‘You’ll have to watch’
The Salt Lake Tribune • • sports
Key Points:
- A year ago, ESPN’s “College GameDay” crew faced severe weather and flight cancellations in Lubbock, Texas, causing extended stays and long drives to catch flights.
- This season, ESPN stayed within Utah for consecutive “College GameDay” broadcasts, covering BYU’s upset over Notre Dame in Provo and the Utah Utes’ game in Salt Lake City, simplifying logistics with only short drives between locations.
- The Utah-based crew enjoyed rare downtime, engaging in outdoor activities like hiking Bell Canyon, visiting hot springs, and exploring local dining spots, turning the layover into a quasi-vacation.
- BYU’s “GameDay” broadcast was the most-watched of the season and the third-most-watched regular-season episode ever, prompting Utah officials to seek ways to top that success for their home broadcast.
- Hosting “College GameDay” back-to-back in Utah has allowed the crew to appreciate the state’s natural beauty and culture, with promises of unique elements planned for the upcoming Utah broadcast.
