Update: The Big Ten Network will no longer be broadcasting a live pregame show from College Park on Saturday before the Terps’ game against Michigan due to Hurricane Joaquin. The network hopes to come back to campus at a future date to do a pregame visit, according to a press release.
Judging by the Terrapins football team’s performance in Saturday’s 45-6 defeat at the hands of West Virginia, ESPN College GameDay might not be visiting the University of Maryland during football season anytime soon.
However, Terps football fans can get a similar experience to ESPN’s show this Saturday when the Big Ten Network broadcasts live from College Park throughout the day leading up to its airing of the Terps matchup against Michigan at 8 p.m.
The Big Ten Network will be broadcasting live from “Terp Town” at 10:30 a.m. for “B1G Football Pregame,” 3 p.m. for “B1G Football Postgame” and 6:30 p.m for “B1G Primetime Kickoff,” according to a football program email. The first 800 fans in attendance at the 3 p.m. broadcast will get free pizza.
The general protocol for College GameDay is for fans to line up early in the morning to get a spot behind the set so they can get on TV. As a fan, your chances of this happening increase significantly if you bring a funny sign. Some examples:
The winner of the @pizzahut #SignUpForGameDay sign vote. pic.twitter.com/rq3VgeBDuk
— College GameDay (@CollegeGameDay) September 26, 2015
Big, if true. @Beyonce? pic.twitter.com/L5rgiEvGtn— College GameDay (@CollegeGameDay) September 26, 2015
The university will be setting up a sign-making station located near the set. The signs in Maryland’s ad for the event say “Fear the Turtle!” and “#BeatMichigan,” but here’s hoping Maryland students can get a little more creative than that.
Terps football coach Randy Edsall will make an appearance on the set at some point during the day, as will former Terps football and NFL players Shawne Merriman and Domonique Foxworth, and men’s basketball coach Mark Turgeon.
Other giveaways on Saturday include BTN foam fingers and “rally towels.”
@TerpsWatch will be in attendance, so even if you don’t get on camera, your funny sign could make it to Twitter.