This past weekend, ESPN’s College GameDay came to Pittsburgh for the Pitt vs. Notre Dame football game, and it was a great experience for all ages.
The College GameDay broadcast began at 9 a.m. Saturday, but the festivities at the free event started long before that. Dedicated fans camped out overnight to get a spot in the best standing room area, known as the Pit, which offers a better view of the stage, as well as for a better chance to be seen on television.
The venue was across the street from Acrisure Stadium, and it was packed from the top of the hill on down to the riverside.
The primary highlights of GameDay included a debate about the all-time best Pitt football players, a discussion about the college football playoff picture, and a review of team statistics.
At around 11 a.m., co-host Pat McAfee changed locations across the street to do the well known 33-yard field goal challenge, which was the true highlight of the day. The kicker was selected randomly from a raffle in the Pit and was given a chance to win $1 million. The fan missed, was given another shot at making it for a doubled $2 million, and failed again.
After the field goal segment ended, most fans as well as the cast of GameDay entered Acrisure Stadium and awaited the start of the game. GameDay invited Aaron Donald as the guest Gameday predictions picker, as he is a legendary former Pitt player who had his jersey number retired during halftime at the game.
The game itself went the way as expected, with Notre Dame beating Pitt 37-15. Regardless of the loss, it was a sold-out crowd and the energy was present at the stadium. At some points, Notre Dame fans were louder than Pitt fans, which was surprising considering they were the away team.
Simply put, Notre Dame played better football overall. Pitt’s offense and defense were riddled with errors and simple mistakes, but looking forward, the team has a chance to improve its record.
All in all, GameDay was a unique experience that was definitely worth attending, even for fans without a ticket to the game. Rarely does Pittsburgh get an event like this, let alone a free one. The game was also a good one to attend, as it was nice to see Pitt face a tougher opponent.
