UW students pitch tents in Red Square in anticipation of ESPN’s Gameday coverage

SEATTLE – University of Washington students began to camp out Friday night in anticipation of ESPN’s Gameday coverage of the No. 4 ranked Washington Huskies versus the University of Southern California.

At least a dozen tents were put up 9 hours before the national coverage would begin on the school's Red Square.

“That’s home for the night,” said Bredan Ecklebarger, as he pitched his tent in the university’s red brick-covered square. When asked whether he was camping out for the game or ESPN, he said it was “a little bit of both.”

UW student Edward Cho openly admitted he was camping out for ESPN.  “We want to be among the first to be up front in front of the camera,” he said.

Cho said he want’s everyone to see him upfront, even making a sign to get noticed.

“In middle school and high school, I was watching College Gameday pretty much every Saturday morning and I have always wanted to be one of the students down in the section,” said Cho. “This is pretty much a dream come true for me.”

“We’re out here, 14 hours to go and we’re out here,” said Cho’s friend and fellow student, Matt Berman.

The Huskys head into Saturday’s game undefeated. It’s a major reason many predict the stadium that seats 70,000 fans will be sold out.

“We’ve got that undefeated season on the line and hopefully a college playoff to fight for, so this is huge” said Brendan Ecklebarger. He said the 10-0 winning streak will continue, and others said the same.

“I trust Coach Pete,” said Andy Straavaldson. “He’s teaching them one game at a time, we’re not going to get our ego in the way.”

Gameday starts on ESPN at 6 a.m.  Kickoff is at 4:30 p.m. and will air on Q13 FOX.