ESPN College GameDay Coming to Winston-Salem Marked a Milestone
9/23/2020 12:30:00 PM | Football, Les Johns
The national show at the 50-yard line of Truist Field helped champion the return of collegiate athletics to Wake Forest.
It was a different-look ESPN GameDay that invaded Winston-Salem in early September, but Deacon Nation pulled out all the stops.
Though there were no fans in the stadium for the game against No.1 Clemson or the flagship college football TV show, the environment featured more than 1,000 fan cardboard cutouts, a dozen brand-sponsored tarps bought by local business, and hundreds of fans at the Truist Drive-In event.
It was the first time the show has visited Wake Forest.
"I love coming to places where we haven't been before," GameDay host Rece Davis said the day before the event. "There's usually an energy and excitement. We're excited to be on campus and be close to it. I look forward to better days when I can get around and tour the new facilities."
Known for its raucous crowds and entertaining signs, it certainly was a changeup for the GameDay hosts.
"We're happy to be here and happy the season started," Davis said. "We want the fans to take part in the best way they can. We know it's not ideal, but hopefully we'll have an opportunity in future days to come back where they can make it huge and rowdy.
"Every show is important, because we're putting it on TV. We're going to approach it with the same sensibility, insights, storytelling and entertainment that we always do. Would we prefer a big crowd? Of course. But we're making the best of the hand we've been dealt, and are going to make it exceptional and enjoyable to the people who are watching."
Davis enjoyed his time reacquainting himself with Wake Forest athletic director John Currie and football coach Dave Clawson.
"John and I texted early in the week and are hoping to cross paths at some point," Davis said. "He's a guy who I've known for a few years now and have a great deal of respect for him. He's a really good administrator and a really good person. That's important.
"I chatted with Dave for a few minutes and he's always such an insightful and thoughtful guy. He's done a remarkable job at Wake Forest, providing consistency they haven't seen. They haven't had four-straight winning seasons since even before the ACC existed. It was in the 40s. Both of those guys are first-class people. Dave runs a terrific program here and John is a great administrator. He has a strong track record and is the type of person who will do well here."
Though the Deacs have a lot to replace on the offensive side of the ball, Davis thinks the defense could be a strength this season.
"Most of the people who touch the ball in skill positions have to be replaced," he said. "But (quarterback) Sam (Hartman) has played a lot. It's not the way you draw it up to throw him into the fire and then have him step back, but it might work out for the best in the long run.
"They have young players they are excited about on offense, and then difference makers on defense. Boogie Basham is legit. He potentially could be a guy who will be prominent in the NFL Draft, but can really help Wake Forest this year."
There are now just eight Power 5 schools that have not hosted ESPN GameDay: California, Duke, Illinois, Kansas, Maryland, Rutgers, Syracuse and Virginia.
"We love going to new places and we always talk about that," Desmond Howard said. "The reception is always so grand and they understand the magnitude of having their campus in a three-hour infomercial. They appreciate that.
"We're football junkies and a part of that is going on these campuses. It's always a unique experience going to a new campus. We get a thrill out of that."
Clawson embraced the thought on having the spotlight on the Demon Deacon program.
"We are thrilled to be hosting College GameDay for the first time in Wake Forest Football history," coach Dave Clawson said ahead of the show. "Our players have done all the right things since we returned to campus in mid-June and having our brand showcased on these national platforms is a reward for their discipline and for the recent accomplishments of the program."
Though there were no fans in the stadium for the game against No.1 Clemson or the flagship college football TV show, the environment featured more than 1,000 fan cardboard cutouts, a dozen brand-sponsored tarps bought by local business, and hundreds of fans at the Truist Drive-In event.
It was the first time the show has visited Wake Forest.
"I love coming to places where we haven't been before," GameDay host Rece Davis said the day before the event. "There's usually an energy and excitement. We're excited to be on campus and be close to it. I look forward to better days when I can get around and tour the new facilities."
Known for its raucous crowds and entertaining signs, it certainly was a changeup for the GameDay hosts.
"We're happy to be here and happy the season started," Davis said. "We want the fans to take part in the best way they can. We know it's not ideal, but hopefully we'll have an opportunity in future days to come back where they can make it huge and rowdy.
"Every show is important, because we're putting it on TV. We're going to approach it with the same sensibility, insights, storytelling and entertainment that we always do. Would we prefer a big crowd? Of course. But we're making the best of the hand we've been dealt, and are going to make it exceptional and enjoyable to the people who are watching."
Davis enjoyed his time reacquainting himself with Wake Forest athletic director John Currie and football coach Dave Clawson.
"John and I texted early in the week and are hoping to cross paths at some point," Davis said. "He's a guy who I've known for a few years now and have a great deal of respect for him. He's a really good administrator and a really good person. That's important.
"I chatted with Dave for a few minutes and he's always such an insightful and thoughtful guy. He's done a remarkable job at Wake Forest, providing consistency they haven't seen. They haven't had four-straight winning seasons since even before the ACC existed. It was in the 40s. Both of those guys are first-class people. Dave runs a terrific program here and John is a great administrator. He has a strong track record and is the type of person who will do well here."
Though the Deacs have a lot to replace on the offensive side of the ball, Davis thinks the defense could be a strength this season.
"Most of the people who touch the ball in skill positions have to be replaced," he said. "But (quarterback) Sam (Hartman) has played a lot. It's not the way you draw it up to throw him into the fire and then have him step back, but it might work out for the best in the long run.
"They have young players they are excited about on offense, and then difference makers on defense. Boogie Basham is legit. He potentially could be a guy who will be prominent in the NFL Draft, but can really help Wake Forest this year."
There are now just eight Power 5 schools that have not hosted ESPN GameDay: California, Duke, Illinois, Kansas, Maryland, Rutgers, Syracuse and Virginia.
"We love going to new places and we always talk about that," Desmond Howard said. "The reception is always so grand and they understand the magnitude of having their campus in a three-hour infomercial. They appreciate that.
"We're football junkies and a part of that is going on these campuses. It's always a unique experience going to a new campus. We get a thrill out of that."
Clawson embraced the thought on having the spotlight on the Demon Deacon program.
"We are thrilled to be hosting College GameDay for the first time in Wake Forest Football history," coach Dave Clawson said ahead of the show. "Our players have done all the right things since we returned to campus in mid-June and having our brand showcased on these national platforms is a reward for their discipline and for the recent accomplishments of the program."
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