College GameDay’s Arrival May Be The Most Exciting Event In James Madison’s History
11 years ago

Screen Shot 2015-10-23 at 4.51.40 PM

James Madison is a fairly old university. I’m sure it has had a few historical events in its day, but I can’t imagine any that are setting up to be as exciting and memorable as this weekend’s College GameDay appearance.

Harrisonburg, Virginia is going absolutely insane right now. Crowds are flocking into the streets. A sea of purple has overtaken campus. Classrooms are empty and the crowd’s collective enthusiasm is at an all-time high. There is a football game this weekend, but that is secondary in the minds of the Dukes faithful following. There are bigger happenings currently on hand. An event big enough to draw numbers I was unaware existed at JMU. The College GameDay tour bus arrived on campus this evening. It was huge. It was a spectacle. And it is only leading up to one of the biggest football weekends in the history of James Madison University.

While many campuses – my own included – treat GameDay as just another football weekend with the addition of a national audience, JMU is going bonkers. It makes sense. I completely understand it, but it’s such an incredible sight to witness a crowd of this size just to meet a bus.

It’s so different from what I am used to. When GameDay rolled up to our campus for their most recent visit, they were greeted with nothing more than a heard of facility maintenance employees and a few campus police officers to help them successfully navigate our painfully underwhelming streets. There was no band. No celebration. No true acknowledgement of their existence whatsoever.

I have to give it to JMU. They’ve impressed me today. They reminded us what is special about college football and the arrival of the most popular pregame show in the nation, even if their signs are struggling to compete with the GameDay all-stars.

That is one helluva start to the weekend. With crowds as massive as we’ve seen for the bus’ arrival, Dukes fans aren’t going to be allowed to let up tomorrow. I’m expecting to wake up from my casino trip tomorrow morning to an empty wallet and thousands of purple-clad loyal Dukes drowning out whatever bullshit Corso is spewing. It’ll be a memorable weekend in Harrisonburg.

Check out the video below to see the highlights of their College GameDay welcome.

Image via YouTube

  2. HawaiianShirtFridays

    I’ve never seen this town like this. I can’t explain it to all y’all at big schools.

    11 years ago at 5:12 pm
    1. Slappyhappychap

      well you don’t need to explain it to big schools because they are like this all the time

      11 years ago at 7:59 pm
      1. TFMappsucks

        Let him cherish it man. Its a special time I wish all could enjoy at some point

        11 years ago at 8:25 pm
    3. Hoke Is A Dickbag

      They collectively add up to a 6. 2nd from the left is brutal on the eyes.

      11 years ago at 5:16 pm
  5. Chubbs_Peterson

    I specifically remember riot police storming down the hills throwing tear gas canisters when block party was still a thing. This might be more insane

    11 years ago at 6:53 pm
  7. JustForTheStory

    When they came to Stanford-Oregon the first time it was a blackout by 9am sort of day.

    11 years ago at 1:25 am