GameDay's Behind-the-Scenes Crew Brings College Football to Life
For millions of college football fans, Saturday mornings are not complete without tuning into College GameDay Built by The Home Depot. What they don't see is the crew behind the scenes that makes it all possible.
With over 130 people involved in its production, College GameDay has become one of sports television's most ambitious weekly productions. Its 40th season kicked off this week with a milestone - its 500th show on the road.
Judi Weiss, Sr. Manager of Remote Operations and a 16-year GameDay veteran, describes the experience as 'putting on a concert every week.' The crew's footprint has grown exponentially over the years, from a pop-up tent to a multi-stage operation with a demo field, bleachers, and multiple branded sponsor areas.
Daniel Reifert, Sr. Remote Operations Producer, started as a runner at the SEC Championship in 2008 and has been leading the operation for nearly two decades. Jake Daigle, Remote Operations Specialist, began his journey as a local utility hire during the 2012 National Championship and is now helping to manage the technical side of the show.
'For as big as it is, it's extremely efficient,' Daigle says. 'Everybody who's here wants to be here. It really is a labor of love.'