter to guarantee their spot in line. Any student wishing to campout must arrive at Gate 5 by midnight and may not leave the Fieldhouse without revoking their wristband. The campout will include events such as pick-up basketball games and watching movies such as Hoosiers. Free drinks will also be provided by Irish head coach Mike Brey.
At 9:15 am on Saturday (Jan. 24), all students will be admitted to the GameDay broadcast through Gate 2 of the Joyce Center. During the lead-up to the broadcast, Phelps will host contests for students, with prizes including round trip airfare for two, free books for a semester and autographs from members of the GameDay crew. For the general public, Gate 10 will open at 10:00 am for admittance to the GameDay broadcast.
ESPN’s College GameDay goes live to a national audience from the Joyce Center at 11:00 am ET. Students and the general public are encouraged to attend and help prove why the Joyce Center is home to the nation’s longest active home court winning streak. The Joyce Center Arena will be cleared at the conclusion of the broadcast at 12:00 pm ET. Students will return to the Fieldhouse before lining up in the usual spot at Gate 11 at 2:00 pm. Any students not at the campout will be in line behind those with wristbands. Gate 11 will open for students at 5:00 pm. All gates will open at 5:30 pm for the general public to enter the arena before GameDay’s second live broadcast at 6:00 pm ET.
The complete schedule of events for Friday and Saturday:
ESPN College GameDay Event Agenda
Friday, January 23rd
8:45 pm: ND, SMC and HCC students begin line-up at Gate 5 of Joyce Center for campout
9 pm: Gate 3 of Joyce Center opens for campout; Wristbands for place in game night line distributed
Midnight: Campout closed for night; Gate 5 locked; Wristband distribution ends *Please note: Any student who decides to leave the campout will have his or her wristband will be removed and the can come back the next morning at 6 am.
Saturday, January 24th
6 am: Gate 5 re-opens; Wristband distribution resumes
7 am: Breakfast provided for students courtesy of Head Coach Mike Brey
7 am: State Farm Sign Approval
8 am: Leprechaun Legion will distribute atmosphere items for GameDay
9:15 am: Students admitted to GameDay through Gate 2 and Fieldhouse
10 am hour: Live hit will take place for Sports Center
9:15 am: Digger Phelps’ contest
10:50 am: Contests end
11 am: ESPN College GameDay LIVE
Noon: ESPN GameDay broadcast ends
Noon: Arena cleared
2 pm: Students line up at Gate 11 according to wristband
5 pm: Gate 11 opens for students
5:30 pm: All gates open
6 pm: ESPN College GameDay LIVE
7 pm: Notre Dame vs. Connecticut
Note: Any student who leaves the campout once doors re-open at 6 am on Saturday will get their wristband removed by the Legion. Students are encouraged to bring valuables (including electronics) from the campout to the GameDay broadcast. All other items will remain in the Fieldhouse until after the broadcast. Unclaimed items will be taken to Joyce Center Lost & Found at Gate 6.
Contest prizes include: roundtrip airline tickets, $50 to Legends, Hammes bookstore gift cards, books for one semester and autographs from Digger Phelps, Bob Knight, and the GameDay crew.
–ND–