Good Morning America: What to know about this ‘College GameDay’ matchup

Temperatures were in the 20s Friday morning, but Grace Coghill and Andrew Wiedemann, both members of the UC Cheer Team, were all fired up. They joined other members of the UC Cheer Team and the UC Dance Team to introduce "Down the Drive," the popular spirited school cheer, and the university as a whole to a national audience on Good Morning America. 

“Now people can see what Bearcat Pride means, and we can show everybody who the Bearcats are and what they can do,” said Coghill, a second-year nursing student.

Good Morning America correspondent Kenneth Moton excitedly talked up the second-ranked Cincinnati Bearcats football team, scheduled to take on the University of Tulsa Saturday. ESPN College GameDay will be live from UC's campus from 9 a.m. to noon.

“Not only is it a historic season for the 8-0 Bearcats, its Homecoming weekend, and for the first time ever, ESPN GameDay is in town,” Moton explained to viewers. “The Bearcats are the second-ranked team in the country right behind powerhouse Georgia, led by quarterback Desmond Ritter, a potential Heisman Trophy contender.”

“We are incredibly excited, and all the media attention around it just adds to Homecoming,” said Wiedemann. “It will be a long day tomorrow, but it will be one for the books. A lot of people will know our name. We are just here to add to the fire.”

The AP poll placed UC second while the College Football Playoff ranking gave the Bearcats a No. 6 nod. The highly-ranked Bearcats are attracting attention from people across the nation. It’s also allowing individuals to learn more about the academic programs UC offers in addition to a well-regarded football team.

“This is really such a great opportunity to really highlight everything about the university,” Jack Miner, vice provost of enrollment management at UC, told viewers on Local 12 news. “So we are able to talk about how incredible our football team is and what a great record we have, moving to the Big 12, but also talk about what a great place this is for students. We already attract national attention. We already attract students nationally, but this is really going to be an opportunity for us to recruit even more students in the Cincinnati area. This is great.”

Watch the segment on Good Morning America

Other news coverage:

• Local 12 speaks with UC’s Jack Miner about Homecoming, GameDay and new students
• Local 12  speaks with UC students about GameDay
• Yahoo News features a story on preparing for GameDay
• Fox19 speaks with students about GameDay

Featured image: Good Morning America correspondent Kenneth Moton and members of the UC Dance Team and the UC Cheer Team at Nippert Stadium.