ATLANTA, Ga. – With the return of college football this weekend, the Valdosta State Cheerleaders and Red Hots were selected to be a part of ESPN College GameDay this Saturday, August 28, 2021 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. ET.

"I am thrilled the Red Hots have been given the opportunity to represent VSU and Blazer Nation on a national level," VSU Red Hots Coach Kelli Fields said.  "To be featured on ESPN College GameDay is huge for our program and I hope it will bring more interest and recognition to Valdosta State."

Fields spoke about how the spirit teams were invited to be on the show this weekend.  "Lindsey Lloyd, a VSU alum and former Blazer student-athlete now is the Managing Producer, College GameDay at ESPN.  She reached out to me when they decided to hold College GameDay in Atlanta.  She is a proud Blazer and wanted to give us the chance to highlight our program and university on one of college football's biggest stages."

Lloyd played softball for the Blazers from 2005-2008, where she earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in mass media in 2008 and a Master of Education in educational leadership from VSU the following year.  

A native of Palm City, Fla., Lloyd served as an intern for ticketing and game operations where she assisted with regular season and NCA Championship gameday operations.  During graduate school, she also served as a graduate assistant in Athletics Development where she mentored student-athletes and served as a webcast color commentator as well as co-director and host of "Spotlight on VSU Athletics" segment on Talk 92.1 FM.  She then accepted the position as director of ticketing and game operations with VSU in 2009.  In 2011, she began her career at ESPN.  

Fans will be able to stream or watch ESPN College GameDay Built by the Home Dept on ESPN and ESPNU. GameDay will air live from outside Center Pac Stadium in Atlanta, preceding the Cricket MEAC/SWAC Challenge Kickoff between North Carolina Central and Alcorn State Saturday evening. Week '0' of ESPN College Gameday will feature the hip-hop group Migos and include appearances from Valdosta State, Georgia State, and other colleges and universities cheer and dance teams.  

"We are so excited for this opportunity to represent Valdosta State University and the Valdosta community on the first stop of the ESPN College GameDay Tour in Atlanta on Saturday," VSU's head cheerleading coach Desiree Hagen said.  "This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for our spirit programs and we are honored to be showcased throughout the show.  Go Blazers!"

For more information about the event, click on the link to right of this story for ESPN's announcement of Week 0 of College GameDay or click here if on the VSU mobile site.