Reminiscing about College GameDay Experiences While an Alabama Student

With the obvious decision being announced that ESPN College GameDay is coming to Tuscaloosa for the Alabama- Georgia Week 5 showdown it led me to reminiscing about my experiences as an Alabama student when GameDay came to town. I thought it would be fun to share some of my recollections from these experiences as well as what happened in the actual games.

I was a student during some of the darkest times in Alabama football history between 2002 to 2007, so GameDay was a rare occurrence, but I do have fond memories of the three times the crew did come to town.

My freshman year in Fall 2002 was the first time GameDay came to down for an early October showdown between Alabama and Georgia. I remember being so excited to have that opportunity to see GameDay live after growing up watching every Saturday.

You've never seen so many college students up and at them at the crack of dawn on a Saturday than those trying to get a good spot on the Quad for GameDay. The atmosphere at GameDay and in Bryant Denny Stadium were electric as there was a lot of excitement about this Alabama team. The Tide came into this game at 4-1 on the season and had given OU all they wanted in Norman Week 2 of the season. It was a very hot day probably in the mid 90s at kickoff and even for Tuscaloosa that was warm for October.

The highlight of the game was a Charlie Peprah pick six that gave Alabama a late 4th quarter lead, and still one of the loudest moments I have ever experienced at the stadium. Unfortunately Georgia hit a last second field goal to win the game, it still remains as a fond memory.

My second GameDay experience as a student didn't come again until Nov 2005 against LSU. The Tide entered this game at 9-0 and what a magical season it was going into that Saturday. The whole city of Tuscaloosa was abuzz as we were still in the title hunt in November.

I remember everybody on the set picking LSU, which of course got the GameDay crowd going, but unfortunately they were right. I still have nightmares of Dwayne Bowe coming open in the back of the end zone in overtime to give the Tigers the win. As a student this was the only time I remember a loss impacting my abilities to party afterwards.

My final time as a student experiencing Game Day was Saban's first year when ironically again Georgia came to town. Hiring Saban brought a renewed excitement to Tuscaloosa that had died during the Shula years. We all knew what he had accomplished at LSU and knew he could do the same at the Capstone.

Alabama entered the game at 3-0 after a crazy overtime win over Arkansas and there was a feeling something special could be building. I remember having to be out on the quad before 5 AM to get a good spot as this was the most buzz for a game since that 2005 run. Unfortunately the Bulldogs did win that game in overtime as Matt Stafford found a wide open Mikey Henderson for the game winner after we settled for a field goal. That 2007 season wasn't the most successful but of course helped pave the way for what Alabama has turned into since.