Aug. 11, 2009

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – For the second straight year, ESPN’s College GameDay will be in attendance for the University of Alabama football team’s season opener in Atlanta.

No. 5 Alabama will meet preseason seventh-ranked Virginia Tech, who is the preseason favorite to win the ACC, in the second annual Chick-Fil-A College Kickoff Classic on Saturday, Sept. 5, at 7 p.m. (CDT) from the Georgia Dome in Atlanta.  The game will be televised by ABC Sports.

The popular two-hour pregame show, featuring Chris Fowler, Lee Corso, Kirk Herbstreit and Desmond Howard, will air at 9 a.m. (CDT).  The show was also in attendance last year for Alabama’s 34-10 win over Clemson in the inaugural classic.

“The quality of this match-up is what sets the Chick-Fil-A Kickoff Game apart,” Dave Brown, ESPN vice president of programming and acquisitions said in a statement. “With top-ranked teams, elite conferences and a great host venue, you have all the elements for the country’s premier season-opening event. We’re proud to be a part of kicking off the season in Atlanta again this year.”

Alabama will be making its 15th all-time appearance on ESPN College GameDay and its sixth appearance under head coach Nick Saban. The six appearances in the Saban era tie Oklahoma for the most GameDay appearances since the 2007 season.  The Crimson Tide was on four times last season against Clemson, Georgia, LSU and Florida.  ESPN also televised the school’s A-Day football game on April 18, 2009.

Alabama’s All-Time College GameDay Appearances
November 19, 1994     #6 Auburn at #4 Alabama (Birmingham, Alabama)
October 14, 1995        #6 Tennessee at #12 Alabama (Birmingham, Alabama)
November 9, 1996       #10 Alabama at #11 LSU
November 23, 1996     Auburn at #15 Alabama (Birmingham, Alabama)
September 1, 2001     #17 UCLA at #25 Alabama
October 5, 2002          #6 Georgia at Alabama
Sept. 6, 2003             #1 Oklahoma at Alabama
November 12, 2005     #5 LSU at #3 Alabama
Sept. 22, 2007            #22 Georgia at #16 Alabama
August 30, 2008          Chick-Fil-A College Kickoff: #24 Alabama vs. #9 Clemson (Atlanta, Ga.)
Sept. 27, 2008            #8 Alabama at #3 Georgia
November 8, 2008       #1 Alabama at #16 LSU
December 6, 2008       SEC Championship Game: #1 Alabama vs. #4 Florida (Atlanta, Ga.)
April 18, 2009              Alabama A-Day Football Game
Sept. 5, 2009              Chick-Fil-A College Kickoff: $5 Alabama vs. #7 Virginia Tech (Atlanta, Ga.)