CougarGameDay broadcast at LES

There is a small stir building on twitter this morning over an idea a BYU fan (not me) has for what many feel would be a solid gold idea which could turn into an awesome, new BYU tradition: CougarGameDay (or could be BYUGameDay)



BYUtv could construct a small, mobile set and set-up in either the East or West parking lots pre-game for home games. Have Dave McCann host, and involve some combination of the most experienced BYUtv reporters and some BYU football alums like Chad Lewis on-set. Analysis, highlights, taped segments, guest interviews and most importantly - fan interaction.



I'm guessing the students would come-out early in DROVES for a BYU version of the ESPN CollegeGameDay experience. I'm also betting that many families would come early to games to avoid traffic...grab breakfast or lunch...and attend the event with the kids. You roll-in Cosmo, the cheerleaders and Cougar Band and this could really be great.



I wanted to share this idea on CC because I know many of the stalwarts here live out of state and only get to see a few, if any, games in person every year. Would you tune-in early to BYUtv to watch a CougarGameDay type broadcast prior to the home games?

If this was combined with a cooler pre-game tailgate type of experience, I think it would be awesome. It could really build a cooler BYU football culture that BYU lacks. The old Macey's pre-game was not up to snuff. I think BYU needs to dedicate a parking lot to this experience and really promote it. Perhaps the grass field just west of the stadium? Add a player walk type tradition behind the SE gate at a set time before kickoff and get students to show for it, and BYU could be on to something.

I think this is a great idea. I would be there, and if for some reason I wasn't at the game, I'd be watching it on BYUtv!

Nice idea, but it would of course be ridiculed by fans in red for the fact that BYU is basically copying something that has worked (not that they have any room to talk). If BYU could do it and make it original, not another cougartown issue, I'd be all for it.

Great idea, they could show the Cosmo videos here instead of during the game so all of Cougardom can enjoy them!



I think a nice touch would be to incorporate some of the pregame stuff Wrubel does on the radio.

This could be pretty cool. I'd never watch because I'm always at the games, but you might catch me on TV if you are watching!



I'd tune in to this if they did it for away games.

Lawboy wrote:
I think BYU needs to dedicate a parking lot to this experience and really promote it. Perhaps the grass field just west of the stadium?

Well, they already use the grass field for parking as well. However, they always block off the section of Canyon Rd. that's adjacent to the stadium, and that area would provide plenty of room for a stage, cameras, mics, speakers, etc. And it's right across from the parking lot where people could be tailgating and watching the show. The cherry on the top would be if LES had an updated facade on the west side to provide a better backdrop for it than the underside of the stands. Throw in some door prizes for craziest fans, and you know that you're gonna get everyone from the dorms to show up to provide atmosphere. It would be a perfect moment to provide morsels of fan education as well. "...and remember, wear blue!" "...don't forget, 3rd down means NOISE!" It seems like a great way to shape the experience to be better for everyone.



I'm down. :)

redneckjedi wrote:

I think BYU needs to dedicate a parking lot to this experience and really promote it. Perhaps the grass field just west of the stadium?

Well, they already use the grass field for parking as well. However, they always block off the section of Canyon Rd. that's adjacent to the stadium, and that area would provide plenty of room for a stage, cameras, mics, speakers, etc. And it's right across from the parking lot where people could be tailgating and watching the show. The cherry on the top would be if LES had an updated facade on the west side to provide a better backdrop for it than the underside of the stands. Throw in some door prizes for craziest fans, and you know that you're gonna get everyone from the dorms to show up to provide atmosphere. It would be a perfect moment to provide morsels of fan education as well. "...and remember, wear blue!" "...don't forget, 3rd down means NOISE!" It seems like a great way to shape the experience to be better for everyone.



I'm down. :)

Yep, because the fans who would show up early for such education would be the same ones who would need such education.

In the way of totally, 100% absolutely unsubstantiated rumors, I heard from a fellow ward member with no connections whatsoever that he heard BYU was going to broadcast the pre-game prayers on the BYUTV originated broadcasts (i.e. anything carried live by BYUTV and not carried live by ESPN etc.).



That sounds a bit over the top to me as far as the promoting BYU thing goes.

Doubters compare it to ESPN Gameday. Thing is it doesn't have to measure up to gameday. It just has to be better than True Blue (a fantastic show). It has to encompass fans interest of general national matchups per week, but focus heavily on BYU and their opponent, interview here or there, and have a KSL-like giveaway after/during the show, free food, etc.

SpiffCoug wrote:

Lawboy wrote:
I think BYU needs to dedicate a parking lot to this experience and really promote it. Perhaps the grass field just west of the stadium?

Well, they already use the grass field for parking as well. However, they always block off the section of Canyon Rd. that's adjacent to the stadium, and that area would provide plenty of room for a stage, cameras, mics, speakers, etc. And it's right across from the parking lot where people could be tailgating and watching the show. The cherry on the top would be if LES had an updated facade on the west side to provide a better backdrop for it than the underside of the stands. Throw in some door prizes for craziest fans, and you know that you're gonna get everyone from the dorms to show up to provide atmosphere. It would be a perfect moment to provide morsels of fan education as well. "...and remember, wear blue!" "...don't forget, 3rd down means NOISE!" It seems like a great way to shape the experience to be better for everyone.



I'm down. :)

Yep, because the fans who would show up early for such education would be the same ones who would need such education.

No, there would be other incentives to get them to show up - such as the tailgating party atmosphere, or it being the "cool" place to be on a Saturday afternoon - but just like GI Joe, we could sneak in something important at the end as they head off to the game. ;)



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redneckjedi wrote:
No, there would be other incentives to get them to show up - such as the tailgating party atmosphere, or it being the "cool" place to be on a Saturday afternoon - but just like GI Joe, we could sneak in something important at the end as they head off to the game. ;)



[youtube]vFthiZ_Jftc[/youtube]

They have those things now. Across the stadium in the parking lot. BYU will NEVER have a "tailgating party atmosphere" for one simple reason: the vast, Vast, VAST majority of BYU fans don't drink alcohol.



BYU fans come to BYU games for the game. Not the pre-game, not the post-game, not the halftime show, but the game. That's why they're late. They have no reason to be early, so they all show up at the same time, try to get in at the same time, so many of them wind up being "late" to their seats because they were on time to the gate.



It's not going to change. It is what it is.

You don't need drinking to have a good tailgate environment. Lots of BBQs and sodas would be just fine. There should be a rule that if you bring a BBQ and hot dogs/burgers then bring enough so the fans of visiting teams eat for free. Drinking just turns people stupid.



Honestly, if a pre-game show were on byutv I'd probably watch it on mute and listen to the KSL pregame.

I can't see it working for games against Idaho, ID state, new mexico st in succession. It would work for the big games at the start of the year. Maybe do it for the ESPN games. I just fear it would get old and lose interest. It needs fans from the other team attending and to be on tv. If the ESPN announcers were for it, it would work.