ESPN College GameDay Driven by State Farm To Rally Fighting Illini and Michigan State Fans for Feb. 6 Hoops Matchup

Live GameDay show with Rece Davis to raise funds for Illini’s Orange Krush Foundation

CHAMPAIGN, IL (Thursday, January 28, 2010) – ESPN College GameDay Driven by State Farm will broadcast live from the University of Illinois on Feb. 6 prior to the prime-time basketball matchup between the Fighting Illini and Michigan State. University of Illinois is one of just eight colleges chosen by ESPN, out of 343 Division 1 basketball programs, for a live GameDay broadcast this season.

The broadcast is more than a boon to local sports fans; it will also benefit the Champaign/Urbana community through a special fundraiser. State Farm® will donate $1 to the Orange Krush Foundation, the Illini student-run charity, for each person attending the GameDay show on Saturday morning.

The show, which is the college basketball version of ESPN’s popular College GameDay football series, will originate from Assembly Hall at 10 am CT. The College GameDay crew of Rece Davis, , and will be on hand, breaking down the day’s college basketball action and previewing the Illinois-Michigan State matchup.

Doors to the Assembly Hall will open at 7:30am for members of the Orange Krush student support group and at 8 am to the general public. The event is free with no tickets required. Free parking will be provided in the Assembly Hall parking lots. Fans can enter from the west side of the building and seating will be filled from the west side of the Assembly Hall first. Students will be allowed to fill in on the floor behind the set.

ESPN will give one fan from the audience a chance to sink a half-court shot. If successful, the shooter will receive $17,500, courtesy of State Farm. Even if the shot is missed, the attempt will earn a check for $1,000. State Farm also will distribute t-shirts, rollabannas and net hats to fans in attendance.

Illini fans are urged to support the Orange Krush Foundation by attending the GameDay show, and to share their appreciation for the students who run the Foundation by visiting thanksforbeinghere.com and adding a note of thanks. State Farm created the Web site to inspire more people to express public gratitude to others for “being there”.

Sports Information Contacts: Kent Brown, 217-244-6533 and Derrick Burson, 217-333-0933 For interviews with Rece Davis and access to GameDay bus: Melissa McKinley 309-212-5697

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