Saturday's Oregon-WSU game marks the first time Pullman has been chosen as "College GameDay" hostESPN IMAGES
Fifteen years after Washington State football fans began "using their school flag to lobby insistently for a host gig" on ESPN's "College GameDay," they are finally "getting their wish," according to Dale Grummert of the MOSCOW-PULLMAN DAILY NEWS. ESPN announced Saturday night that its "GameDay" crew is "headed for Pullman" for Saturday's Oregon-Washington State game. It is the "first time Pullman has ever been chosen as the host for GameDay." Since '03, one or more WSU fans have followed "GameDay" from city to city with the "express purpose of insinuating their school flag in front of the camera during the shoot." The flag has made 216 "consecutive broadcasts." At least part of the goal of this ritual has been to "lure the show" to WSU, a fact to which commentator Kirk Herbstreit "alluded in making the announcement." Over the years, WSU fans have "repeatedly got their hopes up for a GameDay nod, only to be disappointed." A prime reason may have been the "complicated logistics of getting the program’s crew and equipment to isolated Pullman" (MOSCOW-PULLMAN DAILY NEWS, 10/15).
TIME TO CELEBRATE: In Seattle, Adam Jude notes WSU fans "greeted the news with jubilation." The school announced yesterday that tickets for Saturday’s game against Oregon are "sold out." The "GameDay" truck will arrive in Pullman on Wednesday, and as WSU AD Pat Chun pointed out on Twitter, it will "likely be met by a bevy of excited Coug fans" (SEATTLE TIMES, 10/15). In Spokane, Vince Grippi wrote the "GameDay" announcement is a day WSU fans have "waited for, have lobbied for, have seemingly begged for, since ESPN started traveling around the country." It is a day many "never thought would happen" (Spokane SPOKESMAN-REVIEW, 10/15).
BEST IN THE BIZ: THE ATHLETIC's Richard Deitsch wrote, "When people have asked what I consider the greatest pregame shows of my lifetime, the answer has always been the same: 'Inside The NBA' and 'College GameDay.'" Deitsch: "They rank 1 and 1A. They are obviously significantly different in presentation and GameDay is the far more journalistically sounds show because of ESPN’s feature producers, which are among the best anywhere on television. But Inside for me remains the perfect combination of chemistry, spontaneity and honesty" (THEATHLETIC.com, 10/15).
