When ESPN brings College GameDay to a campus, you’re expected to see a lot of people in the school’s colors and maybe a sprinkling of the visiting school’s colors.
College GameDay is in Columbus this weekend for the monumental matchup between #2 Penn State and #6 Ohio State. While many expected to see red or blue throughout the crowd, there was a lot of black and gold instead.
Columbus residents and Columbus Crew SC fans went to root for their Buckeyes today but took the opportunity to spread awareness about their soccer team as they have been in the process of moving to Austin, Texas.
The signage was noticeable and is a further example that Crew fans, and fans of other MLS teams, will not be silenced about the potential move of the first team in MLS.
#SaveTheCrew has shown up in force at College Gameday. pic.twitter.com/esoqPTZsDr
— The Ozone (@theozonedotnet) October 28, 2017
https://twitter.com/iconicnorth/status/924234421296910337
30 mins til @CollegeGameDay! How do you like these metrics!? #SaveTheCrew pic.twitter.com/e0tuLb0pEJ
— GCGBAG ☆☆☆ (@gcgbag96) October 28, 2017
Hope @APrecourt is watching College Gameday. @Save_The_Crew #SaveTheCrew pic.twitter.com/VgYaIHSOna
— Jonathan Smith (@DegenerateTBone) October 28, 2017
Looking good out there on #CollegeGameDay!#SaveTheCrew pic.twitter.com/TAsTgzdsXt
— Thed20Shuffle!
(@rayhaas42) October 28, 2017
https://twitter.com/Livia429/status/924266063470219264
Also a ton of support for the #SaveTheCrew movement @CollegeGameDay. #GameDaySigns pic.twitter.com/4p0g4SODCN
— clevelanddotcom (@clevelanddotcom) October 28, 2017
https://twitter.com/CrewGuyEd/status/924273012177850368
Might've jumped the gun earlier. Most signs at @CollegeGameDay are in support of the Columbus Crew and the #SaveTheCrew movement. pic.twitter.com/BBJW27AKdF
— clevelanddotcom (@clevelanddotcom) October 28, 2017
Evil (not very) genius @APrecourt invents weather machine, tries to stop #SaveTheCrew movement in @CollegeGameDay… Its not working. pic.twitter.com/IguYovm6KZ
— Jamie (@jbgrube21) October 28, 2017
Impressive turn out by Columbus Crew fans determined to prevent relocation of the MLS Team to Austin. #SaveTheCrew at #GameDaySigns pic.twitter.com/0rmCQfxh6m
— RedditCFB (@RedditCFB) October 28, 2017
This #GameDaySign is pure genius!! #SaveTheCrew pic.twitter.com/4kNA8hoylc
— Devon Wozniak (@devon_wozniak) October 28, 2017
Columbus loves the Crew. #SaveTheCrew the loyalty of those fans is insane they can NOT move to Austin. pic.twitter.com/PqvqmetkZN
— Heather Rees (@heathrrees) October 28, 2017
Crew fans have done more advertising and marketing in the last week with far less resources than Precourt has since 2013 #savethecrew pic.twitter.com/AEjpovnYCG
— Chris
(@CL4310) October 28, 2017
The team has had an eventful couple weeks. Fans have been angry at owner Anthony Precourt for moving the team, as he issued a very tone deaf response on Twitter and then finally offering refunds to season ticket holders for 2018 after originally taking deposits before the news of the potential move.
But amid all that, the Columbus Crew hasn’t lost since August 5 and survived an MLS Game of the Year contender defeating Atlanta United in penalties in one of the greatest 0-0 games I have ever seen. Now, Columbus faces New York City FC in the Conference Semifinals.
The Crew may not have been on the mind of the experts as a favorite to win the MLS Cup but they have the best form of any team out there. And if they were to win, they would defeat four of the best teams in MLS. Crew fans haven’t given up on their team and they have shown that on and off the field. Their owner may have given up but the fans sure as hell haven’t.