2017 vs. Villanova Wildcats
- Extent:
- 14 posters
- Scope and content:
-
The 2017 GameDay posters primarily focus on James Madison University's strength as a team, and school, over Villanova. Using viral internet images popular in 2017, they center on the inferiority of the Villanova team when being compared to James Madison University. These viral images, often called memes, are variously displaying James Madison University's "superior taste" in all regards. Calling attention to Villanova's cost of tuition and low football game attendance rates, the majority of the posters purport that James Madison University will defeat them. One poster references an inside joke to James Madison University students about how Villanova will lose the football game because they are not fans of the correct condiment. There are some posters that center less on the animosity of the two teams and instead are saying hello to friends and family.
- Biographical / historical:
-
The 2017 choice for GameDay was heavily influenced by online presence from the university and their long winning streak. With the popularization of social media, online attention from universities have become an easy way to get recognized, and from this, receive opportunities such as GameDay. The strategy for James Madison University was to lay the groundwork throughout their season while also maintaining a strong online presence in order to be considered. The Breeze, James Madison University's school newspaper, posted an article on September 21, 2017 laying out the strategy in place to secure a second year of hosting College GameDay. Part of the university's strategy included ensuring that James Madison University remained undefeated, that Villanova remained undefeated, and that the "JMU Nation must continue to nag College GameDay on social media." Ultimately, James Madison University went on to have the nation's longest winning streak, 17 games, in the lead up to ESPN College GameDay. On Sunday, October 8, 2017 ESPN officially announced that James Madison University would host GameDay on Saturday, October 14, 2017.
Access and use
- Location of collection:
-
Second Floor Room 203, MSC 1704Carrier LibraryJames Madison University880 Madison DriveHarrisonburg, VA 22807
- Contact for questions and access:
- POC: Tiffany ColeEmail: coletw@jmu.eduPhone: (540) 568-3444Email: library-special@jmu.eduPhone: (540) 568-3612Fax: (540) 568-3405
- Parent restrictions:
- Collection is open for research. Researchers must register and agree to copyright and privacy laws before using this collection. Please contact Research Services staff before visiting the James Madison University Special Collections Library to use this collection.
- Parent terms of access:
- The copyright interests in this collection have not been transferred to the James Madison University Special Collections Library. For more information, contact the Special Collections Library Reference Desk (library-special@jmu.edu).