OT: D1

[ctrabs74]

College Gameday headed to Pittsburgh for the Pitt-Notre Dame game. A prime time kickoff would’ve been fun, but considering that Alabama-Oklahoma and Georgia-Texas are on the schedule this week, getting Gameday is pretty cool.

Looks like I’ll have to do a free trial of another tv provider should Google and Disney still not be able to remove their heads from their collective posteriors.

OH MY GOD!!!! ESPN COLLEGE GAMEDAY HAS DONE NON-SEC GAMES FOR THE LAST THREE WEEKS!? THEY'RE BREAKING OUT THE PITCHFORKS ACROSS THE SEC (except in Fayette-nam, Lexington and Starkville).

I'll be honest, out of all the games the Four Letter Nitwits chose for Gameday, Domers at Fail to Pitt wouldn't have been my first choice. But, I guess said Four Letter Nitwits are trying to shed that "SEC Bias" by putting lipstick on a pig.

[IUP24]

Sorry for the double quote but could you link the article? Based on the list of GameDay locations on Wikipedia I’m willing to meet you in the middle and say that GameDay has gone through two periods of repetitiveness/concentration (‘93 to about ‘03 or ‘04 and ‘18/‘19 to now) and one period with more host variety (‘03 or ‘04 to about ‘18/‘19) but I’d like to see the data on concentration from the last four years for curiosity’s sake.

Ross Dellenger was a guest on a podcast a week or two ago discussing how television ratings are driving decisions amongst college sports more now than ever before. And he was discussing how there’s a push to get TV executives in the room with the CFP committee (horrific decision if it ever comes to it). The conversation led them to discussions about College Gameday (which has seen an increase in ratings over the past 4 years). And they pulled information from an article that discussed the number of SEC campuses they’ve gone to over the past 4 years, or games involving SEC teams (which coincides with when ESPN bought the SEC broadcast rights in late 2020).

What I’m referring to was something I saw on a 3 minute IG reel as I was scrolling through my feed that had the link to the article in the caption. The article talked about many things with TV ratings; the theme wasn’t centered fully around Gameday locations if that’s what you were hoping for.

I was trying to find the reel where I found the article, but I can’t find the clip as I honestly don’t even know what podcast he was on. But Ross Dellenger was the guy talking about it.

[TheBigCat2192]

There was an article I read the other day that discussed the number of visits to the same campuses over the last 4 years. It didn't used to be that way. I think most share the perspective that I do that the show was better when they moved around the country some.

Sorry for the double quote but could you link the article? Based on the list of GameDay locations on Wikipedia I’m willing to meet you in the middle and say that GameDay has gone through two periods of repetitiveness/concentration (‘93 to about ‘03 or ‘04 and ‘18/‘19 to now) and one period with more host variety (‘03 or ‘04 to about ‘18/‘19) but I’d like to see the data on concentration from the last four years for curiosity’s sake.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

The show I miss is the late night College Football Final ... in particular the specific era with Mark May and Lou Holtz.

The version of it now is fine and all but it drastically lacks any character.

[TheBigCat2192]

You completely missed the entire point of what I was saying.

"Growing the sport" perhaps was bad vernacular for the context, but didn't assume anyone would pull out those three specific words in an effort to disprove any component of what I was attempting to say. College Gameday shared the story of college football around the country and the tradition found in all corners of the sport. That's what it's always done. We can argue and debate the purpose at its inception, but that's the College Gameday I grew up watching - and I think you too.

Sure, they primarily went to locations for the show on the weekend of big games with big stakes, but they generally went to a variety of places other than the same token SEC or B1G campuses. That's the entire point I was making. And yes, the "FCS game or no-name G5 rivalry" was never the norm. But I never asked for it to be the norm. The 1-2 times a year they went to those places were cool, unique, and fun for the viewer (in my opinion).

There was an article I read the other day that discussed the number of visits to the same campuses over the last 4 years. It didn't used to be that way. I think most share the perspective that I do that the show was better when they moved around the country some.

The first year that they did more than one game they went to Nebraska twice. The next year they went to Colorado twice. The third year they did Florida vs. Florida State for two straight broadcasts. They have not generally “[gone] to a variety of places.” Try looking at the list of College GameDay broadcasts on Wikipedia. Repeat trips and teams making multiple appearances, whether as host or visitor, have been a feature for the shows entire history.

[IUP24]

I always turn it on, but I might sit and really watch for maybe 15-20 minutes. I had a hard time watching Lee Corso struggle the last few years. When it was just Chris Fowler, Herbstreit and Corso in his prime it was truly an outstanding show. Now it’s more of a show for background noise turned on out of habit.

I agree with all of that.

I'm personally not a fan of Chris Fowler, so I like Rece Davis on there as the host. Herbstreit is good and I like Desmond Howard. I think the whole think has just gotten too crowded and performative. I cannot stand Pat McAfee. I am tired of seeing Herbstreit's dog and that being a major part of the show (I just don't care). Saban is good, but you can tell he feels awkward being up there at times. The entire process of picking games has turned into a joke (it takes a full 15 minutes to do it now).

There's just less of what I enjoyed watching when I was younger. So I've mostly tuned out.

[IUP24]

No it wasn’t. The first College GameDay ever was at the “Game of the Century” between Notre Dame and FSU in 1993 and the first time they went to a game outside of what would today be the P4/P5 was a game at Air Force in 2002 when the Falcons were hosting Notre Dame. The idea that GameDay was about “grow[ing] the sport” is easily disputable just by looking at the host sites and matchups which have almost always been ranked games between big name teams. For every FCS game or no-name G5 rivalry there have usually been 11 “top 25” (at the time) games featuring premier programs in the same season.

You completely missed the entire point of what I was saying.

"Growing the sport" perhaps was bad vernacular for the context, but didn't assume anyone would pull out those three specific words in an effort to disprove any component of what I was attempting to say. College Gameday shared the story of college football around the country and the tradition found in all corners of the sport. That's what it's always done. We can argue and debate the purpose at its inception, but that's the College Gameday I grew up watching - and I think you too.

Sure, they primarily went to locations for the show on the weekend of big games with big stakes, but they generally went to a variety of places other than the same token SEC or B1G campuses. That's the entire point I was making. And yes, the "FCS game or no-name G5 rivalry" was never the norm. But I never asked for it to be the norm. The 1-2 times a year they went to those places were cool, unique, and fun for the viewer (in my opinion).

There was an article I read the other day that discussed the number of visits to the same campuses over the last 4 years. It didn't used to be that way. I think most share the perspective that I do that the show was better when they moved around the country some.

[Chuck Norris]

The entire purpose of College Gameday was always to go around the country to grow the sport and showcase other places, traditions, fanbases, stories, etc. To your point, this example is exactly the type of place it's supposed to be going to (and always did prior to the last few years once ESPN got the rights to for broadcasting the SEC).

In all fairness, I've aged out of College Gameday. I'm not in college and I'm not in the "couple years out of college" crowd anymore. I don't enjoy Pat McAfee and his shock jock showmanship approach to sports media (I don't like Jason Kelce, or others, with similar styles to be fair - it's just not my cup of tea). I recognize I'm clearly in the minority of not liking the frat boy sports media personalities, but to each their own. I know I'm clearly, and very clearly, outnumbered at this point.

All that said, I just think the programming has gone downhill for Gameday in my opinion. The show is too performative and things are too forced. They are routinely still picking games at 12:10 now (forcing the ESPN network games to delay the kickoff times in the noon slot) largely because we need to listen to McAfee have a singalong for 5 minutes at every location. They pick games against the spread now because we are such a gambling obsessed culture. They cycle through about the same 8 locations all the time. They lost Tom Rinaldi to Fox, and with that, you don't have the depth of storytelling and reporting the way they did previously.

Perhaps I'm just getting older, but I tend to not even turn the show on in the mornings anymore.

I always turn it on, but I might sit and really watch for maybe 15-20 minutes. I had a hard time watching Lee Corso struggle the last few years. When it was just Chris Fowler, Herbstreit and Corso in his prime it was truly an outstanding show. Now it’s more of a show for background noise turned on out of habit.

[TheBigCat2192]

The entire purpose of College Gameday was always to go around the country to grow the sport and showcase other places, traditions, fanbases, stories, etc.

No it wasn’t. The first College GameDay ever was at the “Game of the Century” between Notre Dame and FSU in 1993 and the first time they went to a game outside of what would today be the P4/P5 was a game at Air Force in 2002 when the Falcons were hosting Notre Dame. The idea that GameDay was about “grow[ing] the sport” is easily disputable just by looking at the host sites and matchups which have almost always been ranked games between big name teams. For every FCS game or no-name G5 rivalry there have usually been 11 “top 25” (at the time) games featuring premier programs in the same season.

[IUP24]

In all seriousness, if Kennesaw State and Missouri State win this week, Gameday should go to their game. Kennesaw in their second year in FBS and Missouri State in their first battling at the top of Conference USA is quite a story.

With next week being the SEC cupcake week and the rest of the schedule being pretty blah, I wonder if ESPN would consider it.

The entire purpose of College Gameday was always to go around the country to grow the sport and showcase other places, traditions, fanbases, stories, etc. To your point, this example is exactly the type of place it's supposed to be going to (and always did prior to the last few years once ESPN got the rights to for broadcasting the SEC).

In all fairness, I've aged out of College Gameday. I'm not in college and I'm not in the "couple years out of college" crowd anymore. I don't enjoy Pat McAfee and his shock jock showmanship approach to sports media (I don't like Jason Kelce, or others, with similar styles to be fair - it's just not my cup of tea). I recognize I'm clearly in the minority of not liking the frat boy sports media personalities, but to each their own. I know I'm clearly, and very clearly, outnumbered at this point.

All that said, I just think the programming has gone downhill for Gameday in my opinion. The show is too performative and things are too forced. They are routinely still picking games at 12:10 now (forcing the ESPN network games to delay the kickoff times in the noon slot) largely because we need to listen to McAfee have a singalong for 5 minutes at every location. They pick games against the spread now because we are such a gambling obsessed culture. They cycle through about the same 8 locations all the time. They lost Tom Rinaldi to Fox, and with that, you don't have the depth of storytelling and reporting the way they did previously.

Perhaps I'm just getting older, but I tend to not even turn the show on in the mornings anymore.

[TheBigCat2192]

In all seriousness, if Kennesaw State and Missouri State win this week, Gameday should go to their game. Kennesaw in their second year in FBS and Missouri State in their first battling at the top of Conference USA is quite a story.

With next week being the SEC cupcake week and the rest of the schedule being pretty blah, I wonder if ESPN would consider it.

Who knows. They didn’t get any G5 hosts last year but JMU hosted in 2023 and in 2022 they had one G5 game and two FCS games. I still think there’s an outside shot at an ACC three-step to end the season: Pitt, SMU, then a Friday broadcast for GT vs. UGA if they both come in 11-1.

[Chuck Norris]

My guess is that next week will either be at SMU for SMU vs. Louisville, especially if SMU wins this week and cracks the top 25, or down at GT for GT vs. Pitt if Pitt somehow wins this week against Notre Dame. They could go back to Eugene since USC at Oregon looks a bit like a play-in game but USC needs to beat Iowa first.

In all seriousness, if Kennesaw State and Missouri State win this week, Gameday should go to their game. Kennesaw in their second year in FBS and Missouri State in their first battling at the top of Conference USA is quite a story.

With next week being the SEC cupcake week and the rest of the schedule being pretty blah, I wonder if ESPN would consider it.

[TheBigCat2192]

Nothing wrong with Gameday choosing this game. Notre Dame is probably playing as well as anybody, but likely can’t afford another loss so it’s a massive game for them. And sure, Pitt gives people plenty of reason to believe they won’t step up here, but they’re 7-2 and the ACC Championship game and playoff are there to be had right now, even if they lose to ND.

Gameday can go back to an SEC game next week. It’ll be ok.

My guess is that next week will either be at SMU for SMU vs. Louisville, especially if SMU wins this week and cracks the top 25, or down at GT for GT vs. Pitt if Pitt somehow wins this week against Notre Dame. They could go back to Eugene since USC at Oregon looks a bit like a play-in game but USC needs to beat Iowa first.

[Chuck Norris]

Pitt has no business hosting! ND will throttle them!

Nothing wrong with Gameday choosing this game. Notre Dame is probably playing as well as anybody, but likely can’t afford another loss so it’s a massive game for them. And sure, Pitt gives people plenty of reason to believe they won’t step up here, but they’re 7-2 and the ACC Championship game and playoff are there to be had right now, even if they lose to ND.

Gameday can go back to an SEC game next week. It’ll be ok.

[IUP24]

Pitt has no business hosting! ND will throttle them!

Just like Texas Tech throttled unbeaten BYU (also a double digit underdog)? Gameday going to different locations with cool stories to showcases different campuses, programs, and fanbases is what the show is supposed to be about.

What's Joe Lombardi say?... "You make big games." Or does not apply to teams who you troll? Pitt's earned the opportunity to have this be a meaningful end to the season (after a terrible start). They are a great story with Mason Heintschel. Sorry they aren't one of the beauty brands that you prefer to watch. I think Pitt will lose and will struggle in the trenches, but that has no bearing on anything.