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The Situation
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Posted: 6/17/2012 12:53 PM
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I saw a commercial today for NC State football ( www.youtube.com/watch) that made me a little jealous. I would love for Ohio University to take notice. NC State stakes a bold claim to North Carolina, much in the same way I believe OHIO needs to claim its own state.

Does anyone know if there have been any improvements or alterations to the business model for marketing Ohio University? With all the recent success and forward changes on the fields and courts, it seems like the marketing team would want to think bigger as well.

I remember getting an email maybe a month ago about two potential commercials to air about the university. There was the option to vote for the better of the two but I never got around to watching them. Maybe people are thinking bigger...?

Anyways, I see a commitment to forward progress with the new coaching hires, increasing budgets, and facility improvements. I'm asking if someone in the know would have some insight into whats going on the marketing side that would indicate similar strides we haven't seen there in the past (ie. internet ads, billboards, radio and television commercials, etc). 
bobcat72
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Posted: 6/17/2012 3:13 PM
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Like the NC State Ad, but that sort of bold move would never happen under the current administration. I like McDavis, but he's pretty "modest mouse" with these sort of things. If we're not willing to even push the envelope with selling alcohol on campus, I doubt we're going to be sticking our nose right in the face of O$U. I'd love to see it, but it just ain't happening.

As far as marketing efforts, I think we've seen some good things from the athletics standpoint...but I never see much from the university/admissions side. I've seen a lot of ads already about football in the paper, on radio and on TV. And, from what I've heard, ticket sales are way up...I'd imagine basketball may have an even larger spike in interest/sales.

The university ad campaigns, to me, leave much to be desired. I don't get the whole "promise" thing, and the only time I ever see any of their messaging is when we're playing on TV. Maybe it's because they're not targeting us (i.e. southeast Ohio), so maybe our Columbus/Cleveland friends could shed some light on other things they might be doing.
OhioCatFan
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Posted: 6/17/2012 5:12 PM
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Oh boy, do you underestimate McDavis.  He's no "modest mouse."  When he agreed to hire Frank for more than he was making (including all possible incentives) it was a major break from the past at Ohio.  A good friend of mine at the time remarked that this was a major turning point in Ohio athletics.  As he put it, correctly in retrospect, he knew we'd never have a chance to compete at the "next level" until we had a president willing to swallow his pride and hire a coach making more money than he was making.  This friend said he never thought he'd see the day but was very happy that he had.  IMHO, McDavis ain't done yet!
Last Edited: 6/17/2012 5:14:43 PM by OhioCatFan
Deciduous Forest Cat
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Posted: 6/17/2012 6:09 PM
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Our mantra, ever since the lawsuit with douchebag U in columbus should have been "We Are Ohio".  This is a slogan that works for athletics and academics. Simple, with cachet. Why we aren't shoving this on our Tshirts and marketing the hell out of this and chanting it at football games is freaking beyond me. Marketing has been asleep at the wheel for some time now. I started to think maybe Michigan and coach meathead were doing us a favor when it seemed to pick up steam around tournament time. This needs to become a trademarked slogan of our University.
Last Edited: 6/17/2012 6:12:27 PM by Deciduous Forest Cat
David E Brightbill
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Posted: 6/17/2012 8:38 PM
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bobcat72 wrote:expand_more
Like the NC State Ad, but that sort of bold move would never happen under the current administration. I like McDavis, but he's pretty "modest mouse" with these sort of things. If we're not willing to even push the envelope with selling alcohol on campus, I doubt we're going to be sticking our nose right in the face of O$U. I'd love to see it, but it just ain't happening.

As far as marketing efforts, I think we've seen some good things from the athletics standpoint...but I never see much from the university/admissions side. I've seen a lot of ads already about football in the paper, on radio and on TV. And, from what I've heard, ticket sales are way up...I'd imagine basketball may have an even larger spike in interest/sales.

The university ad campaigns, to me, leave much to be desired. I don't get the whole "promise" thing, and the only time I ever see any of their messaging is when we're playing on TV. Maybe it's because they're not targeting us (i.e. southeast Ohio), so maybe our Columbus/Cleveland friends could shed some light on other things they might be doing.
You may have missed the fact that applications for this Fall were up very significantly and out of state admissions keep going up. The marketing campaign combined with the athletic sucess is having a major impact.
The Situation
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Posted: 6/17/2012 9:30 PM
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David E Brightbill wrote:expand_more
You may have missed the fact that applications for this Fall were up very significantly and out of state admissions keep going up. The marketing campaign combined with the athletic sucess is having a major impact.


This is essentially why I'm asking the question: What is marketing doing? Because I don't see it, hear it, or feel it from them. Maybe they're doing something well behind the scenes but I am certainly not aware of it. I know numbers are up big across the board in admissions, but to me it seems like athletics and marketing aren't putting in the same effort. It's as if they are riding a tandem bicycle, but the athletic program is doing all the work and marketing is just along for the ride, going through the motions.

My perception of how the school markets itself falls right in line with what bobcat72 said, "The university ad campaigns leave much to be desired."


The Optimist
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Posted: 6/17/2012 9:46 PM
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Deciduous Forest Cat wrote:expand_more
Our mantra, ever since the lawsuit with douchebag U in columbus should have been "We Are Ohio".  This is a slogan that works for athletics and academics. Simple, with cachet. Why we aren't shoving this on our Tshirts and marketing the hell out of this and chanting it at football games is freaking beyond me. Marketing has been asleep at the wheel for some time now. I started to think maybe Michigan and coach meathead were doing us a favor when it seemed to pick up steam around tournament time. This needs to become a trademarked slogan of our University.

Agree completely.

I like McDavis.  No doubt in my mind he loves Ohio and Ohio athletics.  I remember going to some function (bobcat bash?) before the first OSU game 4 years ago with McDavis and the governor present.  McDavis gave a rousing speech pretty much ripping OSU and declaring OHIO the real state University.  Governor was unsure what to do.  Every time I've heard McDavis since he has been similar.  The videos of his pep-talks for hoops (got national press) and football (in one of the highlight videos?) are golden.  Honestly, I wish we'd see more of that.  Even at my graduation he had a pretty fiery speaking mentality.

If we're ever going to declare a marketing war on OSU, the time is now.

If you Google McDavis one of the autocompletes is speech which is referencing one of his tourney  speeches.  I want more of this. 
Last Edited: 6/17/2012 9:56:51 PM by The Optimist
Business_Cat
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Posted: 6/18/2012 12:52 AM
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I have good and bad news: the bad news is that I spent 9 hours in JFK Airport for a layover today. The good news is that everyone I spoke with knew what school I went to when I simply said "OHIO". That includes a student from the University of Washington. Heck, I even got a "ah, go bobcats" in response. Of course, people aak where you are going for small talk, so I made sure to insert some minor bragging about our College of Business because I'm on my way to Denmark for a paid internship. And above all, I spoke modestly to best represent OHIO!!
Monroe Slavin
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Posted: 6/18/2012 1:57 AM
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Speaking of ticket sales, for football especially, I wonder how sales among the locals are doing?  How many season tix have been held by folks who live within 15-20 miles of Athens over the last few years?  What will the number be for this year?  I know that the economy is not good.  But quality ball at a very reasonable price--we should have 5-8000 local season ticket holders at least!

Gotta think that if we don't pretty quick get close to 10,000 then we'll never take Peden to 32-35k (which we may never do...).
Andrew Ruck
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Posted: 6/21/2012 9:32 AM
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Deciduous Forest Cat wrote:expand_more
Our mantra, ever since the lawsuit with douchebag U in columbus should have been "We Are Ohio".  This is a slogan that works for athletics and academics. Simple, with cachet. Why we aren't shoving this on our Tshirts and marketing the hell out of this and chanting it at football games is freaking beyond me. Marketing has been asleep at the wheel for some time now. I started to think maybe Michigan and coach meathead were doing us a favor when it seemed to pick up steam around tournament time. This needs to become a trademarked slogan of our University.


Spot on.
DayvidGallagher
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Posted: 6/21/2012 10:22 AM
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Here in Texas, A&M has a little bit of a similar spat with the University of Texas. Granted they are much closer to being on the same level compared to us and State are but that's not my point.

Here is a great piece of marketing material where A&M touts a fantastic quote "First in Texas" in a video that really embraces the whole state and the history of the university:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVpx6JN1A4U 
Monroe Slavin
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Posted: 6/23/2012 8:01 PM
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The EPIC HERO music--yeah, I want that aura surrounding me as I work and play.  My perfectly mundane life would be recognized as lofty, inspired and touched by glory of the gods with that..

Was that a Dat Nguyen shot toward the end?  (Do I have the right school?  That dude was a great college player.)
perimeterpost
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Posted: 6/23/2012 11:56 PM
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I have some friends that went to Texas A&M, they hate the Longhorns so much they mention them by name in their fight song. Notice that they call them 'Texas University' and not U of Teas, just to be dicks.

the bar has been raised gentlemen.

Quote:expand_more
Hullabaloo, Caneck! Caneck!
Hullabaloo, Caneck! Caneck!
Good-bye to Texas University
So long to the Orange and the White
Good luck to the dear old Texas Aggies
They are the boys that show the real old fight
"The eyes of Texas are upon you..."
That is the song they sing so well
So good-bye to Texas University
We're going to beat you all to--
Chig-gar-roo-gar-rem
Chig-gar-roo-gar-rem
Rough Tough! Real Stuff! Texas A & M!
OhioCatFan
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Posted: 6/24/2012 5:21 PM
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It'sAllAboutTheGreen wrote:expand_more
I have good and bad news: the bad news is that I spent 9 hours in JFK Airport for a layover today. The good news is that everyone I spoke with knew what school I went to when I simply said "OHIO". That includes a student from the University of Washington. Heck, I even got a "ah, go bobcats" in response. Of course, people aak where you are going for small talk, so I made sure to insert some minor bragging about our College of Business because I'm on my way to Denmark for a paid internship. And above all, I spoke modestly to best represent OHIO!!


I had a similar experience today in Paris, France, of all places.  This afternoon . . . on a very rainy day . . . we were on our way walking up the Chames du Elysees to the Arc d'Triumph, when we hear American voices beside us.  The man says to his wife, upon seeing our OHIO jackets . . . no "that's not Ohio State that's Ohio University."  (I assume she had asked him if our jackets represented Ohio State, but I didn't hear that part of the conversation.) Then a few seconds he later asks us, "Are you from Ohio University?"  We say, "Yes."  He says, "That's in Athens, isn't it?"  We answer affirmatively and then ask him where he's from, he says Oregon.   Bottom line: We are finally getting properly recognized as OHIO.  The branding is working, despite what you might think in Cowtown.  

Edit: I meant to add that you beat us by one hour on the layover time at JFK.  At the beginning of our trip we had an eight hour stretch between flights from Cowtown to JFK and from JFK to Reykjavik.

Last Edited: 6/24/2012 5:25:38 PM by OhioCatFan
Business_Cat
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Posted: 6/25/2012 9:04 AM
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OhioCatFan wrote:expand_more
[QUOTE=It'sAllAboutTheGreen]

Edit: I meant to add that you beat us by one hour on the layover time at JFK.  At the beginning of our trip we had an eight hour stretch between flights from Cowtown to JFK and from JFK to Reykjavik.



That's awesome. Enjoy your trip and always be reppin' OHIO. Btw, Ivo was on his local news station for an interview last week. Cool stuff
HeHateMiami
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Posted: 6/25/2012 9:47 AM
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The Situation wrote:expand_more
What is marketing doing? Because I don't see it, hear it, or feel it from them. Maybe they're doing something well behind the scenes but I am certainly not aware of it. 


Before we start evaluating the marketing that the University is putting out, we need to understand the objective of the marketing that they're putting out there. Is it name recognition? Getting more applications? More people to football/basketball games? More people tuning into those games on TV? Is it "waging war" on O$U as some posters suggest (probably not a good objective, but I see where people are coming from)? 

I'd suggest that what we're seeing/not seeing from the marketing department might be OK if we're not in the target audience for their efforts and if they have a better way of driving towards their goals. That said, I'm the same guy who has pointed out (on less of a broad, more of a specific level) that I think we're missing simple marketing opportunities at events like Bobcat Bashes and through the local Alumni Chapters, so I'm certainly not saying that the Marketing Department can't be criticized. 
The Optimist
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Posted: 6/25/2012 11:24 AM
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The University and AD have their own marketing departments, I believe.  I would think both their goals are different.
Bobcatbob
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Posted: 6/25/2012 2:34 PM
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OhioCatFan wrote:expand_more
I have good and bad news: the bad news is that I spent 9 hours in JFK Airport for a layover today. The good news is that everyone I spoke with knew what school I went to when I simply said "OHIO". That includes a student from the University of Washington. Heck, I even got a "ah, go bobcats" in response. Of course, people aak where you are going for small talk, so I made sure to insert some minor bragging about our College of Business because I'm on my way to Denmark for a paid internship. And above all, I spoke modestly to best represent OHIO!!


I had a similar experience today in Paris, France, of all places.  This afternoon . . . on a very rainy day . . . we were on our way walking up the Chames du Elysees to the Arc d'Triumph, when we hear American voices beside us.  The man says to his wife, upon seeing our OHIO jackets . . . no "that's not Ohio State that's Ohio University."  (I assume she had asked him if our jackets represented Ohio State, but I didn't hear that part of the conversation.) Then a few seconds he later asks us, "Are you from Ohio University?"  We say, "Yes."  He says, "That's in Athens, isn't it?"  We answer affirmatively and then ask him where he's from, he says Oregon.   Bottom line: We are finally getting properly recognized as OHIO.  The branding is working, despite what you might think in Cowtown.  

Edit: I meant to add that you beat us by one hour on the layover time at JFK.  At the beginning of our trip we had an eight hour stretch between flights from Cowtown to JFK and from JFK to Reykjavik.


Met a UM grad at a golf course in Albuquerque last week.  Upon seeing my green and white paw print cap, without prompting he said to me"  "Oh, the real Ohio, right?"  Priceless memory because it occured in front of a huge OSU fan (friend).
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