[BelfryPride]

UK wows 'GameDay'

Take a bow, UK fans. Your enthusiasm made a big impression on ESPN
College GameDay producer Barry Sacks.
"I called my programming department that night," Sacks said, "and
told them, 'We need to come back to Kentucky. ... Put a big check
next to Kentucky.' "
Last weekend, GameDay anchored its traveling college-basketball show
around the Kentucky-Mississippi State game. ESPN staged three GameDay
shows outside the Rupp Arena entrance last Saturday: at 11 a.m., 8
p.m. and midnight.
It was the 8 p.m. show, which featured a cameo by UK's most famous
fan, actress Ashley Judd, that wowed Sacks.
"The crowd was unbelievable," Sacks said. "That was one of the best
shows of any remote event I've been a part of in 22 years at ESPN."
GameDay from Kentucky also did well in the ratings, Sacks said. The 8
p.m. show drew about one million viewers, or about 200,000 more than
in previous shows at other locations.
ESPN's desire to take the show to many locations might rule out a
return next season. But, Sacks said, "We will return to Kentucky."