I applaud you for out-of-the-box thinking. And, contrary to some poster's believe you're inference of 'missing' the boat was correct for, at least, the 30 and over crowd. As for unwavering marketing, I'm fairly certain 100% of you people out there have purchased a product from a company that is ranked in the bottom 10% of quality in their respective industry. And while I'm a constant critic of this company, I can't help but marvel at their marketing. In fact, I'll go so far as to say over 50% of you swear by this product. Truly sad, but a perfect analogy to a 'world-wide' marketing strategy. 'Agriculture' is one of the few industries left in the United States which the world admires and wants. 'Cyclones' are the most powerful force in nature (yes, bigger than earthquakes). 'Loyalty' is something no one but yourself can change. 'Education' is the only thing in life someone can not take away from you. If we want 'exposure' outside of Iowa, it begins with ideas like the poster presented and premises like I mentioned above.
Some of those things are more just hair-brained ideas than legitimate missed opportunities. Sorry, but Jason Momoa and an Aquaman themed uniform would be ridiculed and go over worse than the bugle tornado.
IMO, we've only really missed opportunities on a few things:
IMO, we've only really missed opportunities on a few things:
- A legitimate tornado logo - the bugle is an unmitigated disaster
- More promotion of the fact that Jack Trice Stadium is the only D1 stadium named after an African America. I'm shocked that this isn't something mentioned on TV during every ISU broadcast.
- Some kind of documentary on Jack Trice and the naming of the stadium. With all of the 30 for 30 stuff and the amount of well done docs on Netflix, I'm very surprised this story hasn't been done justice.
Thanks for input. Thoughts to your thoughts.
I don't think ISU is phasing out Jack Trice, but obviously think more can be done by taking his story national. I've written plenty on this specific topic, so won't rehash.
Why is Iowa's logo available on much more merchandise than ISU's logo? (Hint: not all licensing departments are created equal.)
The cartoon characters was in reference to Space Jam, which was full of animated characters.
I've also said ISU should develop Cy into an animated character. I mean, so many cartoons were created to sell toys (GI JOE, Transformers, etc.) why not be the first university to create a cartoon to sell a school/merchandise? Now that's thinking outside the box.
Breon Ansley/Mr. Olympia & Jared Homan/Victoria's Secret are two simple examples of using ISU alumnus to plug into some incredibly diverse and passionate fan bases that don't know anything about ISU. That's the point.
Aquaman is now Jason Momoa's most famous role as seen by the WHOLE family. Imagine the cohesiveness of having Momoa perhaps visit the football team this spring and give a talk about handling success and fame, then for the potential Gameday game, the team could wear all white uniforms with a clear/white/silver Cyclone logo on the helmet (waterspout) and have Momoa wearing it on the show for his 10 million followers to see. Do you think there is a SMIDGEN of a possibility that would raise ISU's profile and merchandise sales?
What do you think about Jamie's position that ISU has done enough for Jack Trice then? Does that sound like someone eager to keep perpetuating his legacy?
No way to an Aquaman themed uniform. Do this: all whites with a white Cyclone on white helmet. Call it an AQUA CYCLONE, aka waterspout.
Kind of a catch-22 with Jack Trice's story. If ISU shared his legacy more, it would cause his story to be told by the big names out there, hence sharing his legacy more.
Sounds like someone that needs his mind changed (if that is even a hard position). Never found JP to be unreasonable, and there is time to get it done.
If Prohm and the boys find themselves atop the conference standings on March 9th, I will personally forgive the administration for failing to get the I-STATE logo on Project Runway.
Iowa's tigerhawk turns 40 this year. Fry developed it to change the look and turn the corner on the program. They started to have sustained success so it stuck. How many "turns of the corner" has ISU had to have in that time and how many new logos? If ISU had seen success with the tornado logo of the 80's ISU would probably still be using it and you would see it on a lot more merchandise. In addition there would for years have been a reliable huge fanbase that manufacturers know would buy ISU gear. Iowa has had more t-shirt fans for years that will buy product. If I am going to make something and one fanbase historically will buy 500 units and the other will buy 1500 units, I'm going for the latter. ISU is starting to catch up but there is a lot of inertia to overcome.
It's not that I don't agree with some of what you said here but it's more (although you lost me with the body builder or Jared Homan on a Netflix doc..) ....these seem like petty complaints. Pollard and the ISU marketing dept. have done a fantastic job marketing ISU. We are light years ahead of where we were just 10-15-20 years ago. Maybe start any post like this recognizing the job that's been done and continues to get done and then go in to ideas to make it even better? Seems like your not a huge Pollard fan and considering while not perfect by any stretch he's one of the best things to ever happen to ISU athletics...seems like a bad flex.
The best marketing for the athletics program is winning. The things you mention either do not matter or do not matter a lot, proportionally, to winning on the field.
Personally, I'd rather be known for winning the right way than losing while being more visible.
Personally, I'd rather be known for winning the right way than losing while being more visible.
The last thing I want on college gameday is a kid who grew up in Iowa as a Hok fan being our guest picker. Unless it is a sure-fire Cyclone- I'd rather they go get someone random.
I appreciate the feedback. Internet is serious business.
This is all true, but not what I refer to. Put it this way: my experiences with the licensing departments of USC, Iowa, and ISU were all different.
Weird flex, but ok.
In all seriousness, the only time in any of my Kagavi stories I directly opined on JP's performance was in my 2016 branding story when I wrote:
I've also wrote elsewhere on CF about the Bugle logo, which I hated:
And this:
Wanting to shoot for the stars doesn't mean I'm unhappy with earth.
This is all true, but not what I refer to. Put it this way: my experiences with the licensing departments of USC, Iowa, and ISU were all different.
Weird flex, but ok.
In all seriousness, the only time in any of my Kagavi stories I directly opined on JP's performance was in my 2016 branding story when I wrote:
"Jamie Pollard’s excellent, tireless leadership has transformed Iowa State and the evidence is everywhere: Cyclones.tv, landmark upsets, bowled-in stadium and facilities."
I've also wrote elsewhere on CF about the Bugle logo, which I hated:
"Jamie Pollard and his team have been fantastic for Iowa State. Full stop.
The AD is often in an impossible position, because they can never make everyone happy. The reintroduction of a Cyclone logo was a huge step, because it represented a small seismic shift in becoming more open to ideas floating around, especially with ISU's inherent disadvantages."
The AD is often in an impossible position, because they can never make everyone happy. The reintroduction of a Cyclone logo was a huge step, because it represented a small seismic shift in becoming more open to ideas floating around, especially with ISU's inherent disadvantages."
And this:
"I understand the sentiment here, I really do, but I think the AD should be applauded for trying something different."
Wanting to shoot for the stars doesn't mean I'm unhappy with earth.
Considering all the "We need a new uniform with gold lame' stripes and a white helmet with a slightly different shade of red," I find these ideas at least thought provoking. More than the millionth uniform thread.
That may be true, but you use a comparison of ISU merchandise and Iowa merchandise as evidence for how ISU's professionals aren't up to snuff with Iowa's. I am just pointing out that that isn't really a fair comparison based on the merch when the history is stacked against ISU for the reasons I laid out.
I generally love your takes on things but I think a good portion of what you laid out here is just a reach.
Have a great day!
One more post then I'm going back to my cave.
The intent of my post was to discuss unconventional ideas and "Blue Sky Concept" things. Gotta get through 100 bad ideas to unearth 10 gems. Why play it safe?
I hated the bugle logo yet loved ISU coming out with it. Why stop there? Come up with more versions of the Cyclone logo as one-off ideas. Let the market speak. If one rises to the top, run with it.
It's like the tech companies that have secret labs dedicated to "moon shot" projects. Why not translate that to college? Who says higher education will look the same in 50 years when things like the Kahn Academy are around?
Couldn't Cyclones.TV show more than just sports? Why not have students create actual shows, cartoons, etc. for the channel (within the budget constraints). Would be a great breeding ground for weird concepts to take root.
With my quick examples, I have never seen any of Jason Momoa's films/shows, nor do I shop at Victoria's Secret, nor do I follow the bodybuilding scene. However, I recognize there are significant subcultural scenes that follow each of those. There's more out there.
Take ISU's leadership in the agricultural world--why not come up with ISU food truck concepts that feed off of cutting edge food research? Find a perky ISU student and hire them to go across the country narrating this and put it on Cyclones.TV.
Combine some aspects of the engineering/VR and Design departments to create an department dedicated to creating apps and games for phones and tablets. What if one of them hit on the scale of Fortnite?
Use the architecture and engineering programs to create a custom 3D robot and send it to the moon to start building a moon base. Hire Clayton Anderson to oversee this and ask Boeing to sponsor the effort.
Gaining a following in pop culture can allow an institution to pull off some audacious feats. It's not simply about getting the latest celebrity to wear an ISU hat. Bigger picture. If Jason Momoa starts repping ISU, maybe another Hollywood type looks into the Jack Trice story, and a movie finally comes out.
The intent of my post was to discuss unconventional ideas and "Blue Sky Concept" things. Gotta get through 100 bad ideas to unearth 10 gems. Why play it safe?
I hated the bugle logo yet loved ISU coming out with it. Why stop there? Come up with more versions of the Cyclone logo as one-off ideas. Let the market speak. If one rises to the top, run with it.
It's like the tech companies that have secret labs dedicated to "moon shot" projects. Why not translate that to college? Who says higher education will look the same in 50 years when things like the Kahn Academy are around?
Couldn't Cyclones.TV show more than just sports? Why not have students create actual shows, cartoons, etc. for the channel (within the budget constraints). Would be a great breeding ground for weird concepts to take root.
With my quick examples, I have never seen any of Jason Momoa's films/shows, nor do I shop at Victoria's Secret, nor do I follow the bodybuilding scene. However, I recognize there are significant subcultural scenes that follow each of those. There's more out there.
Take ISU's leadership in the agricultural world--why not come up with ISU food truck concepts that feed off of cutting edge food research? Find a perky ISU student and hire them to go across the country narrating this and put it on Cyclones.TV.
Combine some aspects of the engineering/VR and Design departments to create an department dedicated to creating apps and games for phones and tablets. What if one of them hit on the scale of Fortnite?
Use the architecture and engineering programs to create a custom 3D robot and send it to the moon to start building a moon base. Hire Clayton Anderson to oversee this and ask Boeing to sponsor the effort.
Gaining a following in pop culture can allow an institution to pull off some audacious feats. It's not simply about getting the latest celebrity to wear an ISU hat. Bigger picture. If Jason Momoa starts repping ISU, maybe another Hollywood type looks into the Jack Trice story, and a movie finally comes out.
The Alumni building south of CY Stephens has all sorts of ISU stuff. Not a full museum really but some artifacts.
Always provocative in ways that help Iowa State honor its heritage, develop its brand, and improve its design.
Please post more often.
