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scott715My partner and I created the roster, scholarship management, recruiting, communications, and team forecasting software backbone for BYU Football . Tom Holmoe asked us to expand that to the entire athletic department. We are about 80% there. Our service and in-kind donation to BYU is lifetime. We will soon add elements of NCAA compliance, and financial aid, but at the moment we are most excited about integrating individual athlete marketing elements. The collaboration, consulting, and cross pollination between sports has been especially effective and it has led us to think that maybe it is time to involve cougar nation. We recognize the "hive mind" effect here on Cougarboard is powerful and we feel BYU should benefit from that.
We are seeking three things:
1. "One off" marketing pieces that will resonate with prospects on why they should play football at BYU (other sports are welcome too). Ideas that might stimulate your thinking as examples: Dennis Pitta's $35 million contract, current and consistent defensive dominance, select analyst or media quotes that are glowing representations of BYU, ways of comparing our record, exposure, rankings, etc to the whole of college football. Others might include: tangible reasons and evidence that BYU's academics and values are an opportunity that make BYU attractive and different. These obviously need to be positive pieces that don't reflect poorly on BYU in tone or message.
Those with graphic design skill might even mock one of these up?
2. Designing a process or suggestions on ways to stimulate creativity and participation while evaluating responses in an orderly fashion. Could include contest ideas (if that is the way to go), submission protocol, process for reviewing submissions, voting by fans, etc.
3. Serious proposals for legal and effective marketing tools and campaigns that take advantage of technological advances (from social media to smart phone apps etc) and current direct marketing techniques, yet aren't manipulative or invasive. Think user friendly and simple here for best effect. Coaches need things that save time not create more demands on their time.
Our efforts are strictly volunteer, and this of course will be as well. We are not a conduit for future contracts, pay, or compensation from BYU nor a means for anyone to get inside the athletic program. We don't get paid by BYU and I hope Cougarboarders will recognize this for what it is, a means to help. Negativity, criticism, frustrations, are of course a fan's privilege, however they are generally not helpful here. We built a strong relationship with the University by not telling them what to do and offering positive effective service and that is how Cougarboarders will have influence here.
While this effort will be influential on what is actually done (because our input was requested), it is not an officially sponsored nor sanctioned campaign. We are a fan based third party that happens to be included in many conversations within the athletic department and can through our tech efforts provide means to implement marketing for the various athletic teams.
I would encourage any and all that seriously want to have an impact on recruiting to research, get creative, and think hard about "why play for BYU?"
Of course all marketing will need to be within the ever changing rules of NCAA Compliance, but we will screen your suggestions for that so don't let those stifle your creativity right now.
Comment here or boardmail me. I will get back to you as I can, so recognize that if you don't hear back right away it is that I have just not gotten there yet.
Thanks in advance!