Article: An oral history of College Gameday
The Ringer does great oral history articles. It's very interesting to see how College Gameday became a (at one time) beloved part of our Saturday morning rituals, before the Bear, McAfee, filler segments, and other nonsense.
https://www.theringer.com/college-football/2023/12/1/23979719/college-gameday-oral-history
December 2nd, 2023 at 11:14 AM ^
Oral is correct.
December 2nd, 2023 at 11:21 AM ^
The Ringer sure is going deep with this one. They really dropped a load of words here.
December 2nd, 2023 at 11:40 AM ^
Just slobbering over a bunch of blowhards.
December 2nd, 2023 at 11:23 AM ^
Great read OP. I was born in the 90s and Gameday was a huge part of my childhood. Quote from ex-ESPN president “Lee Corso was a modestly successful college football coach who transcended what he did there to become this beloved, Mel Brooks–like nutty uncle.” I couldn’t agree more.
To me, the biggest shift ESPN GameDay made for the worse was going from a 2-hour turbocharged program to a 3-hour program. It was first an extra hour on ESPNU in 2010. Then all 3-hours on ESPN started in 2013. This just diluted the same content over 50% extra time. I kept watching for a few more years. It hasn’t been the same since.
December 2nd, 2023 at 11:25 AM ^
Agreed. Even going from 90 mins to 2 hours, i remember it started to get bloated.
December 2nd, 2023 at 2:07 PM ^
I actually didn’t realize it used to be 90 minutes! That would be the perfect length if it was about the fan experience.
December 2nd, 2023 at 11:32 AM ^
I thought this article would be about all the BJ's McAfee had to give to get a spot on the show.
December 2nd, 2023 at 12:19 PM ^
Herbstreit was the one who wanted McAfee on the show. The only reason that makes sense to me is so that Herbie would look better by comparison, or the BJs.
December 2nd, 2023 at 11:42 AM ^
Someone please tell me what positive things McAfee brings to Gameday? He's like a beefed up John Belushi without the humor. I won't be surprised to see Dan Effing Dakich on the show next if they are just looking for loud opinions.
December 2nd, 2023 at 2:02 PM ^
No offense Yo_Blue, but please do not ever compare McAfee to the late, great John Belushi.
December 2nd, 2023 at 11:44 AM ^
Fowler, Lee, Kirk. Obviously I'm also partial to Dez but that was the gold standard for the show.
I'm not a Pat fan but at least he tries to bring some fun to set.
As noted above, it really can't ever be good again as a three hour show. That's absurdly long.
December 2nd, 2023 at 1:41 PM ^
Pat brings obnoxious douchebaggery to the show. Nothing more.
December 2nd, 2023 at 5:14 PM ^
Yes this is the obvious answer. He is simply there to play a part and is the most un-serious person on the show, including whatever celebrity of the day they have. Some of those are real buffoons as well.
December 2nd, 2023 at 12:02 PM ^
Yeah I really love watching a lot of commercials for 3 hours.
Pass.
December 2nd, 2023 at 4:39 PM ^
GameDay note: 3 of the 5 took Iowa. Not with points, but straight up. Further proof that McAfee is a ridiculous clown. Dez and Kirk work the only Michigan pickers. Sheesh.