Don't kill the messenger on this one, just sharing a nugget that the board will probably find interesting.
My longtime friend and fellow Vol fan got a call last night from his buddy who works in a Mahnattan-based pr/marketing firm. I believe it's called something like Sochi and Sochi? That's what it sounded like. My friend's buddy the PR exec said that they were approached by UTAD for 2 reasons:
1. Assess the level of discontent within the fanbase, and from that baseline
2...Design a remediation plan for CBJ that would include all forms of media, public speaking, etc.
Apparently UTAD recognizes the handwriting on the wall for CBJ as far as NOT being the right longterm answer, but they're exploring the possibility of keeping him next year, and the shocker, potentially the year after (granting him 1 year extension for recruiting).
So the firm comes back and says in very fancy PR-speak something to the tune of "the fans are pretty pissed" but they follow with a remediation plan that they maintain could turn the tide in terms of public perception. For anyone reading this with any: diagnosed mental disorders, pacemakers, or any acute illnesses, I recommend not reading further, and if you CHOOSE to continue, you indemnify me and the parent company of this message board (kidding ...sort of) because this doesnt sound good at all.
Here goes:
1. Butch would undergo extensive media training to help him in the offseason and '18 season. PR exec said specifically they'll train him to say less in general, use less cliches, and use language that "bridges him to his audience" (whatever that means).
2. Butch would host a Vol Fan Town Hall where he would address the tough questions from fans. Here's the catch. This firm would essentially pick or 'seed' the audience and Butch would have access to the questions before-hand. The idea is this event would give fans a chance to clear the air, which in principle is much needed, but this method of doing so leaves much to be desired.
3. UTAD will enlist Peyton and other former greats and embark on a very significant social media advertising campaign. We're talking 6 to 7 figures, using facebook twitter and instagram to portray CBJ more favorably, including exposing his human side and as mentioned, conveying key endorsements.
3B. With the 'savings' of retaining CBJ, Butch would have a handsome budget to hire the very best OC available. According to this narrative, that was Butch's main stumbling block, and honestly the last 2 years is proof that with the right QB + the right OC, we're pretty damn good on offense. Still, i think we also have some global type issues, and I don't think a new OC + an elaborate PR campaign is going to solve that. Because our offense has been so piss poor, the PR firm would blast our new star OC's mug throughout social media and try to elevate the public's perception of that side of the ball.
4. The Spring Game would be part scrimmage part fan circus...literally. This firm cited the Vegas casino Circus Circus which smartly extends scores of family entertainment to vacationers with the intention of getting parents in the door to gamble at the casino. While this sounds like a weird analogy, keep in mind that these guys are paid big bucks for being creative (re: weird). The firm wants to capitalize on Butch's family guy persona, and do something similar to Circus Circus, starting with the Spring Game. Ideas: petting zoo for kids outside Neyland, dunking booths with rival mascots. Inside stadium: face-painting booths, "many" Smokey mascots roaming around to entertain many sections, etc. So its about winning the kids over, and positioning games as 'family entertainment' (which would have entertainment value above and beyond the actual game, win or lose).
I asked why we wouldn't just go ahead and make a change. Here's what i got back:
1. Butch has had recent success and there's no sure-bet who would say yes and be an upgrade.
2. With so many moving and new parts in the AD and administration, it's going to be hard to make a change, and that buying time for more stability is a better option than making a rash decision.
3. Infighting between AD and academics who are saying "we're tired of spending millions on coaches to make them go away - its wasteful and it tarnishes our academic reputation."
I'm of the opinion that we need to make a change and swing for the fences. I think the direction outlined above while it does perhaps "buy us time" it would also cost us a lot of money in the long run. Secondly - I have a huge problem with the firm who's assessing the public perception of our program ALSO being tasked to remedy it; that's such an obvious conflict of interest, but based on the last decade, is anyone really that surprised?
To be clear, I do not believe that Currie is necessarily sold on this approach yet but it's actively being considered, and some decision makers appear to favor this course of action because it's lower risk for the university at this specific point in time.
My longtime friend and fellow Vol fan got a call last night from his buddy who works in a Mahnattan-based pr/marketing firm. I believe it's called something like Sochi and Sochi? That's what it sounded like. My friend's buddy the PR exec said that they were approached by UTAD for 2 reasons:
1. Assess the level of discontent within the fanbase, and from that baseline
2...Design a remediation plan for CBJ that would include all forms of media, public speaking, etc.
Apparently UTAD recognizes the handwriting on the wall for CBJ as far as NOT being the right longterm answer, but they're exploring the possibility of keeping him next year, and the shocker, potentially the year after (granting him 1 year extension for recruiting).
So the firm comes back and says in very fancy PR-speak something to the tune of "the fans are pretty pissed" but they follow with a remediation plan that they maintain could turn the tide in terms of public perception. For anyone reading this with any: diagnosed mental disorders, pacemakers, or any acute illnesses, I recommend not reading further, and if you CHOOSE to continue, you indemnify me and the parent company of this message board (kidding ...sort of) because this doesnt sound good at all.
Here goes:
1. Butch would undergo extensive media training to help him in the offseason and '18 season. PR exec said specifically they'll train him to say less in general, use less cliches, and use language that "bridges him to his audience" (whatever that means).
2. Butch would host a Vol Fan Town Hall where he would address the tough questions from fans. Here's the catch. This firm would essentially pick or 'seed' the audience and Butch would have access to the questions before-hand. The idea is this event would give fans a chance to clear the air, which in principle is much needed, but this method of doing so leaves much to be desired.
3. UTAD will enlist Peyton and other former greats and embark on a very significant social media advertising campaign. We're talking 6 to 7 figures, using facebook twitter and instagram to portray CBJ more favorably, including exposing his human side and as mentioned, conveying key endorsements.
3B. With the 'savings' of retaining CBJ, Butch would have a handsome budget to hire the very best OC available. According to this narrative, that was Butch's main stumbling block, and honestly the last 2 years is proof that with the right QB + the right OC, we're pretty damn good on offense. Still, i think we also have some global type issues, and I don't think a new OC + an elaborate PR campaign is going to solve that. Because our offense has been so piss poor, the PR firm would blast our new star OC's mug throughout social media and try to elevate the public's perception of that side of the ball.
4. The Spring Game would be part scrimmage part fan circus...literally. This firm cited the Vegas casino Circus Circus which smartly extends scores of family entertainment to vacationers with the intention of getting parents in the door to gamble at the casino. While this sounds like a weird analogy, keep in mind that these guys are paid big bucks for being creative (re: weird). The firm wants to capitalize on Butch's family guy persona, and do something similar to Circus Circus, starting with the Spring Game. Ideas: petting zoo for kids outside Neyland, dunking booths with rival mascots. Inside stadium: face-painting booths, "many" Smokey mascots roaming around to entertain many sections, etc. So its about winning the kids over, and positioning games as 'family entertainment' (which would have entertainment value above and beyond the actual game, win or lose).
I asked why we wouldn't just go ahead and make a change. Here's what i got back:
1. Butch has had recent success and there's no sure-bet who would say yes and be an upgrade.
2. With so many moving and new parts in the AD and administration, it's going to be hard to make a change, and that buying time for more stability is a better option than making a rash decision.
3. Infighting between AD and academics who are saying "we're tired of spending millions on coaches to make them go away - its wasteful and it tarnishes our academic reputation."
I'm of the opinion that we need to make a change and swing for the fences. I think the direction outlined above while it does perhaps "buy us time" it would also cost us a lot of money in the long run. Secondly - I have a huge problem with the firm who's assessing the public perception of our program ALSO being tasked to remedy it; that's such an obvious conflict of interest, but based on the last decade, is anyone really that surprised?
To be clear, I do not believe that Currie is necessarily sold on this approach yet but it's actively being considered, and some decision makers appear to favor this course of action because it's lower risk for the university at this specific point in time.
