ESPN 'College Gameday' to return to Academy Nov. 7

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U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. (AFNS) --  ESPN's "College GameDay" crew will broadcast live from the U.S. Air Force Academy 8 to 10 a.m. Nov. 7 from the Terrazzo for the Air Force vs. Army football game.

This will be "College GameDay's" third visit to the Academy, and a return home for one of the "College GameDay" anchors. 

ESPN "College GameDay" first visited the Academy in November 2001 preceding Air Force's 34-21 victory of Army that weekend. "College GameDay" returned to the Academy in October 2002 for the Air Force-Notre Dame game, which ended in a 21-14 loss.

For "College GameDay" host Chris Fowler, it's a return to his old hometown and several of his old stomping grounds. Mr. Fowler graduated from Palmer High School in Colorado Springs, went to college at the University of Colorado in Boulder and worked in television news in Denver before joining ESPN in 1986.

The latest Academy visit is part of ESPN's salute to veterans of the U.S. armed forces, which will include a week of programming -- "America's Heroes: A Salute to Our Veterans" -- culminating in special "SportsCenter" editions from West Point on Veterans Day, Nov. 11.

Highlights include:
-- A special edition of "Friday Night Fights" from the Marine Corps Air Station New River in North Carolina Nov. 4.
-- "Sunday NFL Countdown" will air the first television interview Nov. 8 with Marie Tillman, widow of former NFL player Pat Tillman, who was killed in Afghanistan. Mrs. Tillman will also appear live on "Monday Night Countdown" from Denver before the Steelers-Broncos game on Nov. 9.
-- Outside the Lines will broadcast live from Walter Reed Medical Center Nov. 8. In addition, former Dallas Cowboy and Navy veteran Roger Staubach will be the Sunday Conversation on SportsCenter.
-- Rocky Bleier, a four-time Super Bowl champion with the Pittsburgh Steelers, will discuss having been injured in the Vietnam War and his return to the NFL on "Monday Night Countdown" Nov. 9. The tribute to America's veterans continues with live shots from Iraq during "Monday Night Football."
-- "Mike and Mike in the Morning" will host the first broadcast from the newly commissioned USS New York Nov. 10. The ship and its motto, "Never Forget," honor the victims and first responders of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
-- Notable coaches Bill Parcells (former Army assistant coach), Bob Knight (former Army basketball coach) and Mike Krzyzewski (former Army basketball player and coach) will discuss the role that the military played in shaping their lives and careers on "SportsCenter" Nov. 11.

Other elements throughout the week include:
-- Army golf near Korea's Demilitarized Zone on "Outside the Wire"
-- How sports are used by wounded warriors in the rehab process on "Outside the Wire"
-- Warrior Adventure Quest: an extreme sports-driven program that aims to help servicemembers build team spirit and deal with combat related stress. on "ESPN Deportes"
-- Danielle Green-Byrd former Notre Dame basketball player injured in Iraq on "SportsCenter"
-- What if baseball legends like Ted Williams never went to war? "SportsCenter"
-- Tim James former NBA player now serving in Iraq on "NBA Countdown"

President Barack Obama will salute troops and veterans with a taped message, along with some of the biggest names in sports, including LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Tom Brady and Lance Armstrong.