1 – I hate Jock Jams and I love alternate uniforms.
Yes, if you follow me on Twitter or read my columns here at Cyclone Fanatic, you are all too familiar with my simple “takes” on these pedestrian "issues."
When it comes to the big picture though, I challenge each and every one of you to find a marketing department across college athletics that “gets it” as well as Iowa State’s does. From the movie nights at Jack Trice Stadium to the ahead-of-the-curve social media feeds, Iowa State has been rock solid in this department for a good decade.
During my time chronicling the happenings in Iowa State athletics, I’m not sure I have seen anything that has impacted a growing fan base more than the annual Tailgate Tour, which launches in Carroll at noon today.
It’s about the kids. That’s kind of of corny, but true.
I just think back to a moment in childhood when every summer, my family would attend the Brickyard 400 in Indianapolis as part of our vacation. Like my old man, I grew up a Bill Elliott fan. But one night at the hotel, a random guy in the pool struck a conversation with my family. He was an employee for the Woods Brothers Racing organization and gave this impressionable 10-year old a couple of shirts and a hat.
On that day, the Elliott Sadler (who?) fan in me was born. Because that one PR guy gave me a couple of freebies, I was hooked and suffered decades of losing because of it. But that’s how kids work.
For the big and little kids out there, that’s really what the "Tailgate Tour" is about. It strengthens the bond between the old guard of the fan base with the product itself, while creates new ones.
Props to Iowa State for not only coming up with this concept years ago, but continuing the tradition and growing it to this day.
2 – Our Jared Stansbury, who officially starts at Cyclone Fanatic today, will be at multiple Tailgate Tour stops. There are a TON of storylines to follow over the next few weeks too.
We’ve got Big 12 expansion, the Bill Fennelly/Nikki Moody story, all of the roster moves within the men’s basketball roster and Matt Campbell’s first tour to cover.
If you aren’t already, follow Jared on Twitter (@Stanz51) for updates. Of course, he will be filling up the @CycloneFanatic feed too.
My apologies for the short column this morning. There is a lot going on behind the scenes right now. Have a great week.
