GameDay in Blacksburg

Last weekend the ESPN GameDay show arrived in Blacksburg to tape its weekly Saturday morning college preview show. Chris Fowler, Lee Corso and Kirk Herbstreit were on hand, as well as thousands of Hokie fans ready to get their face, and goofy sign, on TV. Here's a pictorial rundown.

We arrived at about 9:30 (the show starts at 10:30) and the crowd was already pretty big. As you can see, trying to get your sign on TV was the order of the day.

Most folks dressed in Orange for VT's annual "Orange Effect" game, but this one fan decided painting his whole body maroon and wearing maroon underwear would make more of a statement. And that statement was, "Look at me -- I'm a galactically challenged moron!"

The crew set up on the VT mall, which is a divided road that leads from Main Street, under the Torgensen Bridge (the building above), and ends at the Drill Field. The backdrop, with the bridge and War Memorial Pylons in the background, was a great view for the TV audience.

The view from the rear with all the flags and banners waving. Some of my favorite signs were:

SHE LOOKED 18

GOT MENINGITIS?

RON MEXICO FOR PRESIDENT

And some of the better ones were completely meaningless:

LEE CORSO ONCE CAUGHT A 12 POUND BASS

1 MAN; 1 PLANE; 64 BEERS; BOGGS 3:16

WADE BOGGS CHEATS AT CANDYLAND

If anyone can explain the Wade Boggs references, please let me know.

Here are Chris Fowler, Lee Corso and Kirk Herbstreit on the set. When Corso arrived, there were nothing but boos. Kirk was greeted by cheers and several women asking for his hand in marriage. Fowler's arrival was like Larry King at a boxing match: it's just a side note that he's even there at all.

This was our view of GameDay. The set is behind the tree, so we couldn't see it too well. At least they had the big screen. Unfortunately we could hardly hear anything they were saying either.

Behind the set was a small "field" where they had about a 5 minute lesson calling audibles with crowd noise. Kirk, Desmond Howard, and Fowler helped with the presentation, which we actually got pretty close to. Unfortunately so did almost every screaming co-ed who wanted to throw their panties at Herbstreit. He ain't all that, girls! (Agreed. I'm a Fowler girl myself. -Sage)

After the 90 minute show was over, and both Herbstreit and Corso picked the Hokies to win, we walked back to our parking lot to tailgate, then watched the Hokies crush the Yellow Jackets 51-7. Good times.