GameDay impressed on TV from Pullman
Wow.
“What took us so long to come here?” ESPN kept saying.
What a scene it was on TV.
Saturday, on a chilly late October morning, when College GameDay came on the air, in the dark, at 6 a.m. to start their three-hour pregame show from Pullman for the first time, thousands and thousands of Cougar fans — heck, just fans — waving flags, making noise, welcoming Rece and Herbie and Lee and the rest of the crew to the Palouse.
All for the chance to be part of a boisterous backdrop for a TV show.
Perhaps more fans there than there would be crammed into Martin Stadium later that day, when No. 25 Washington State took on No. 12 Oregon in a huge Pac-12 North game.
Hard to tell.
WOW.
The GameDay bus, making its way through Montana on Interstate 90 a few days earlier, rolling down 195 — don’t get pulled over in Colfax, boys.
(How did they miss the exit for Moscow? There was a conference game there on Saturday as well.)
The excitement in Pullman on Wednesday afternoon — all to watch a bus roll into town.
All for what the nation was able to see on TV on Saturday morning beginning at 9 a.m. Eastern time.
The scene was impressive — the region’s fans delivered. If you build it, they will come.
Fans making noise. Holding signs. Being seen.
Signs, signs, everywhere signs. Signs for Herbie and Herbert, UCF, Steve Gleason and others.
Flags, mostly WSU flags, at least one ‘3’ flag for Tyler Hilinski.
Ol’ Crimson, flying for the 217th straight time at GameDay — and finally, for the first time, in Pullman.
Was there an Idaho flag in the crowd?
JUST 45 minutes into the show — and some two hours before the money segment — the teaser that former WSU quarterback Drew Bledsoe would be the guest picker.
The rumors earlier in the week that Klay Thompson, who played three seasons at WSU, would be the guest picker.
Yeah, right.
Though it was logistically possible — his Golden State Warriors played Utah in Salt Lake City on Friday night, and were scheduled to play in Denver on Sunday — could you imagine …
“Sure, Klay, if you want to take Saturday off, go back to the ol’ alma mater and appear on a TV show, go ahead. We’ll catch you in Denver.
“Dray, you want to sneak away for a few hours and watch your old school play Michigan? No problem.
“Steph, you want to pal around with Klay in Pullman, maybe sneak in a quick 18 afterward at The Resort, and/or Circling Raven? Have at it.
“As long as you’re all in in June, when we celebrate our 3-peat, and fourth NBA title in five years.
“Hey, bring back some Cougar Gold.”
Uh huh.
Mike Price would have been a good choice as well.
THE SUN coming up on the Palouse roughly an hour into the show, as darkness turned to light.
The show compelling enough, the uniqueness and the spirit enough to keep a way-too-early riser from dosing off.
(The dog, of course, was another story.)
Wonder if they can talk the GameDay bus for sticking around another week? GameDay has never been to Cheney, either. The Vandals are at Eastern Washington next week.
The search for the Popcorn Guy.
Wondering if Lee Corso will put on the Cougar head at the end of the show.
He did. Did you expect anything different, especially if GameDay wants to come back someday?
A Gonzaga flag flying. Of course. GameDay’s already been there.
A sign honoring Keith Jackson.
Yes, thank you, Bob Robertson. He would have been a good choice as well.
What took them so long, indeed.
Mark Nelke is sports editor of The Press. He can be reached at 664-8176, Ext. 2019, or via email at mnelke@cdapress.com. Follow him on Twitter@CdAPressSports.