Tweet
I have no idea about the criteria applied to determine the site for a Gameday. One could guess that the criteria are flexible and may include (1) something noteworthy about the game to be played at that site; (2) something noteworthy about the site itself including, for example, the fact that the site may be hosting Gameday for the first or second time; or, the site is unusual (e.g.. downtown Fargo, ND rather than an on-campus setting). And the overriding factor may simply be entertainment -- IT'S TELEVISION!
The game to be played is a focal point but in most cases, the game gets no more attention than any other big games scheduled for that Saturday.
When Gameday was in Brookings, the Marker rivalry had grown in stature -- a significant portion of college football fans had probably heard something about the Dakota Marker. And, those fans who knew nothing about the Marker, learned something entertaining about FCS, and the NDSU and SDSU rivalry. To college football fans who favored neither NDSU nor SDSU, it's an interesting story. I also thought the setting on the Campus Green was prettier than most Gameday settings. Last but still very important: I think Gameday tries to be at a new site a few times during a season because the crowd can be more animated and large. Gameday at SDSU had a crowd (I was there!) as large as some settings at schools twice SDSU's size (particularly those who have hosted Gameday several times).
Would USD be a site Gameday would consider? Certainly. Will Gameday be in Vermillion when we play USD on the 28th? If I had to guess, I'd say 'not this year' but I can see the potential for that to happen if USD's fortunes continue to rapidly rise and we continues to be a perennial contender. Think of the story line: USD's win/loss record and its rise in the polls is directly connected to the new offensive coordinator (more than a footnote: former standout and coach at SDSU, now the offensive coordinator at USD, deserves a lot of credit for the rapid turnaround of USD) -- and a young and emerging offensive line that is loaded with underclassmen. A clash between two top-10 ranked MVFC teams both located in one of the least populated states in the country...that's a story. Might not be quite ready this year but I don't know why that wouldn't be attractive two years from now when the game will return to Vermillion.
The game to be played is a focal point but in most cases, the game gets no more attention than any other big games scheduled for that Saturday.
When Gameday was in Brookings, the Marker rivalry had grown in stature -- a significant portion of college football fans had probably heard something about the Dakota Marker. And, those fans who knew nothing about the Marker, learned something entertaining about FCS, and the NDSU and SDSU rivalry. To college football fans who favored neither NDSU nor SDSU, it's an interesting story. I also thought the setting on the Campus Green was prettier than most Gameday settings. Last but still very important: I think Gameday tries to be at a new site a few times during a season because the crowd can be more animated and large. Gameday at SDSU had a crowd (I was there!) as large as some settings at schools twice SDSU's size (particularly those who have hosted Gameday several times).
Would USD be a site Gameday would consider? Certainly. Will Gameday be in Vermillion when we play USD on the 28th? If I had to guess, I'd say 'not this year' but I can see the potential for that to happen if USD's fortunes continue to rapidly rise and we continues to be a perennial contender. Think of the story line: USD's win/loss record and its rise in the polls is directly connected to the new offensive coordinator (more than a footnote: former standout and coach at SDSU, now the offensive coordinator at USD, deserves a lot of credit for the rapid turnaround of USD) -- and a young and emerging offensive line that is loaded with underclassmen. A clash between two top-10 ranked MVFC teams both located in one of the least populated states in the country...that's a story. Might not be quite ready this year but I don't know why that wouldn't be attractive two years from now when the game will return to Vermillion.
Comment