Behind the scenes with ESPN Images as College GameDay goes west, features North Dakota State

FARGO, N.D. — Lee Fitting, senior coordinating producer College GameDay Built by The Home Depot, challenged his production team to “think outside the box” last week as it planned a show around North Dakota State University, the two-time defending Football Championship Subdivision champions.

An advance team from the production and ops crew arrived in Fargo on Sunday, Sept. 15, to scout locations. The remainder of the team arrived by Wednesday evening. The show chose to use the Fargo Theatre as the backdrop and thousands of locals of all ages showed up in support.

The resulting show in downtown Fargo Sept. 21 gave fans, locals and students the chance to celebrate GameDay, as documented in Allen Kee’s images above.

Bison head coach Craig Bohl arrived via golf cart with the team’s mascot. Former NDSU and Buffalo Bills star Phil Hansen predicted a Bison victory over visiting Delaware State — as did GameDay analyst Lee Corso. North Dakota State didn’t disappoint, winning 51-0.

This Saturday, the GameDay crew visits Athens, Ga., home of the University of Georgia, to preview the Bulldogs’ SEC matchup with visiting LSU (ESPN, 9 a.m.-noon).