Bad Record, Worse Public Relations

bcwgoskers

Walk-on
Not a huge NU fan, but occasionally visit this board cuz it is relatively objective and friendly.

My point tonight is that this year has gone South, but the poor PR makes it worse. It's well covered territory, but throatgate was completely mishandled by BC, SP, and the entire athletic department. They should have taken over the issue by issuing an apology and a reprimand right away, the story would have died quickly. Instead, after BC's lame denials, the story lasted all week long, even during halftime of many games this weekend.

Then today, brother Boyd is quoted as saying he is disappointed in the fans donations to the new facilities. In the midst of a losing streak, barely a 500 team over the 2 year BC reign, you don't break out with how disappointed you are in the local giving to build more facilities.

Last thought, if the performance on the field continues on this trend, the home sellout streak will end -- if I'm not mistaken, 6,000 or more seats will be available next year. That's a lot of seats to fill with a product that is not getting better.

Bottom line to me right now, bad record, little heart or passion on the field; arguably getting better, but very hard to see; and awful public relations. No wonder Husker Nation is unsettled and anxious.

 
Then today, brother Boyd is quoted as saying he is disappointed in the fans donations to the new facilities. In the midst of a losing streak, barely a 500 team over the 2 year BC reign, you don't break out with how disappointed you are in the local giving to build more facilities.
Like AR Husker Fan said in another thread, contributing to facilities helps the university no matter who is coaching or who is AD. No matter who is coaching you need top notch facilities to be competitive. We need to upgrade our facilities now. If you want to support the team in the long run, step up to the plate.

 
I don't disagree with that sentiment. What I do beleive is that you don't make those types of statemetns in the midst of this particular season if you want to raise money. My first reaction, "Boyd's disappointed, heck, Husker fans ARE disappointed" -- it's just poor publicity and public imagery. He should have said something like, "hey, this year's team is struggling a bit, but the future is bright. Building facilities is about the future, not wins and losses today" -- something more positive and neutral. SP and the whole staff down there need some PR coaching; they do a poor job on publicity related matters.

 
I don't disagree with that sentiment. What I do beleive is that you don't make those types of statemetns in the midst of this particular season if you want to raise money. My first reaction, "Boyd's disappointed, heck, Husker fans ARE disappointed" -- it's just poor publicity and public imagery. He should have said something like, "hey, this year's team is struggling a bit, but the future is bright. Building facilities is about the future, not wins and losses today" -- something more positive and neutral. SP and the whole staff down there need some PR coaching; they do a poor job on publicity related matters.
I understand what you are saying and yes, it would be hard to give more money at this point. But like I said, you gotta see beyond that and realize that the money to be donated goes for the good of the University itself and over and beyond the current team, staff, etc.

Obviously people aren't.

I would agree that the athletic department could do a much better job at PR. My only theory now is that they simply don't care. Writers write. That's what they get paid for. I only wish that sometimes they wouldn't give them so much ammo!

 
People in leadership positions that have some PR savvy and training don't give writers ammo -- they know how to avoid providing ammo, and they know how to control stories. These guys (SP, BC) have no skills; and I would not be surprised if the PR professors in Lincoln use throatgate as "what not to do" in the future.

Later

 
So you truly believe and are firmly convinced that even if Callahan came out and said "hey, it was in the heat of the moment, and i apologize" that it would have all gone away?

Sorry but you are a fool if you believe an apology would have just made the throat slash incident go away. Callaha/SP bashers are looking for any kinda ammo to use like my counterpart mentioned above

 
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People in leadership positions that have some PR savvy and training don't give writers ammo -- they know how to avoid providing ammo, and they know how to control stories.  These guys (SP, BC) have no skills; and I would not be surprised if the PR professors in Lincoln use throatgate as "what not to do" in the future.
Later
You make some good points bcwgoskers. Perception IS reality in the business world, which is why its so ironic that even Pud himself has such horrible PR skills - the same guy that makes continuous inferences about The Program being a Business which he is here to fix.

Welcome to the board.

 
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Then today, brother Boyd is quoted as saying he is disappointed in the fans donations to the new facilities. In the midst of a losing streak, barely a 500 team over the 2 year BC reign, you don't break out with how disappointed you are in the local giving to build more facilities.

Eppley has always been a snot nosed punk. He was very successful in what he did and then has taken the last couple years off, especiall during the Solich Era, when he was still in charge of Strength program. He never showed his face. He relied on his assisstants. He should be reprimanded by Peterson on this one. Absolutely at the wrong time to make these comments. I wonder how much money he's donated to the project???????

 
So you truly believe and are firmly convinced that even if Callahan came out and said "hey, it was in the heat of the moment, and i apologize" that it would have all gone away?
Sorry but you are a fool if you believe an apology would have just made the throat slash incident go away. Callaha/SP bashers are looking for any kinda ammo to use like my counterpart mentioned above
While an aplogy might not have made the story go away entirely, the point is that it would have defused the story significantly. More than likely, the Big 12 could have said "we accpet his apology and have moved on" Plus, BC and all the rest could have simply stated, "I apologized for my behavior, I'm ready to move on" and the story dies.

The lame denials, the Big 12 reprimand, and all of the rest simply gave the story more legs and it lasted all week long. It went national for well over a week, an apology and a public reprimand from SP would have kept the story regional and ended the media interest quickly.

 
Gee, just maybe, the fans who spend their hard earned money dont want to support a lying, egotistical bad guy for AD, and see that they are not getting any return on their investment with a bad coach?? :blink:

 
Gee, just maybe, the fans who spend their hard earned money dont want to support a lying, egotistical bad guy for AD, and see that they are not getting any return on their investment with a bad coach?? :blink:
Your post makes you look stupid, ignorant and idiotic if that's where you really stand on the issue (and you have proven that's where you stand). The money is going into the University for additional seats for fans who can't get tickets on football days most of the time, a new strength and conditioning complex to help recruiting, improved locker rooms, and a state of the art indoor football facility. It's not going into Steve Pederson and Bill Callahans pocket

Seriously, that statement just makes me sick to my stomach and i am disguisted in calling you even a fan of this program. But then again, i doubt you have donated 1 dollar to the football program. Keep sitting on your high horse preaching your garbage. The rest of us who are TRUE fans will continue to donate and fund this program long after you pass from this earth and will stand up with our heads held high knowing we were there from the begining and will be there to the end.

 
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The 6 Thousand seats will be sold. Not worried about the sell out streak. It will take a lot more than 2 bad seasons before seeing empty seats in Lincoln. That is one thing I would bet my House on.

 
i am very disappointed in the huskers the last two years however the team has not shown the sprit it use to. what or who is to blame i do not have the answer i do know we the fans must support the team maybe ask the players what is missing! I say start with the A.D. first.

 
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