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college gameday edition November 16, 2023
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Thursday, November 16, 2023 | breezejmu.org
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More GameDay coverage
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What’s inside... 4
College GameDay FAQs
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Exposure across athletics
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GameDay three-peat
‘Wake up, it’s Gameday’ STAFF
The Breeze JMU’S AWARD-WINNING NEWSPAPER SINCE 1922 1598 S. Main St. Harrisonburg, VA 22801 PHONE: (540) 568-6127 FAX: (540) 568-7889
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What you need to know about ESPN College GameDay By KAIDEN BRIDGES & GRANT JOHNSON The Breeze
With ESPN College GameDay announcing its return to Harrisonburg after JMU football’s 44-6 win over UConn on Saturday, the coming days will be hectic on campus — all the way up until the show in less than 48 hours. Here’s a guide of frequently asked questions about GameDay for fans who weren’t here for the show’s first two appearances at JMU in 2015 and 2017, as well as returners who need a refresher.
Why is it a big deal? GameDay will — and already has — provide a tremendous amount of national exposure for JMU Athletics and the university itself. The show has brought in between 1.6 and 2.3 million viewers at each of its last 11 stops this year, according to the Daily News-Record, and the announcement itself from College GameDay’s X, formerly Twitter, page racked up 4.4 million views as of late Sunday. The three-hour show will not only highlight JMU but probably also surrounding sights like Shenandoah Valley National Park, for example, and a local Harrisonburg business or two. Additionally, specific to this year, you can expect the aforementioned hosts to use their platform to criticize the FBS transition rule that is — as of Monday morning — still preventing 10-0 JMU from competing in a bowl game. ESPN has been critical of the rule this year multiple times. A letter from JMU asking the NCAA to reconsider football’s bowl ineligibility last week is still pending a response, per an NCAA spokesperson who emailed The Breeze on Monday morning.
Why is GameDay coming to JMU? There are multiple ranked Power 5 matchups across the country on Saturday. What is College GameDay? ESPN’s weekly football pregame show that airs from 9 a.m. until noon, live on a set from a campus around the country — usually at locations that spotlight one of the week’s premier matchups. The show’s primary on-air talent includes Rece Davis, a college football play-by-play announcer and host; Kirk Herbstreit, a former Ohio State quarterback turned college football and NFL color commentator; Desmond Howard, a former Heisman Trophy winner; Pat McAfee, a football analyst who hosts the popular the “Pat McAfee Show” on weekdays; and Lee Corso, who’s most famous for his weekly “headgear” pick from the GameDay set, in which he physically puts on the head of the mascot that he picks to win the game that the show’s on campus for.
Well, that’s a question for GameDay’s decision-makers. But the show coming to JMU isn’t out of the blue. It’s already been to Harrisonburg twice, and the show’s on-air talent — especially Davis — has on multiple occasions raved about those experiences at JMU. And, on-the-field speaking, the Dukes are 10-0 (7-0 Sun Belt) — unprecedented for a second-year FBS transitioning team. Appalachian State (6-4, 4-2) is a relatively notable opponent, most known for its upset win at Michigan in 2007 but also with a winning pedigree, both before and after its FBS jump in 2014. On top of all that, JMU Associate Athletic Director for Communications and Strategic Initiatives Kevin Warner told The Breeze on Monday morning that, with Saturday being GameDay’s 30th anniversary of first going on the road, the show’s looking to make this one its “largest show yet.” There will be a live performance from the Jonas Brothers and Bailey Zimmerman at 11 a.m. during the show. At noon they will perform two more songs at the conclusion of GameDay.
Can people still attend the GameDay show, even if they don’t have a ticket to the football game? A ticket to JMU football’s game against App State is not required to attend College GameDay. The two are separate events, and anyone is allowed to attend Saturday morning’s show on the Quad. However, student tickets for the football game itself are sold out as of Saturday night.
What can I expect Saturday morning? GameDay will begin its show at 9 a.m. and will last until noon, when the earliest games across the country start. Many students will camp out on the Quad overnight or get there as early as 4 a.m. to get spots in the pit, which are first-come, first-serve. The gates to the pit open at 6 a.m., per JMU.
Where can I find restrooms? All doors to buildings on campus will be locked, so portable toilets will be accessible on various locations off the Quad, including behind Wilson Hall.
The GameDay show will begin at 9 a.m. on Saturday with the gates to the pit opening at 6 a.m. Breeze file photos
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How can I get a spot in the GameDay pit? The first 450 students in line at 6 a.m. will have admission into the pit, the area closest to the GameDay set where students’ signs can best be seen on TV, for Saturday morning’s show. Those students will receive wrist bands. The queuing line for the pit opens on Friday at 10 p.m. To enter the pit, students must present a valid JACard — not a mobile ID — and wear a purple shirt. Those not in the pit can still fill the rest of the Quad. There will be large video screens and sound systems also set up.
Will on-campus housing remain open for GameDay? Yes. The Office of Residence Life is keeping dorms open until 10 a.m. on Sunday.
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Are there restrictions on what I can bring into the GameDay pit? If you are one of the fans who gets to the Quad early enough to secure a spot in College GameDay’s pit, below are some guidelines when inside the gates: * Any kind of bag is prohibited * No food or drink * Signs on poles will be turned away * No pencils, pens, markers or dry erase boards * No tents or coolers * No glass, alcohol or open flames
When is the “Pat McAfee Show?” McAfee will air his live talk show, the “Pat McAfee Show,” on campus Friday from noon to 3 p.m. JMU head coach Curt Cignetti will join McAfee for the first hour of the show.
What should you avoid when making your GameDay signs? On Saturday morning, many fans will come to the GameDay show with clever signs about JMU, App State or the day’s slate of games. But with the making of the signs, there are regulations regarding what can be put on them. All signs will be checked on Saturday morning and will be removed if they do not fit College GameDay’s criteria, ESPN said: * No vulgar language * No political campaigns or religious efforts * No effigies * No signs promoting .com, .net or .org * Make sure your sign is lightweight and doesn’t have the potential to harm any other fans at the show * No poles or oversized signs
What should I wear? Saturday’s senior day game is no longer a black out for fans. GameDay attendees are encouraged to wear purple and gold, and for the game, purple and black, per an announcement from JMU Athletics on Sunday evening.
Will JMU Dining services remain open for the upcoming weekend? With Thanksgiving break starting Saturday, here’s what will remain open: Second floor of D-Hall: 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. * Chick-fil-A: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. * Java City: 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. * Starbucks truck: 5 a.m. to noon
What are some restrictions when camping out on the Quad? While students are camping on the Quad overnight and preparing for Saturday’s show, there will be no tents allowed. Tailgating is also prohibited on the Quad, and you can’t have glass, coolers or fires.
When will College GameDay begin to set up? Nine trucks for stage building and production will roll onto campus on Wednesday at 1 p.m., Warner said. From there, the construction of the GameDay stage will take place on the Quad the rest of the week until it’s finished. Expect parts of Main Campus to be sectioned off for the production team.
GameDay attendees are encouraged to wear purple and gold for the show, and purple and black for the game.
CONTACT Kaiden Bridges at breezesports@gmail.com and Grant Johnson at breezeeditor@gmail.com. For more Gameday coverage, follow the sports desk on X @TheBreezeSports.
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Thursday, November 16, 2023 | breezejmu.org
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Coaches excited as ESPN College GameDay brings exposure to JMU By KAIDEN BRIDGES & SARABETH ELLIS The Breeze
After this weekend, women’s basketball head coach Sean O’Regan will have been in Harrisonburg for all three of JMU’s ESPN College GameDay appearances. The last time GameDay visited Harrisonburg in 2017, O’Regan walked into the University Recreation Center (UREC) with former ESPN sports analyst and College GameDay talent David Pollack. Pollack had been wanting to play basketball, and O’Regan knew just the place. “He was looking for a pickup game,” O’Regan said. “So, he came to the arena, and he was like ‘Where can we play?’ So we took him to UREC, and we played pickup. They’re just down-toearth people who do this every week.” O’Regan said he’s had plenty of fond memories from the first two GameDays, with his Pollack interaction sticking out the most. This weekend will be the 30th anniversary of College GameDay, and ESPN is looking to make the show as big as possible, a JMU Athletics spokesperson told The Breeze on Monday morning. Looking back on the first two GameDays at JMU, O’Regan said he was impressed with the crowd turnout. “I’ve seen GameDay quite a bit, and I thought the way JMU came out, especially the first time, I mean, it was incredible. The bus couldn’t move on the Quad; it was like a sea of people,” O’Regan said. “It’s not often you see the Quad packed.” Field hockey head coach Christy Morgan was also at JMU for its first two GameDays. Although her team was still in season both times, she remembers that “it was spectacular,” but she had to keep her team focused despite the excitement. “My biggest memory was trying to keep my players from spending too much energy on another sport and, you know, try to take it all in but still have enough energy for us to perform,” Morgan said. She said she also noted that the publicity the school gets with GameDay is beneficial to all the
sports programs, not just football. “It helps every program. [JMU] coaches have this community where we want success for the other programs and we celebrate the success of the other programs, and bringing this to our campus, that’s success,” Morgan said. “There’s a vibe that’s out there now, and our recruits are seeing it and everybody’s seeing it, so it brings JMU to the forefront.” O’Regan echoed Morgan and said he’s excited for not only the atmosphere on campus this week for GameDay’s third appearance in Harrisonburg but also for the exposure it brings to JMU Athletics as a whole. He added that he has a recruit coming up for the weekend, saying GameDay creates the perfect setting for potential commits to visit JMU. “This is an awesome time. I had my mom and dad over yesterday for a little fake Thanksgiving since we’re [women’s basketball is] going to Cancun over Thanksgiving, and we were talking about it,” O’Regan said. “I think it’s remarkable … The trajectory is surging, and it’s a lot of credit to a lot of great coaches out here and players.” While Morgan and O’Regan have paid attention to the national media regarding JMU and GameDay, men’s basketball head coach Mark Byington said he’s not focused on the outside noise. “We’re at a university right now — it’s gotten a lot of attention everywhere you see,” Byington said. “I listen to talk shows, and I’ll hear JMU’s name come across and, actually, I’ll turn it off or mute it because I don’t want to hear it.” But despite tuning out the raucous of his No. 24 Dukes and the undefeated football team, Byington said the recognition for JMU is well deserved — and far from reaching its limit. “It’s a university that has a great culture, great expectations, whether it’s any sport, you know, we’re just starting,” Byington said. CONTACT Kaiden Bridges at breezesports@ gmail.com and Sarabeth Ellis at ellis2sp@ dukes.jmu.edu. For more sports coverage, follow the sports desk on X @TheBreezeSports.
LEFT: Women’s basketball head coach Sean O’Regan has been with JMU during GameDay’s first two visits to Harrisonburg. He said he loves JMU’s excitement and looks forward to the national attention being brought to JMU Athletics. Ryan Sauer / The Breeze RIGHT: Christy Morgan, the field hockey head coach, echoed O’Regan and said the attention is beneficial for all sports programs, not just football. Breeze file photo
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Thursday, November 16, 2023 | breezejmu.org
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While ESPN College GameDay is a unique opportunity for players, it can also be a distraction. Breeze file photos
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GameDay last visited JMU in 2017, when the Dukes beat Villanova 30-8.
Third time’s the charm
As ESPN College GameDay returns to JMU this weekend for the third time since 2015, former participants reflect on their experiences By PRESTON COMER & JACK FOSTER The Breeze
Excitement is rising in Harrisonburg as JMU prepares for ESPN College GameDay on Saturday. Many fans will have their first encounter with GameDay, while others are well attuned. This weekend marks GameDay’s third visit to JMU since 2015, the ninth most in the country in that time period. Former players and coaches alike mostly look back fondly on their GameDay memories, while some also emphasized that they attempted to drown out the noise it causes. “It’s great for the institution, great for the program, but we didn’t want it to be a distraction,” former JMU football head coach Mike Houston (2016-18) said when asked about his 2017 GameDay appearance. Several former players echoed Houston’s sentiment, emphasizing the importance of staying focused on the game at hand. “The whole team tries to treat it as a normal game and drown out any distractions,” former JMU quarterback Cole Johnson (2016-21) said.
And even with the pressure that Houston described him and his team feeling, Houston looks back fondly on his experience with GameDay. “It’s a crazy atmosphere,” Houston said. “If you haven’t experienced it for yourself, get there.” For people who haven’t seen anything like GameDay, the new experience can be quite jaw-dropping, even for athletes. For former JMU punter Harry O’Kelly (2017-21), it was like nothing he had ever seen or heard of before. Born in Queensland, Australia, O’Kelly had not had exposure to America’s football culture, including the mainstay that is College GameDay. “I had never heard of it before coming to America,” O’Kelly said. “But as the season went on, I heard of it because my roommate [former kicker Tyler Gray (2015-18)] and I would watch it in the mornings.” O’Kelly shares a similar focused mindset to his teammates and coaches but made sure to take in the new scene of GameDay. “It’s incredible,” O’Kelly said. “You get to see them setting up all week, and the fans are wearing all purple and excited all week.”
O’Kelly, Johnson and Houston talked about GameDay being for the fans. Justin Tarbell (’14, ’16) attended JMU GameDay in both 2015 and 2017. He looks back on both of his GameDay experiences enthusiastically. “Everyone around me joked that the only thing I said all week was ‘GameDay,’” Tarbell said. In 2015 as a student, Tarbell and his friends camped out on the Quad in preparation for GameDay. “We all brought a bunch of chairs and tables and set them up right in front of the stanchion,” Tarbell said. “Then at 6 [a.m.], we packed everything up and headed back out for another five hours until the show was over.” Tarbell talks about the highlight of his GameDay experiences being with his friends, and also the JMU community being together. “I got to bond with my friends,” Tarbell said. “It’s 4 o’clock in the morning, and we’re playing cards and games just waiting for a football show,” he said. With GameDay being such a fan-focused event, JMU is uniquely equipped to entertain,
thanks in large part to the Marching Royal Dukes (MRDs). In 2017, the band greeted the GameDay motorcade with the JMU fight song and other signature tunes. “We essentially had a GameDay parade,” former MRD Lauren Weaver (2016-20) said. “It was insane to see.” The fun didn’t stop with the entrance, as the GameDay crew set up several attractions around the Quad. “They had all these games, and they were giving out free samples [of green Coca-Cola],” Weaver said. This iteration of College GameDay falls on JMU football’s Senior Day, during which the MRDs invite alums to join their performance. Weaver, a baritone horn player, will be returning for the event. College GameDay begins at 9 a.m. on Saturday, followed by JMU’s game versus Appalachian State at 2 p.m. CONTACT Jack Foster at foste2jr@dukes. jmu.edu and Preston Comer at comerps@ dukes.jmu.edu. For more ESPN College GameDay coverage, follow the sports desk
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