Gameday Host

[cycloneworld]

I know people are unhappy with Jackie's efforts to date, but I want to say her heart is in the right place. I was her assistant softball coach in 1988-89. She is essentially the same person today as she was as a nine year old. She was outspoken and emotional and very supportive of her teammates. She was energetic and a character. We were losing a lot, but her parents, along with a couple of other families, backed us up when others wanted us to be replaced. I know it is hard to see, but Jackie signed the 1989 team softball I still possess. Give her a chance.

I’m confident in saying that NO ONE here thinks this is a reflection of her as a human being. I am sure she is great. It’s a discussion about her job and the performance at that job - and frankly, it’s more about ISU and the need for this + execution as I’m not sure anyone would have come away with “omg that was great” from fans (impossible when your main job is to read ads).

 

[Clonehomer]

Does anyone else find it absolutely embarrassing for everyone involved that the armed police put up a rope to stop "rushing the field" after the most mundane, unexciting, and expected wins?

I remember the stadium shaking during the 2011 Okie State and 2016 WVU games and the anticipation of the end of the Okie State game is still with me. It will be forever.

Pollard has traded the potential for unforgettable memories with thinking kids are going to rush the field against an FCS team were supposed to beat. The atmosphere has changed. Not in a good way.

Are you comparing the atmosphere of an opening tune up game to going up against a BCS bound OSU? Do you expect Hilton to be the same in November and February as well?

As for the rope. The security firm is paid to have people there whether it is warranted or not. It’s a CYA just in case something happens.

 

[swiacy]

I know people are unhappy with Jackie's efforts to date, but I want to say her heart is in the right place. I was her assistant softball coach in 1988-89. She is essentially the same person today as she was as a nine year old. She was outspoken and emotional and very supportive of her teammates. She was energetic and a character. We were losing a lot, but her parents, along with a couple of other families, backed us up when others wanted us to be replaced. I know it is hard to see, but Jackie signed the 1989 team softball I still possess. Give her a chance.

Has nothing to do with her as a person. Fans expect to be entertained by live action on the football field and almost as much by pregame tailgating. When the live action is delayed repeatedly by the need for tv ad revenue and the fans have to subject themselves to over the top enthusiastic verbal ad bombardment as the game drags on….they get irritated. Has nothing to do with her personally.

 

[Clonehomer]

Has nothing to do with her as a person. Fans expect to be entertained by live action on the football field and almost as much by pregame tailgating. When the live action is delayed repeatedly by the need for tv ad revenue and the fans have to subject themselves to over the top enthusiastic verbal ad bombardment as the game drags on….they get irritated. Has nothing to do with her personally.

To be fair to her, I’m not sure anyone would be successful in that spot. It’s just not something this fanbase is ready for. Honestly, an in game DJ might have a better chance.

 

[Nor'MidWester]

What did the host duties consist of? I was not there.
I'm sure whatever it is will get better. Those in game hosts are always kinda cringey to begin with so not sure what people expected.

 

[cysmiley]

After I endured a few of her yells, wondering what she was doing and scratching my head, Our group was able to tune her out, but it did make our conversation more difficult.

 

[MJ29]

I wondered how Jackie would be received in JTS. I did not like her at all at Iowa Wild games. She yells into the mic. There's a way to show energy without yelling. I'm sure she's a great person, I just don't enjoy her on the mic.

 

[cycloneworld]

What did the host duties consist of? I was not there.
I'm sure whatever it is will get better. Those in game hosts are always kinda cringey to begin with so not sure what people expected.

It was basically the same as other places: ad reads, trying to pump up the crowd, introduce stuff. Issue was that her mic was way too loud and she was screaming into it. Not exactly what people wanted on a day where they are baking in the sun.

I’m sure it will get better.

 

[AuH2O]

To be fair to her, I’m not sure anyone would be successful in that spot. It’s just not something this fanbase is ready for. Honestly, an in game DJ might have a better chance.

That’s what I’d say too. This is an AD mistake. The delays keep getting longer and more frequent due to TV and ad dollars. Everybody gets that. It’s the ADs job to try to deal with all the downtime in a way that detracts from the gameday experience as little as possible, or possibly even enhance it.

It seems their answer was to take largely the same sponsored spots and activities, and instead of having the PA narrate these spots, hire somebody to narrate them with more volume and enthusiasm.

The gameday experience keeps getting worse due to the long and frequent TV delays. That's part of the deal with all the TV dollars. But part of the deal for the AD and their army of people working for them in return should be to put in a little bit of effort to make all these breaks a little more bearable. If that's the best answer they have, that's not very impressive.

 

[carvers4math]

I wondered how Jackie would be received in JTS. I did not like her at all at Iowa Wild games. She yells into the mic. There's a way to show energy without yelling. I'm sure she's a great person, I just don't enjoy her on the mic.

I guess if she does the same at Wild games, she isn’t going to stop. The family next to us, the grandpa had to turn down his hearing aids but then he couldn’t really converse with anyone during the breaks.

 

[dunar]

They were looking for applicants last spring, you guys could have applied.

Still kicking myself for not applying. The lack of a portfolio scared me off, I have zero on air experience. Probably would have pulled a Brockmire on Saturday and been relieved of my duties...

I call this hire the day the call went out for a host, she's been doing the DSM pro teams for awhile. And did have an ISU football connection - she was at the Ride To Remember after Rhoads was gone. The final installment, unfortunately (I'm pretty sure I know why it was permanently cancelled, it wasn't her...)

 

[VeloClone]

What would be really cool would be to have a live band in the stadium that would play at about every other stoppage in play - or more. Most pro sports don't have that so it would be really cool if we could do that.

Research indicates that back in the day we used to have that.

 

[wonkadog]

Are you comparing the atmosphere of an opening tune up game to going up against a BCS bound OSU? Do you expect Hilton to be the same in November and February as well?

As for the rope. The security firm is paid to have people there whether it is warranted or not. It’s a CYA just in case something happens.

100% spot on here. "Embarrassing" for the security company to do their gameday thing and surround the field at the end? There isn't a formula that is used where we take the opponent's ranking into account when we plan ahead to keep everyone safe.

Also completely agree on the atmosphere and noise level. You don't think things were rocking after those first 2 plays? Then the next 59 minutes were as boring as you could dream up, combined with a hot, direct sun that had most fans pretty dang worn out shortly into the second half.

 

[JEFF420]

Wow she is amazing. This is such a wonderful idea from our forward thinking athletics dept

 

[Nor'MidWester]

That’s what I’d say too. This is an AD mistake. The delays keep getting longer and more frequent due to TV and ad dollars. Everybody gets that. It’s the ADs job to try to deal with all the downtime in a way that detracts from the gameday experience as little as possible, or possibly even enhance it.

It seems their answer was to take largely the same sponsored spots and activities, and instead of having the PA narrate these spots, hire somebody to narrate them with more volume and enthusiasm.

The gameday experience keeps getting worse due to the long and frequent TV delays. That's part of the deal with all the TV dollars. But part of the deal for the AD and their army of people working for them in return should be to put in a little bit of effort to make all these breaks a little more bearable. If that's the best answer they have, that's not very impressive.

They need to build sun shade overhangs in Jack Trice. Not a dome but like what every soccer stadium in Europe has. Impractical I know but that'd be sick. Make the crowd louder and help with the extremes of summer and winter football. Especially when we're gonna be hosting playoff games every other year going forward.

 

[VeloClone]

I can't get over the fact our PA announcer and game host are both Hoks.

WTAF, Jamie?

Hate to break it to you but even one of the greatest Cyclones of all time, Pete Taylor, started off as a hawk...

 

[JayV]

As for the rope. The security firm is paid to have people there whether it is warranted or not. It’s a CYA just in case something happens.

I think the conference requires member schools to make the effort to prevent fans from storming the field. Yes, it wasn't a risk on Saturday, but still have to show an effort.

 

[JM4CY]

Are you comparing the atmosphere of an opening tune up game to going up against a BCS bound OSU? Do you expect Hilton to be the same in November and February as well?

As for the rope. The security firm is paid to have people there whether it is warranted or not. It’s a CYA just in case something happens.

Unprofessional.

 

[JayV]

Has nothing to do with her as a person.

This 100%.
She is essentially playing a role. The role sucks. The role isn't desired. Her choices on how to perform the role didn't get a good response. But I've not seen or heard anyone say she's a bad person (other than the hawk stuff).

 

[SolarGarlic]

What would be really cool would be to have a live band in the stadium that would play at about every other stoppage in play - or more. Most pro sports don't have that so it would be really cool if we could do that.

Research indicates that back in the day we used to have that.

Marching bands are sweet. You have no taste if you don't like a marching band at a college football game.