Syracuse is one of seven Power Five schools to have never hosted “College GameDay”. Amidst the Orange’s strongest start in years, fans thought ESPN’s popular show could make its first appearance on the hill before then 18th-ranked SU’s matchup with 15th-ranked NC State. That didn’t happen.
That weekend, GameDay went to Knoxville, TN for No. 6 Tennessee’s matchup with No. 3 Alabama. Given that the game finished on a walk-off field goal and Volunteer fans proceeded to carry the goalposts into the Tennessee River after that, seems like a pretty good choice to go there, right? Well, GameDay visited Knoxville three weeks before that game. Come on. This was one week after the show went to LAWRENCE, KANSAS in the same week that the Red River Rivalry Game and Texas A&M-Alabama were played. You can’t help but feel a bitter taste in your mouth towards GameDay for not coming to SU after it went to Kansas.
But hope springs eternal, and Orange Nation was hoping GameDay might visit Central New York prior to this weekend’s showdown with Notre Dame, even with Syracuse’s heartbreaking loss to Clemson. Alas, it wasn’t meant to be.
No one should be venting about this decision. The BoomBox Classic is a historic rivalry. Southern and Jackson State have met every year since 1958. Both schools’ Marching Bands are very popular (an underrated aspect of college football). Deion Sanders is one of the Head Coaches in this game. It should be an electric atmosphere in Mississippi next weekend.
That being said, imagine how nuts SU faithful would go if GameDay finally made a trip up here. And if it’s going to be for any team, it’s this one. The Orange are 6-1 and ranked No. 16 in the AP Poll.
So, how does SU put itself in the best position to finally secure the popular ESPN show? Get back on the winning track. Beat Notre Dame this weekend and win on the road against an underachieving Pitt squad next weekend. That leads up to Syracuse’s final home game of the season against Florida State. There’s only one more shot for it this year. And if GameDay doesn’t end up coming to Central New York this season of all seasons, all it does is add fuel to the fire.
