The Allure of College Gameday

It's getting to be that time of year folks. Spring games are over, College Football Live is back on the air (albeit with rehashed stories every blogger has already beaten to death), and the Coors Company is busy stocking up for the last weekend of August. A few short months from now we will all rise on Saturday morning, throw some 'dogs on the grill with a beer in hand, and turn on the TV to honor the holy trinity of college football known as the Gameday Crew. The Gameday Crew, consisting of Chris Fowler, Lee Corso, and Kirk Herbstreit, are a staple of college football, and any campus they visit turns into an instant party. I was personally in attendance for College Gameday's first visit to Autzen Stadium in Eugene, OR; and even though it was still dark out when taping began at 7am, the scene was epic.

The allure of Gameday can be found in it's cast of characters. There is Lee Corso, who reminds everyone of their senile grandpa after shotgunning 4 or 5 Pabst Blue Ribbons and shouting profanities and racially insensitive remarks. Lee is the quintessential antithesis of cuddly little Lou Holtz. Lou is the sweet little old man who you pat on the head and give a Werthers caramel to every time he manages to string together a coherent sentence. To combat the beast that is Corso, Gameday also employs the beauty- Ohio State nobody quarterback turned ESPN heartthrob Kirk Herbstreit, also known affectionately as Herbie. Herbstreit legitimizes the show to wives and girlfriends everywhere, and throws a little bit of sanity into the crazy pot that is Lee Corso. And finally, there is Chris Fowler, the personality deprived host who's only contributions to the show are 30 second intros to pre-taped segments narrated by any number of ESPN peasants. Throw these three in front of a camera and you have television gold.

In just 113 days, college football fans around the world will all tune in to watch the madness of another season of college football unfold. Surely we will do a double take over something Corso says in a moment of stupidity, and without fail our wives and girlfriends will find a spot on the couch with us the moment Herbie starts making love with the camera (Editor's note: I know I got my spot ready). The characters of College Gameday help define the college football season. They are the opening act for the rock concert that is the college football season. I, for one, cannot wait.