OU basketball marketing continues to be "meh"

[Sam]

This is the flyer they are using around the Norman campus to promote the upcoming alumni game.

While its nice for those well versed in the history of Sooner Basketball to see faces like Alvan Adams, Skeeter Henry, Brent Price etc on the flyer. I dont believe those individuals with that knowledge are the target demographic of this flyer.

Is the flyer not about getting regular students to notice the game and want to attend?

I don't see how this flyer does that, as it doesn't do much to grab a students attention nor make him or her give it a second glance.

OU has one of the most recognizable faces in the NBA right now in Blake Griffin. Why not play up that aspect? Instead of tucking Blake away toward the bottom left of the flyer, why not make him the focal point?

I've seen more Clippers gear in Oklahoma during this past year than I ever thought possible. That has happened for one reason and one reason alone. Yet, this flyer shows that OU marketing is ignoring that one reason.

Why not throw this picture on the flyer and have it take up most the page?

It makes no sense for marketing to not play up the Blake Griffin aspect.

When it comes to marketing Sooner basketball, Griffin is the biggest and best playing card OU has. He's a regular on Sportscenter and even many "football only fans" are quite aware of his accomplishments. At the very least they've seen him jump high and throw a ball through a metal cylinder a few times on TV.

Kruger has made a great effort to get the students involved but if OU's own marketing continues to miss the mark (see many of the TV commercials for last season), most of his effort will be for naught.

(For those paranoid, I'm not taking a shot at the fellow players on the flyer. They're all great players but come on man.

I'm just stating my belief that for average joe college students, the other players don't care near the weight in promotion that Blake does right now.)

 

[garyeb2]

Geez Sam. Isn't that being just alittle too critical. The event is for the purpose of honoring the 2004 final 4 team. Not Blake's elite 8.

I don't know the final count. But, they will need morning and afternoon shot gun starts to accomodate the $200 entry fee Tip in Club members coming in for the golf. It seems like this event is targeted more toward the financial supporters of the team. That group would probably have a good deal of appreciation for the players from Alvin and forward.

While Blake will be in attendence, and he is certainly the current star. There is no obligation by him to actually play. And if he does, It might not be for very long. To put the focal point on him for this event, is in my opinion, missing the point. And of course, with all due respect.

 

[Tony]

The event is for the purpose of honoring the 2004 final 4 team.

It was the 2002 team that made the final four, and I don't believe that is the purpose of holding the alumni weekend.

In any event, Sam is talking about targeting the students with this flyer. I don't think it's a huge stretch to say the player that most current students would be most motivated to go see is Blake Griffin. He's not saying the whole weekend should be about Blake Griffin.

 

[garyeb2]

It was the 2002 team that made the final four, and I don't believe that is the purpose of holding the alumni weekend.

In any event, Sam is talking about targeting the students with this flyer. I don't think it's a huge stretch to say the player that most current students would be most motivated to go see is Blake Griffin. He's not saying the whole weekend should be about Blake Griffin.

Yea, I know. Tenth aniversery. I don't type so good. And I'm just saying that I don't think getting the students to the gym for a free basketball game is ever what this event was about. It is about getting the doners rejuiced.

And for me, I've seen Blake play recently. Hollis and the others would be more fun for some. That's all

 

[Tony]

And I'm just saying that I don't think getting the students to the gym for a free basketball game is ever what this event was about.

Neither is anyone else in this thread.

 

[Sam]

And I'm just saying that I don't think getting the students to the gym for a free basketball game is ever what this event was about.

A recurring theme through every interview, fluff piece, I've seen about Kruger since he's stepped foot on campus has been student involvement.

This is the first basketball related event of the Kruger era and this specific flyer is targeted directly to the students. I just believe that similar OU's marketing presence on campus in recent years, its lackluster.

Overall the event is about the donors, I agree. Its called alumni weekend, for a reason.

But at the same time, if the words spoken about the importance of students at the LNC are true, then why not use the event to gain traction on that?

Its going to be a long battle to get OU students involved and every little bit counts. This flyer miss the student mark. It doesn't do much to stand out to the students or even motivate to come to the event.

If the words you type are true and this is an alumni targeted only event, then I think all the words spewed on and on about the need for student involvement with the program by Kruger and co., were for naught.

Because here is a chance to get students out to the LNC, to get them interested in Sooner Hoops and they're going to ignore that just to get the alumni more involved?

This isn't a case or one or the other, there is no reason for them not to market this game to current students and the alumni.

I just think this is a bad way to start the marketing to the students of the Kruger era. The importance of the students was harped on all spring and summer, and their first product geared to the students is weak.

If OU is to really change the culture to the students like Kruger wishes, not only do they need to be winners on the court. They need to be winners at marketing the product as well.

 

[MsProudSooner]

How do you know they aren't sending mass emails to the students or making the rounds of the fraternities and sororities?

What do you think they should do in addition?

 

[Tony]

What do you think they should do in addition?

Use the appearance of Blake Griffin as the focal point for marketing to the students. I thought's that's what he was saying from the original post, anyway.

 

[Sooner_In_MI]

How do you know they aren't sending mass emails to the students or making the rounds of the fraternities and sororities?

What do you think they should do in addition?

Just opened my OU Email, opened up the mass email "This Weekend @ Your University" and they didn't have the alumni game in the list of activities...what a joke.

 

[MsProudSooner]

Just opened my OU Email, opened up the mass email "This Weekend @ Your University" and they didn't have the alumni game in the list of activities...what a joke.

I was thinking of emails to the students.

 

[SoonerZona]

I hear that SportsTalk 1400 is going to be out there 2 hours before the tip off interviewing all the former players before hand. So I am going to tune in since I can't make it to the game and see who they all have on. I think it would be a great thing to go see if I could get down there.

 

[OUhoops11]

I seriously doubt that Blake is actually going to participate in the game itself. He may throw down a couple of dunks but I can't imagine he's going to risk any injury. So I doubt the marketing people could really play up that aspect too much.

 

[campbest]

Most students aren't going to connect with anything more than a few years ago...the 2002 Final Four team is such an after thought in their minds. This is an event to celebrate OU's program (for those who remember) and get some money in the door. Why not Blake Griffin a cornerstone of the flyer? Because you are basically downplaying all the other players who will be in attendance, last time I checked BG didn't make a Final Four...Hollis, Quannas and Ace did.

Furthermore, trying to get the students jacked for basketball when we are a week away from the first kick-off isn't probably the best time to go about it. Wait until football gets in a groove, students have been on campus a while and then make a bball push. A basketball drive for the students in late August is going to fall on many deaf ears given the program's pitiful performance the past couple years.

In the end though, if you want attendance (student, alumni, whatever) just win. There is only so much you can do to attract people to your venue if your team is one of the worst in high major D-I. Until that trend is bucked, you're fighting an uphill battle.

 

[MsProudSooner]

I seriously doubt that Blake is actually going to participate in the game itself. He may throw down a couple of dunks but I can't imagine he's going to risk any injury. So I doubt the marketing people could really play up that aspect too much.

I agree. Maybe he could officiate or coach one of the teams.

 

[OUhoops11]

The fact of the matter is regardless of the flyers, if you love OU basketball and its history/tradition, you will be at the alumni game. If you don't, then you probably will not be at the alumni game. Certainly, Coach Kruger's extensive efforts to create excitement will help (hopefully significantly, but this remains to be seen). However, the fact remains - most of the students who Kruger has been talking to were approximately 10 years old during the 2002 run to the Final Four. And while Hollis, Ace, Ebi, Kelvin, etc. are legends to real OU basketball fans, very few current students would recognize their pictures or be able to give any detail about that season.


I'm not even sure how many students would show up to an OU football alumni game if it was held independently of any other event, such as the R&W game. Do current students really remember guys like Quentin Griffin, Rocky Calmus, etc.? Sure, the hardcore fans do, but how many students really care or recognize the greatness of those college athletes?

 

[boksooner]

I don't think some of you are giving students enough credit. With the right marketing, a lot of students would go to this event. Are you really telling me that you people have no memory of sports from when you were 10-12 years old? If they are OU basketball fans or there parents are, then they remember the 2002 FF.

 

[OUhoops11]

I don't think some of you are giving students enough credit. With the right marketing, a lot of students would go to this event. Are you really telling me that you people have no memory of sports from when you were 10-12 years old? If they are OU basketball fans or there parents are, then they remember the 2002 FF.

I don't think the students have earned any credit.


And I certainly don't believe that OU has incorrectly marketed this event. Coach Kruger has gone to lengths we've never seen before at OU, students and alumni both.

 

[Sooner_In_MI]

In the end though, if you want attendance (student, alumni, whatever) just win. There is only so much you can do to attract people to your venue if your team is one of the worst in high major D-I. Until that trend is bucked, you're fighting an uphill battle.

I agree with this

 

[WTSooner]

Some of you just like to complain. About anything. Geez.

Simply HAVING this event is light years ahead of anything OU basketball has done in some time. Can't we focus on the positive?

 

[Tony]

Can't we focus on the positive?

Hilarious.