By LARRY VAUGHT
Another former University of Kentucky player wants to add his perspective on the UK football program and while he agrees with some of what another former player noted were problems with the program, he does have some different feelings.
The Kentucky native, who also asked not to be identified, listed Wisconsin, Tennessee, Nebraska, Arkansas, Boise State and Iowa as programs that make the “best with what you have got” and find ways to win.
“Could go on, but won’t waste time. Also, with UK’s tradition, it must do the little and achievable things better than programs that dedicate more money and have more in-state talent such as public relations, marketing and promotions,” the former player, who has season tickets and attends games regularly, said.
“Furthermore, I think facilities are just fine. Extending Kentucky’s football footprint could easily be accomplished by two free, achievable goals: 1. Attention to detail in all promotional matters including marketing, promotions, and public relations. 2. Having passion. I feel that most times UK’s efforts toward football are a mere mandatory must in order to check the block to move to next event.”
He vented his frustration by noting that former UK punter Ryan Tydlacka is still listed as the leading receiver in UK’s Blue-White spring game on the UK athletics website even though Tydlacka did not even play in the game — a statistical program error led to that glitch that was corrected on stats distributed to the media but apparently not on the website.
“Winning is the cure all and answer to the real problem. Hiding unhappiness and disgruntled fans by spending money on facilities is just masking the real problems that have plagued UK football for 50 years. Do and it’s done,” the player said. “Utah, Washington and Colorado, West Virginia — once championship level teams but somewhat down now — are programs from state schools that produce equal to less prospects as Kentucky.
“One could argue it’s the chicken and the egg theory, players won’t come to a non-title contending team. Well, it has to start somewhere, sometime. I don’t buy ‘it’s the way it is and always will be”’excuse about anything, including UK football. Something like 3/4 of the country’s population is within six hours of Lexington. Not sure if totally accurate, but close enough. I will never buy geography excuse.”
14 Responses to Another former UK football player would like to see better marketing, promotions for Kentucky
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I agree! We accept being poor in football, because we have always been that way! Can you imagine if Madness or Blue/ White basketball was promoted like the spring football game or other football activities? It would not be accepted by fans or the administration. It seems like we just go through the motions with football, because we have too! Proper marketing and promotion would do wonders! Use Coach Cal and the basketball players as a draw to promote the program. Fans are seeking a reason to support the football program, give them the reason and events to do so!
This is Jokers last chance, before we revert back to the four year revolving door of coaching changes that have marked UK Football for the last fifty years. It is time for a change!
Ben, taking your thoughts one step forward, I have also believed that the Spring Blue/White game should be promoted like Big Blue Madness. Could you imagine if the administration put out some money to promote it. You could invite all of the same players that are planning on attending the summer camps. Make it the first impression that the soon-to-be high school seniors get of UK. Make it a fan forward experience. Play the game at night, under the lights. Promote tailgating and have the players visit with the fans (similar to when the basketball players visit those waiting in line for Madness tickets). There are any number of things that could make just that one day special, not to mention every home game.
That is a fantastic idea! There are so many things that could energize our fan base. We need to accept nothing less than we do in Basketball. Joker is not a motivational speaker and needs someone to help promote UK Football!
Larry, thank you for obtaining the opinions from 3 former players, including one fine former center in Dave Hopewell. If some of the players prefer to be anonymous, I trust your judgment and all 3 obviously want Joker to succeed. I hope our administrators will heed the advice about promotion, plus make gameday a more pleasant experience for aging baby boomers, many who drive a long way to get there!
Tom, they all love UK and want it desperately to succeed. The two I have talked to are both Joker guys too
I agree with these comments including the responses by Ben & Tom. We have to accept the $EC geography as a fact & quit using it as an excuse. He gave some good examples of teams that have states with lesser talent but still manage to recruit well.
He also said our facilities are fine. Imagine that? The AD gave us a new scoreboard & a new sound system to make us happy. Coaches gave black uniforms to make the players happy. What will make you happy this fall? Extra butter on our popcorn is not enough. The obvious answer is more wins – How many wins – Not sure – I just want to see some progress. This former player noted that passion, enthusiasm, attention to detail, marketing, promotions, public relations, etc. are a place to start.
Another good point is that 3/4 of the U.S. population is within 6 hours of Lex.
I, too, agree with these comments. A great “untapped” resource waiting to be utilized are these same former players! Why not involve them with the Blue/White games? Fan interactions on game day???? Again, attention to detail – anybody notice the UK football twitter account? The symbol is the twitter egg. How long would it take to post a photo of an UK football helmet?!?!?!!
Great football discussions here. Pro and con. But shows one true thing — UK fans do care about football
anyone know if cal knows the game of football? basketball and football coach , now that would be something especially with the master salesman that cal is. uk football would instantly be marketable. of course just kidding , ha ha ha , …….. i think?
Your point is well taken. We do need a “Marketing Genius” for Football.
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I don’t need to know any names but do we have folks addressing these issues
about marketing and promotions for football. Do we have new people in these positions or are they the same as in years past. Promote….Promote. How about we get a council or committee together consisting of former players, students, community or interested folks to give their ideas…..and then implement them.
I agree with Tom. Someone needs to pursue these issues.
Also I think that the Job of Recruiting Coordinator is too big for one person.
And we certainly need a Marketing person (with staff) on board as well.
Most football recruiters are coaches first. They start with a recruit by trying to SELL him on their program. They forget to find out what the kid is willing to BUY . Remember when Michael Oher was being recruited in the movie The Blind Side? I know that it was only a movie but they made a great point – All of them preached about their program. None of them were able to find out what Michael wanted.
Ask – What is important to you?
-What do you do in your spare time? (Music, Art, Horses??)
-What are your academic interests?
-Who is your favorite basketball player?
Coaches also need to find out who else will contribute to the School decision.
Don’t ever make a home visit without involving the family
– Especially the mother & sometimes the Grandmothers.
Ask them the same question – What is important to you?
-Academics? Proximity? Campus Safety? Nutrition? Library? Tutoring? Helmet Safety? (The 2012 Helmet Safety results just came out – Do our coaches know which Helmets are at the top of the list?)(Do they care?)
Something will come out of these questions that you can capitalize on. When you call back, Ask; How is your Grandmother doing after her surgery? Etc. Etc.
Show a genuine interest in the players family. These are not all “Football” topics but you are getting to know the person & not just the player. At that point we now have a chance with that recruit. Remember last year when a recruit eliminated a school because it did not have his favorite fast food restaurant? Ridiculous reason -Yes, but if it was really important, show him where the nearest Chick-Filet-A is during his visit. Sorry to go on & on again – I just think we need to make the players the most important issue & not Sound Systems or video boards.
I did notice as a season ticket holder last year that I received and was able to respond on a survey on game day experience. I definitely thought this was a move in the right direction on what fans desire from the game day experience which could go a long way in getting fans to the games. It’s almost in my mind contradictory to what I experience week to week at games because I feel like the whole program revolves around marketing and promotion. Hear me out. I’m not sure who selects the game day music but it is always different and I would say does not appeal to the majority of fans and is more a reflection of what is felt to be current, trendy. We have the advertising games on the big screen with shuffled helmets. We have taken down hall of Fame names to be replaced with fancy lights which often have completely useless information that promotes more brand and less of the university. We have quirky cotton-eyed Joe dancers. We have uniforms that change yearly, or even weakly. It is nearly impossible to tailgate at UK but if you call the parking office to inquire into such matters they will boast about the fact that Common Wealth Stadium has more onsite parking than any other stadium in the SEC, which is true, but not fan friendly.
So again hear me out. We don’t lack marketing. In many ways it gets in the way. I do feel promotion of the program could be better. What we lack is any tradition or attempt at it. Other than the blue white chant and wildcat push-ups and “Another first down Kentucky!” (by the way I feel this should be expected and not an event the entire crowd is forced to celebrate, but hey when it only happens a dozen times a game!) and poorly attended Wildcat walk what do we have? The marching band does not have a single traditional song, yet something from Glee or Broadway? How about a huge UK or K marching on the field (OSU for ex)? Let’s skip the fireworks (all of them) and return to the cannon with the military there to fire it. Let’s find a uniform and stick with it. Let’s get some traditional music and give it a try. Let’s take away the Wildcat’s crazy uniforms and find something more traditional. Let’s replace parking with tailgating (I have a rather high priority ranking and I currently may not get a RV lot pass for 25 years, I’m not joking). Let’s open campus up to the game day experience and stop putting up signs that prevent tailgating, parking etc.
I challenge you to go to almost any other SEC school in the country and attend a game. You will soon see there are no flashy signs, no quirky songs, no costumes on the mascot, no change in the uniforms, no denial to tailgating and pretending grass is more important than the fan that pays for it. You will see tradition that withstands the years and brings in the crowds. UK for some reason attempts to replace tradition with marketing. I don’t want my game day to feel like a day at the amusement park. I want it to be about football. That is what UK is missing.