Better GameDay location, Penn State-Minnesota or Alabama-LSU? Paul Finebaum explains why he'd pick Big Ten showdown
PJ Fleck has made his public plea to College GameDay to pick the upcoming Minnesota-Penn State game over LSU-Alabama. Kirk Herbstreit is also on record with College GameDay picking a trip to Minnesota over another trip to Tuscaloosa on Nov. 9.
Surely Paul Finebaum would disagree with those takes, right?
Wrong.
The “mouth of the South” is also on board with College GameDay making the trip up North to add to the pregame festivities for the Big Ten matchup between undefeated teams Penn State and Minnesota on Nov. 9.
During a recent appearance on SportsCenter, Finebaum shared his thoughts on why College GameDay should bypass this year’s Alabama-LSU showdown, even if the two teams are ranked No. 1 and No. 2 by the time the game arrives in two weekends.
“They definitely should, and of course, no one at ESPN listens to me, but I think the scene would be much better (at Minnesota),” Finebaum said on SportsCenter. “I have done College GameDay in Tuscaloosa for LSU, it’s not that big a deal, even for the “Game of the Century” Part II. It has been the Tuscaloosa so many times, in fact, a couple of years ago, Zubin, GameDay was there twice in one season, and you know fans like to see GameDay, I mean it’s an event, but for some places that they have never gone to – I think it’s far more significant.
“As someone who’s lived in Alabama, someone who’s covered the SEC has been to the Alabama game countless times, I would not go to that game I would follow up PJ Fleck and go to the game where they really appreciate it way up there (at Minnesota).”
There you have it, the national authority on all things Alabama football has made his pick and it wasn’t the clash that will decide the SEC West.
I’m sure most bama and LSU fans could care less if it’s gameday or not. They know the magnitude of the game just like the players. From a college football fans perspective I would like for it to be in Tuscaloosa. They tend to spend more time talking Xs and Os about the two teams and IMO that would be some good tv.
Gameday can go to Minnesota, it won’t bother me. The game between Alabama and LSU is going to be played regardless of Gameday’s presence, and honestly, does it really have any bearing on the game? Most SEC matchups are pretty exciting, atmosphere-wise, except for maybe games played in Vanderbilt Stadium (sorry, Vandy, sad, but true), so having Gameday there really won’t change anything.
Agree.. just would want to see as much pregame analysis of the game as I could from the gameday crew.
As someone who grew up in Alabama, but now lives in Minneapolis, Gameday really should come to Minnesota. Yeah Gameday coming to town is cool, and the Bama-LSU is definitely a bigger game, but it is an experience that the major SEC teams get every year or at least every 2-4 years. It has never been to Minnesota. The Gophers are having a season of a lifetime (though most people here assume it will come crashing down after this game). For once, the Gophers are the hottest team in a city with every major professional sport. Everyone here is excited for them, and it would mean a heck of a lot more to the people here than to the people in Tuscaloosa to host College Gameday for the biggest game they have played in since the 1940’s.
I have no qualms with them hosting it in your neck of the woods; Gameday’s presence has no impact on the game, and it will be a chaotic scene regardless.
Yep. Go to Minneapolis! Doesn’t change the importance of the LSU-Bama game and shows a little love to the gophers. They were just at NDSU-SD, didn’t impact the WISC-tOSU or AU-LSU. Gopher it.
Agreed.
Can’t believe all of these SECers are pro-going to MN, but I’m with yall. LSU bama can’t get any bigger than it already is. Go somewhere new. That’s sort of the point of the show anyway
agree!
Where Gameday goes doesn’t really matter… If they are asking for it let them have it. It will be a big deal for their fans.
I was gonna post on this but about 20 fans beat me to it…nobody cares where gameday goes…it’s just a bunch of talk. People may switch over to watch gameday but come kickoff, 98% of the viewers will be switching over to Bama/LSU
This is an article about a show that’s about sports. It’s like the E channel but for sports.
Michael, please don’t disrespect Jimmy Hart like this anymore.
My immediate thought says LSU vs Bama, but as I reflect over the issue, it appears obvious that Minnesota should hold it. Game day has yet to visit that great university, and I for one think this to be a great chance at learning the history of this campus. Moreover, those who hold negative views on the SEC will surely voice their opinions and create havoc because of Gameday’s decision to visit a numerous amount of SEC games. Finally, it would be great to try a new angle on college football by leaving the depths of comfort in order to create a beautiful environment in a more astounding Saturday morning.
Dude stfu with that poetic bs. LSU bama will once again be a blowout so no need to have it there
Yes, bamatard. It may very well be a blowout; but if it is, it’ll be LSU on top.
Good thing for you Breezy is back and looking great, because LSUs is in for a rude awakening in 11 days.
I would love it if GameDay went to Minnesota instead Tuscaloosa. We can have LC jinxing Bama again with his headgear selection.lol No but seriously, the Gophers deserve it.
Like most people here, I couldn’t care less where Gameday goes. Pretty rare to have a #1 vs #2 matchup like Bama and LSU (but not that rare for the SEC.
And secondly, does anybody else find it weird that the Minnesota head coach seems more worried about where College Gameday will be than the undefeated Penn State team that’s headed his way?