College GameDay Feels Like Home Again for ESPN With Crowds, Production Crew Onsite After a season of heavy REMI workflows, the iconic traveling pregame show is back on the road By Brandon Costa, Director of Digital
Friday, September 10, 2021 - 1:00 pm
Print This Story | Subscribe
Story Highlights
If the past few months in the sports-television industry have reinforced anything, it's that sports are better with fans.
That point's obvious, but one would be hard pressed to find a sports-TV property more reliant on the energy of the crowd than ESPN's Saturday-morning staple College GameDay.
Last Saturday, College GameDay was in Charlotte, NC, for an early-season match between Georgia and Clemson. (Photo: Phil Ellsworth/ESPN Images)
The iconic traveling pregame show has returned this season with a full pit of fans and the entire production and operations crew back onsite after a 2020 season when many of the familiar faces worked from their respective homes.
This weekend, in particular, marks a special milestone for the show: after successive Saturdays in Atlanta and Charlotte, GameDay returns to a college campus for the first time since the pandemic. On Saturday, the show makes a stop in Ames, IA, for the day's big interstate rivalry matchup between No. 10 Iowa and No. 9 Iowa State.
It's very exciting being able to work together again, says Judi Weiss, senior remote operations producer, ESPN, who is in her 11th season working on College GameDay. Last week [in Charlotte], to see the crowd and the activations and to have everyone excited was amazing. Our crew has always fed off the excitement of the fans, and having that back has given them a certain adrenalin and energy that you feel when you watch the show. It transcends itself into everything they do. It's hard not to get excited about something when everyone is excited around you.
WE CAN T WAIT TO BE IN AMES ON SATURDAY!
Come join us on Reiman Plaza starting at 9 AM ET @HawkeyeFootball | @CycloneFB pic.twitter.com/25NejCU2Md
College GameDay (@CollegeGameDay) September 9, 2021
With all due respect to College GameDay's appearance in West Point for Army-Navy last December (where a limited number of bubbled cadets and midshipmen gave the show a jolt of atmosphere), the College GameDay that viewers know and love with the big crowds, loud cheers, and creative signs hasn't looked quite like this since the show visited the University of Minnesota toward the end of the 2019 season.
To be onsite, walk around campus, get the vibe, and feel the energy of the crowd: it's so important, says Drew Gallagher, coordinating producer, College GameDay, who has enjoyed a 20+-year career at ESPN. It helps us so much with the stories that we are covering and establishing a sense of place. We're thrilled to have our production crew back onsite.
Steadicam operator Randy French, a veteran of ESPN since 2008, shot College GameDay in Charlotte last Saturday. (Photo: Phil Ellsworth/ESPN Images)
While the full return to site is the big headline, there are some new production elements for the 2021 campaign of College GameDay. The footprint sees the addition of a third stage, a Pizza Hut-sponsored shooting location outfitted with a new VERSA portable LED screen designed and built by ANC. It's interactive for on-air talent and will be used largely for breakdowns and analysis.
The show has also upgraded its aerial-camera collection, switching its cabled camera from a two-point to a four-point SupraCam system. The show is also expecting to use its drone more this year. ESPN deploys its own drone, which is piloted by FAA and Disney-certified pilot Dave Smith, known affectionately on the crew as 'Bama Dave.
In terms of lessons learned from the unique 2020 season, some projects that the crew was forced into a year ago will remain part of the crew's operational plans and called upon when necessary. For example, Gallagher says, the College GameDay team learned a lot from using video-conferencing platforms like Zoom for conducting interviews. Although he notes that there's a time and place for that method, it does offer more flexibility to bring a guest on when it's not possible to send a full-fledged TV-production kit.
The College GameDay crew rehearses prior to the show's Week 0 appearance in Atlanta. The set was outside Center Parc Stadium to celebrate the 2021 Cricket MEAC/SWAC Challenge Kickoff. (Photo: Scott Clarke/ESPN Images)
He notes a segment last season where the crew spoke with Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney while the team was going through walk-throughs at the team hotel prior to heading out to the stadium. The quality and the fact that it's down-and-dirty almost adds to the charm of the access of it. From challenges came opportunities.
Otherwise, it's all smiles for the College GameDay family, which includes the return to site of the producer/director tandem of Jim Gaiero and Rodney Perez, who will be leading the show from its longtime home in Game Creek Video's Maverick unit.
We're a group that needs to be around each other, says Gallagher. Spontaneity is such a big part of College GameDay, and so much of that comes from impromptu in-person moments, kicking ideas around in a production meeting face-to-face. It's just so great.
This Saturday's edition of College GameDay airs live from Ames, IA, beginning at 9 a.m. ET on ESPN.
Most recent headlines
05/01/2027
Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...
01/06/2026
January 6 2026, 05:30 (PST) Dolby Sets the New Standard for Premium Entertainment at CES 2026
Throughout the week, Dolby brings to life the latest innovatio...
01/05/2026
January 5 2026, 18:30 (PST) NBCUniversal's Peacock to Be First Streamer to ...
01/04/2026
January 4 2026, 18:00 (PST) DOLBY AND DOUYIN EMPOWER THE NEXT GENERATON OF CREATORS WITH DOLBY VISION
Douyin Users Can Now Create And Share Videos With Stun...
27/01/2026
Click for Japanese version
Tokyo, Japan - January 27, 2026 - Akamai Technolo...
27/01/2026
L-R: Jonathan Cuchacovich, Sonia Kennebeck, Alan Fischer, Daeil Kim, Andrew Sta...
27/01/2026
Today, Spotify is proud to support our partner Backline, an industry-leading men...
27/01/2026
With nearly 29 million monthly listeners and clear momentum on Spotify, Net n Ve...
27/01/2026
January 14, 2026
We are proud to share that 25 Ontario, First Gulf's commercial project located just two minutes from our head office, has been recognized ...
27/01/2026
January 22, 2026
First Gulf is excited to share that a full-building lease has been secured at 625 Bronte Rd in Oakville, part of Bronte Station Business Park,...
27/01/2026
January 23, 2026
First Gulf continues to demonstrate its commitment to high-performance, sustainable real estate with 351 King Street East achieving BOMA BEST ...
27/01/2026
eds3_5_jq(document).ready(function($) { $(#eds_sliderM519).chameleonSlider_2_1({ content_source:......
27/01/2026
Nielsen will continue to drive growth and provide local audience measurement
in...
27/01/2026
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Pinterest
Bluesky
Email...
27/01/2026
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Pinterest
Bluesky
Email...
27/01/2026
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Pinterest
Bluesky
Email...
27/01/2026
Amagi Media Labs Limited, the only cloud-native SaaS provider offering end-to-end solutions across live production, content preparation, distribution, and monet...
27/01/2026
Miri Technologies Inc. today unveiled its V410 live 4K video encoder/decoder for streaming, IP-based production workflows and AV-over-IP distribution. Designed ...
27/01/2026
The Paul E. Tsongas Center at UMass Lowell in Massachusetts has chosen Ikegami cameras for incorporation into its broadcast-quality television production facili...
27/01/2026
SipRadius, specialists in secure, low latency media transport, will show the pro AV community its end-to-end solution for high quality content distribution and ...
27/01/2026
Hiltron will highlight the fruits of its 45-plus years of experience in satellite communications system integration and product development at the annual GovSat...
27/01/2026
Klvr will demonstrate how its Charger Pro solution is delivering cost reduction and performance benefits for live entertainment and pro AV markets at ISE 2026 (...
27/01/2026
Amino, a global media technology leader in enterprise video and digital signage, today announced that its Integrated Systems Europe (ISE) 2026 booth (4N700) wil...
27/01/2026
ANI, India's leading news agency and a major content provider across the Asia Pacific region, today announced a significant expansion of its long standing p...
27/01/2026
Independent analysis confirms faster encoding, lower CPU usage, and improved perceptual quality compared to CBR and CRF
VisualOn, a leader in multimedia playba...
27/01/2026
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Pinterest
Bluesky
Email...
27/01/2026
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Pinterest
Bluesky
Email...
27/01/2026
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Pinterest
Bluesky
Email...
27/01/2026
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Pinterest
Bluesky
Email...
27/01/2026
New agreement for uninterrupted UHF connectivity for Australian Defence Force through 2033, With Options Extending to 2041
Luxembourg, January 13, 2026 - Satel...
27/01/2026
Tuesday 27 January 2026
SNL UK creative team expands as Pauli Lovejoy, Annie Ha...
27/01/2026
Back to All News
When It Feels Real, Is It Still a Lie? The Art of Sarah' ...
27/01/2026
Back to All News
That Night premiering on Netflix March 13
Entertainment
27 January 2026
GlobalSpain
Link copied to clipboard
DOWNLOAD THE KEY ART
DOWNLO...
27/01/2026
Back to All News
Netflix Revealed the Future of Mexican Stories Coming in 2026
Entertainment
27 January 2026
GlobalMexico
Link copied to clipboard
Among t...
27/01/2026
Back to All News
Four New Japan Titles Announced for 2026: Viral Hit', On...
27/01/2026
Back to All News
What's Next on Netflix from Japan: Expanding the Possibili...
27/01/2026
AI, graphics and virtual software power new production capabilities...
27/01/2026
RT Supporting the Arts is delighted to support a dynamic programme of cultural events taking place across Ireland this February. From visual art, film, music, ...
26/01/2026
Music videos play a huge part in how fans connect with their favorite songs, but...
26/01/2026
NAIDOC launches 2026 theme 50 Years of Deadly , marks major milestone
25 January, 2026
Media releases
The National NAIDOC Committee has today unveiled its...
26/01/2026
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Pinterest
Bluesky
Email...
26/01/2026
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Pinterest
Bluesky
Email...
26/01/2026
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Pinterest
Bluesky
Email...
26/01/2026
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Pinterest
Bluesky
Email...
26/01/2026
Advanced Systems Group (ASG) today announced an exclusive partnership with Nu Studio, the company behind the first modular, portable studio designed for immersi...
26/01/2026
OpenDrives, the leader in high-end video data management and workflow solutions, today announced an add-on investment to its previous funding rounds, led by IAG...
26/01/2026
SmallHD today announced a major update to its award-winning PageOS software, introducing Fleet Control, Portrait Mode, expanded Camera Control features, and Dow...
26/01/2026
Whether rigging a PTZ on a truss, sliding a Blackmagic camera across a mezzanine railing, or capturing the mayhem from inside a drum, Filipic delivers visuals t...
26/01/2026
Wuppertal January 26, 2026
Riedel and Media Tailor Deliver Unified Broadcast a...
College GameDay Feels Like Home Again for ESPN With Crowds, Production Crew Onsite After a season of heavy REMI workflows, the iconic traveling pregame show is back on the road By Brandon Costa, Director of Digital 
