ESPN’s College GameDay opened up its gates to a dedicated crowd at one a.m. Saturday for the six a.m. broadcast of the show. Aiming to avoid rushes like in previous years, Crowd Management Services (CMS) allowed only a few students in at a time, patting them down and removing any forbidden items. People from the front to the back of the crowd vied to be the first ones through the gate, which caused CMS to send workers to hold back gates. Although most of the crowd was enthusiastic about the show, there were many complaints that CMS was only allowing signs, keys, wallets and cell phones through the gates.
Students were patted down and searched before being allowed into ESPN’s College GameDay. Many people were frustrated that no rules had been posted regarding what could be brought in for the broadcast. This miscommunication led to piles of blankets, food and backpacks being left outside of the gates. (Michael Ciaglo/Oregon Daily Emerald)
The crowd of people waiting to get into ESPN’s College GameDay Saturday morning broadcast begin pushing against the fences as only a few people at a time are allowed through after the gates were opened at 1 a.m. (Michael Ciaglo/Oregon Daily Emerald)
Students show CMS personnel their signs before they are allowed to take them through the gates for ESPN’s College GameDay broadcast Saturday morning. Although many signs passed through easily, non-football related and offensive signs were taken and discarded. (Michael Ciaglo/Oregon Daily Emerald)
University junior Griffith Cody attempted to bring his American flag through the gates into ESPN’s College GameDay broadcast five times. After being denied because of the pole the flag was attached to, Cody took up a position just outside of the gates waving the flag and blowing a duck call. (Michael Ciaglo/Oregon Daily Emerald)
Students hold up the “O” and press up against the front barrier while they wait for ESPN’s College GameDay broadcast at six a.m. to begin. Students at the front of the crowd began waiting in line at 8 p.m. Friday. (Michael Ciaglo/Oregon Daily Emerald)
Although some of the more inanimate members of the crowd stayed wide-eyed through the night, many could be seen resting along the fence line or sleeping in the grass while waiting for the six a.m. broadcast of ESPN’s College GameDay. (Michael Ciaglo/Oregon Daily Emerald)