ESPN COLLEGE GAMEDAY TO JMU IS A REAL THING!
Note: We’re not full of crap on this post, but we’re the JMUSB, not a real media site, and you’ll just have to trust us on the sourcing cause we’re not going to the trouble (plus Rob’s watching his Mets tonight and I’ve got to do the Elon preview).
So in case you’ve been under a rock today or remain sadly Twitterless, this is freaking ridiculous (in the very best way), but the Dukes are legitimately under consideration for ESPN’s College Gameday next week for Homecoming versus the damned Ticks. Long story and we thought it was tongue-in-cheek until today, but for those that don’t know the show’s long-time producer, @LeeFitting, is a JMU alum, and next week’s slate of FBS games is potentially an all-time poo-poo platter. Fitting mentioned late Sunday, after Gameday announced they were headed to Ann Arbor this week for UM at MSU, that he “needed to bring Gameday to JMU before his time running the show was up.” We laughed. But then we look at next week’s FBS schedule scanning the list for great games and wouldn’t you know it, not hardly a nugget on there if Texas A&M at Ole Miss were to fizzle out. Seriously, it’s a perfect storm of awful games that word is may really break JMU’s way. Just to be thorough, there’s a potentially big Pac12 matchup between Cal and UCLA, but it’s on Friday (as is Temple at ECU). Michigan State, should they upset the favored Wolverines this weekend, actually hosts a possible one-loss Indiana, but it’s unlikely they’d stay in Michigan and essentially cover the Spartans two straight weeks, plus they were there Week 1 for the Oregon game. The biggest threat after Ole Miss/TAMU is the Utah at USC matchup but a) USC plays as a road underdog at Notre Dame this weekend which could give them a third loss, b) ESPN may not really want to spend three normally fun hours on Saturday morning muddling around in the issues presented by USC’s recent troubles, and c) that game is a primetime Fox Sports property likely to bring the whole FS1 crew with it that may not really be in ESPN’s best interests.
JMU officially confirmed today that they’ve been informed they’re on the “under consideration” list earlier today. We assume that means that ESPN gives the potential host schools a heads up for planning purposes. For those that think this is complete bulls*t, we might’ve agreed with you till today, but the truth is over the last few years Gameday has tried to go outside of FBS and off the mainstream college football radar a couple times a year. Most of us that follow FCS know they’ve been to North Dakota St. the last two years and they’ve even been to D3 Williams College for the 150th anniversary of their rivalry with Amherst. They love stories (Vad Lee’s second act), celebrity guest pickers (New Hall of Famer Charles Haley is scheduled to be in the ‘Burg next week), and of course record-setting, high-flying teams which the Dukes have clearly been so far.
So all that being said, word is JMU is second on the list if Texas A&M at Ole Miss turns out not to mean as much as it could. Here’s what you are ROOTIN’ for in descending order of importance this weekend if you want this magical dream to come true:
- JMU needs to stomp Elon and keep rolling. Don’t forget this is absolutely the most important item.
- Alabama needs to win at Texas A&M. Bama is favored by 4. 3:30 on CBS or
- Memphis (5-0 and hosting the biggest game in decades) could upset Ole Miss. (noon ESPN), thus ending any playoff hopes for the Rebels. Ole Miss is a 10 pt. fave. This might even be more important than Bama.
- It also wouldn’t hurt if Notre Dame keeps the USC dumpster fire roaring in South Bend. Notre Dame giving 7 and a hook. 7:30 on NBC.
- An Arizona St. win over Utah would also be nice (10:00 p.m. on ESPN).
I’m going to be glued to my phone, tv, espn, etc all weekend rooting for the right teams to win and make this happen!
Here’s your Corso/Duke Dog, fellas! GO DUKES!
http://imgur.com/HQye3HD
I have to admit… I’m a bit skeptical. Do we know for sure JMU was informed by the Mothership, outside of Fitting’s tweet, that they were on the ‘under consideration’ list? Or is JMU also, like the rest of us, jumping to conclusions based on his single tweet?
With all the Twitter hounding Lee has been getting in the last week or so, it’s easy for him to simply say we’re “on the list.”
Obviously, I hope I’m wrong. A visit from these guys, I believe, would single-handedly change the entire brand and culture of JMU Football in one day.
Ryan – JMU’s official account (the university one, not Athletics) and Curt Dudley both put this out yesterday. Neither of them would mention just a fan movement. Still need all these things to break right, but it’s legit. We just don’t have the time to get all crazy about our citations (which basically makes us as credible as cable news I guess). Also, we really are pretty sure that logistically Gameday does give early notice to potential schools on the list. That said, it also doesn’t hurt them to have 100,000 social media mentions of Gameday.
That might help explain why JMU blasted me with a phone call and two emails yesterday asking me to buy tickets. Sadly I will already be attending a FBS game in Baltimore.
@Zack I shared that picture on the Bring Gameday to JMU Facebook page so if you made it, feel free to tag yourself to get the credit. Nicely done!
This would be great for JMU; Harrisonburg; JMU Football; students; alumnae; everything we all care about. I’m trying my best to not hold my breath…. I have the same feeling I did almost exactly 8 years ago waiting for my Bar Exam results. Big, emphatic, heartfelt GO DUKES to all.
@Drake – No credit needed. Team effort here to get the Gameday crew to Harrisonburg. Now let’s see our Dukes get the W tomorrow. Let’s keep this momentum alive and GO DUKES!
@Todd – Definitely understand your points. Just wanted to pose the questions because I hadn’t read anything that said ESPN and JMU had actually conversed, outside of Lee’s tweet.
Growing up an Auburn Football fan, I can safely say this is the first and only time I’ll be rooting for the Tide..
Roll Damn Dukes.
huge for university