The Gameday Experience

This week has been the highest of highs and the lowest of lows and everything in between. Today was even CAA Hoops Media Day which would normally be big news for both the men’s and women’s teams, not mention for us, but before last weekend fades from our memories, we wanted to make sure we got up a “feel for the day” post for our own archives if nothing else. We’ll obviously have more on hoops and the unprecedented level of class being shown by Vad Lee this week later, not to mention discussing why our optimism has completely returned for this team in the last twelve hours, but first let’s celebrate Gameday and JMU one last time. This is mostly just pulled from our conversations/breakdowns with friends via text and email after last week, but we’re still pretty fried emotionally and you know, have to do old guy stuff like focus on work (and of course Rob had to endure that Mets loss last night).

First, check out this Campus Rush piece which pretty well captures the incredible atmosphere Saturday.

Quick shot of Reece doing the crowd-walk with Whitfield (and friend of JMUSB baby’s I Drool JMU in the background!

From Rob:

• Gameday was just a fun experience. The noise started building a few blocks from campus and when you finally reached the quad, you were sort of overwhelmed by a wave of crowd noise.
• Having the band perform on the steps of Wilson was a nice touch and added to the excitement.
• It was a pretty wholesome affair. Some of the signs were a little off color, but there was a notable lack of drunkeness for a college event. There were definitely a few over-served folks, but generally speaking, people were just happy to be there and shockingly sober (us included).
• It’s hard to really hear the broadcast or follow the show, but there was so much energy in the crowd that it was fun regardless.
• The tailgate scene was pretty amped up. There seemed to be lots of new faces and alums returning who hadn’t been back in years. To a person, everyone I talked to was blown away by the scene.
• Best crowd I’ve been a part of in new Bridgeforth. And it wasn’t remarkably close. The stadium was packed the entire game and nobody was sitting on their hands. Folks stayed until the end and cheered the whole time.

I’ll cut if off there. Overall though, just a super fun day. The defense sucked though.

From Todd:

Pretty much what Rob said but I’ll add the following early morning update:

Walking past Bridgeforth to go up the steps to the quad, four freshmen girls in tutus came pouring out the back of Eagle with a huge banner and ran over to ask us to take their picture with on the Duke Dog statute.

Well done Ladies! Told you we’d make you famous (or known to our 12 readers at least)

Again, this is all before dawn. Kids were still passed out on the Quad when I got up there at 7:15. Bad photo attached. After that, everything Rob said. So fun because every time I turned around I ran into someone I knew from our day so much that at times you could’ve sworn it was Homecoming ’97, not 2015.

What year is it?!

Obviously we’re biased, but it sure seemed as if all the love from everyone at ESPN was completely legit. They really seemed blown away by the setting (mountains, leaves, Quad, old-school campus, stadium) and the indescribable pride/enthusiasm of everyone in purple. Check out this great piece from

And finally:

Best JMU photo ever?

Well said