July is the lonliest month: How about a Pep Rally Thursday!

So what if it’s July. So what if it’s summer session and most of the students have left campus for the summer. Who cares that it’s being held at 10:30 a.m. on a Thursday morning. ESPN has some serious marketing to do and it just can’t wait until football season actually starts.

So with that in mind, I received a press release from the p.r. dept. at ESPN about Columbus’s chances at being named “Title Town USA.” And while we all need a good excuse to get off work once and a while, we don’t need ESPN’s seal of approval.

At the same time, what is better than joining a stadium full of Buckeye fans jonsin for a good tailgate party and in the last gasps of the long stretch between seasons. If you really want to make a day of if, ESPN is replaying the 2003 fiesta bowl later in the day.

I’m afraid I’m going to miss it but if anyone goes, please, let me know if it amounts to anything. Heck, send me a picture or two and I’ll put them up.

Update
I’m looking for a report. Did anyone actually go? If so, plesae drop a comment.

And while yes, I’m famous on this blog for spelling and other minor errors, this one wasn’t mine.

Read the complete press release beneath the fold.

ESPN SportsCenter Visits Horseshoe for Pep Rally July 17; Columbus in Running for TitleTown USA

Attention Columbus: ESPN wants you to show America why your city should be named “TitleTown USA.” And you’ll have your chance on July 17.

With Columbus named as one of the 20 finalists for ESPN SportsCenter’s interactive search for America’s top championship city, a crew from the ESPN program will be in town on Thursday, July 17, to shoot segments promoting the city’s bid to be named “TitleTown USA.”

With the Ohio State cheerleaders as part of the festivities, OSU legendary football great Archie Griffith will be interviewed by ESPN reporter Wendi Nix during a pep rally for Columbus outside of the Horseshoe. For approximately two hours starting at 10:30 a.m., ESPN will be on hand, and ESPN’s producer said that fans should take the opportunity to show their support by coming out in droves for the pep rally, just as fans in other cities have done to influence the public who will ultimately decide the winner with their votes on ESPN.com. Team gear and signs are encouraged.

“We’re the ambassador for Columbus,” said Adam Hertzog, a producer for ESPN who is overseeing the taping. “We’re going to make the case that day why Columbus should win it. The more people and the more excitement we can capture that day, the better it will look on camera.”

The 20 finalist cities were determined by a combination of 2,000 fan-generated nominations, an ESPN production content research team, and a blue-ribbon panel consisting of 19 non-ESPN journalists and 12 SportsCenter anchors. Columbus is in the running due to the Ohio State football program, which has won seven national titles and over 30 Big Ten titles and features more than 100 All-Americans. And Ohio State’s seven Heisman Trophy winners are tied with USC for most by any school.

The Columbus segment will air Monday, July 21, in the 6 p.m. ET edition of SportsCenter. Also on that day, ESPN Classic will highlight Columbus with an airing of the 2003 Fiesta Bowl between Ohio State and Miami at 2 p.m., and an airing of SportsCentury: Jack Nicklaus at 5 p.m.

Upon completion of the daily series featuring all 20 cities, online polling will re-open Thursday, July 24 – Saturday, July 26. The winner will be announced Sunday, July 27.

The 20 “TitleTown USA” finalists: Green Bay, Wis.; Louisville, Ky.; Gainesville, Fla.; Detroit; Williamsport, Pa.; Boston; Los Angeles; Columbus, Ohio; Chapel Hill, N.C.; Ann Arbor, Mich.; San Francisco; Pittsburgh; Knoxville, Tenn.; Valdosta, Ga.; Parkersburg, W. Va.; and Chicago; Lawrence, Kan.; Palo Alto, Calif.; Massillon, Ohio; and New York City. Please click here to access key highlights for each city. Or click here to visit ESPN.com’s “TitleTown USA” conversation page.

Update
I’m looking for a report. Did anyone actually go?