More opportunities for ISU branding

"There's a portion of ISU's fanbase that misses the point regarding "tavern hawks" and their ilk. Casual fans with no connection to the school are a marker of success, which subtly manifests in other ways, such as TV rights. How do you reach those fans?"


That is correct! I have said that thought in conversation and I believe in buried in these forums somewhere, this is a key to sustained success!
 
"There's a portion of ISU's fanbase that misses the point regarding "tavern hawks" and their ilk. Casual fans with no connection to the school are a marker of success, which subtly manifests in other ways, such as TV rights. How do you reach those fans?"


That is correct! I have said that thought in conversation and I believe in buried in these forums somewhere, this is a key to sustained success!
I really have a hard time wanting to try to convince tavernhawks or pantherhawks to come to our side.
 
A logo on a polo isn't a brand/identity. Not unless it elicits some kind of recognizable experience/expectation/promise. If you were to ask a majority of those people in Vegas or Florida or wherever who saw you wearing that ISU polo with that ISU logo what their perception of ISU football was, my bet is they'd look at you like a dog who'd just seen a magic trick. No clue. That's what a brand/identity is all about. This is not a bash on ISU. Aside from some of the more clued-in college football fans in different parts of the country who'd associate Iowa football with blue-collar, unflashy, unsexy... most wouldn't have any real established perception of Iowa's brand/identity either.

A logo isn't a brand. People acknowledging you wearing an ISU logo doesn't mean they have any kind of perception, knowledge, or care about what ISU football is. Sorry.

Um... I’m not sure you understand the definition of branding.... As this thread is about... the definition is listed below.

Branding: the promotion of a particular product or company by means of advertising and distinctive design.

Our Logo is part of our advertising and it’s working... it’s a process.. I sure hope you’re not in the marketing field.
 
People on the coasts don't view ISU as dull and unexciting. They don't view ISU as anything. Just like they don't view Iowa as anything. To think ISU or Iowa actually have any kind of identity to East/West/South viewers is pretty delusional. Iowa has maybe built a shred of brand identity in other parts of the country just because they've had decent success for 25ish years, but it's faint at best. I do think getting one's branding sh*t together is a good thing and lots of good suggestions here for ISU. But if ISU or Iowa fans seriously think a majority of college football fans in other parts of the country associate them with a particular brand or identity as a program, they're kidding themselves.
Locale doesn't mean as much as it used to. Thank you internet and streaming services. Therefore, I respectfully disagree. 'Branding' and 'viral ideas' are very important to non-alumni loyalty.
 
Love the ideas. Truly some out-of-box thinking.
- I suggested to JP to incorporate transparent video in glass press/luxury boxes when talk of expanding the stadium began. Imagine a 'wall' in the endzones of luxury boxes (transitioning into the deep corners of the stadium) where the entire glass wall was a video board.
- Absolutely concur with a massive 'cyclone' simulation. Given liability, I don't, however, think drones can be used. But the glass silo was an interesting concept, but likely to structurally be a challenge without visual interference of structural members. I'd imagined a single tall pole with streamers of different lengths with LEDs space accordingly on the streams, twirling around. That, effectively, should work.
- I'd imagined a non-permanent solar powered LED logo one could slap on your rear window which lit up.
- Like the idea of 'game day logos' on the helmets. Would probably be even cooler to always use the black uniform theme, but 'contrast' that with vibrant logos on the helmet.
- More branding in 'movies' is VERY important. A 'branding' position would be responsible for reviewing all prospective movies and lobby incorporating the ISU brand somewhere. Of course obscurity is directly related to cost. But, as a fan, even the most obscure places still draw the eye.
- A Jack Trice movie would be a HUGE swing in national perception. But, you have to have a huge name play the main character. Or, at the very least, a huge name production company making it.
- JP's vision of the RV park and entertainment district need to come to fruition. That will definitely improve national exposure as the media promote it.
- A tailgating 'competition' be launched and rewarded on each home game. With the best food being delivered to the press box at half time. Tell me that won't salivate the popularity glands.

And I wonder why I can't sleep. LOL.
 
For the record, I'm a TavernClone. No one in our extended family has even taken a single class through Iowa State. We moved here to Ames for other reasons and we got addicted. ISU Gymnastics was our entry drug.
 
I really have a hard time wanting to try to convince tavernhawks or pantherhawks to come to our side.
A "tavernhok" is just someone who probably grew up in Iowa and likes to watch a team who wins games. You can't really get around it if we keep winning and you should welcome any new fans because that will only help the athletic department. Not sure why fans who didn't graduate from Iowa State are looked down upon...
 
I'm sorry, but a TavernHok is a special sort of inbred, who paints his house yellow and black and covers his body with parakeet logos. To insinuate that there is a comparable version (Tavern Clone) is ridiculous, and demeaning.
 
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A "tavernhok" is just someone who probably grew up in Iowa and likes to watch a team who wins games... Not sure why fans who didn't graduate from Iowa State are looked down upon...

For the tavern hoks I know, I would add to your definition--- have never attended any hok sporting event, are extremely obnoxious about their fandom, and refuse to acknowledge any Cyclone accomplishment.
 
PAYING PLAYERS

Duquesne recently created a Personal Brand Coach position and other schools are taking steps to stand out in a brave new NLI world. What is ISU doing here?

Perhaps ISU should show confidence in their UNIQUE Cyclones nickname by continually releasing new and remixed secondary logos. While the bugle was a dud, the intention was 100% on target. More of that stuff! Let the cream rise to the top. This confidence in branding could create a scaffolding for ISU athletes to benefit financially from their image. Perhaps Breece Hall sells a custom Cyclone logo through Cyclones.com. Perhaps Sami Williams sells a hat with a custom Cy logo that looks like a goat, because, well, she's the GOAT. Let the kids loose and don't let the Olds get in the way.
Breece selling anything through cyclones.com and directly monetizing from it from ISU would not be permitted under proposed NIL framework.

The Duquesne hire was made to assist their athletes with NIL opportunities from third parties, not from the Duquesne. The hire was made a recruiting tool for their MBB program and ISU could follow suit at some point with a hire for all of their athletes.
 
A three-dimensional 1,000 drone swarm tornado spinning on the 50 yard line would be unreal. Especially lit up at night.

Agree liability would be a major issue, not to mention if something went wrong it would be a "not top 10" level embarassment for ISU. Big risk / big reward there.

Maybe they could do it over the parking lot - dinging some cars is a lot less bad than dropping them on a stadium full of people. That would be the ISU version of the WKRP turkey drop, with John Walters in the role of Les Nessman.
 
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I'm sorry, but a TavernHok is a special sort of inbred, who paints his house yellow and black and covers his body with parakeet logos. To insinuate that there is a comparable version (Tavern Clone) is ridiculous, and demeaning.
Alright man relax lol. We all hate TavernHoks around here but every fan base will have their own version of the douche variety, including us, iowa just seems to have an abundant supply...
 
This idea isn't branding related, but kind of is as it is game day atmosphere related, which also could look good on TV. I believe one of the best game day things added in the recent past is the addition of the tornado siren after scores. It's fun, unique, and relates well to a Cyclone. However, in addition to that, myself and my friends put our hands in the air, all while making a circular cyclone/tornado swirling motion while the siren blares. You can get your hips into it too. Maybe I'm wrong, but we think it's fun, looks cool, is unique, and everyone around us seems to get a kick out of us doing it. Sometimes we even get others to join. Now imagine if the whole stadium did that and what that would look like in person and also on TV. To my knowledge, nobody does anything even close to that.
 
Um... I’m not sure you understand the definition of branding.... As this thread is about... the definition is listed below.

Branding: the promotion of a particular product or company by means of advertising and distinctive design.

Our Logo is part of our advertising and it’s working... it’s a process.. I sure hope you’re not in the marketing field.

Lol. I'm trying to make this simple for you. ISU's logo is not ISU's brand. What is ISU's brand is the immediate impression/expectation that people have of the ISU program upon seeing the ISU logo. A subtle distinction, but an important one. Sorry, it's just true.

When you see the VANS logo, what comes to mind? I'd bet for most it's funky/edgy shoes and apparel for kids on skateboards. That's the VANS brand, a lifestyle. Not the logo. In sports its not as cut and dry because there aren't ad/brand campaigns being shoved in peoples' faces, but it still exists. When you see the Bama logo, what comes to mind? I'd say for most it would be dominance, speed, athletic freaks, and probably more than anything, Nick Saban. That's Bama's brand. Not the logo. In college sports it's likely going to be a program's style of play, reputation, or very identifiable head coach.

Yes, a logo is an important part of your advertising and branding. And like I said, this is not a bash on ISU. I'd say the same is mostly true for Iowa. That gets back to my initial point in all this, which was that most people in SEC country or ACC country or PAC country probably don't view ISU football as "dull and unexciting" because they don't view ISU/Iowa as anything beyond being universities somewhere in the middle that have football teams.

Sure this can change, but like you said, establishing brand identity/awareness/perception is a process that takes a long time.
 
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Love the ideas. Truly some out-of-box thinking.
- I suggested to JP to incorporate transparent video in glass press/luxury boxes when talk of expanding the stadium began. Imagine a 'wall' in the endzones of luxury boxes (transitioning into the deep corners of the stadium) where the entire glass wall was a video board.
- Absolutely concur with a massive 'cyclone' simulation. Given liability, I don't, however, think drones can be used. But the glass silo was an interesting concept, but likely to structurally be a challenge without visual interference of structural members. I'd imagined a single tall pole with streamers of different lengths with LEDs space accordingly on the streams, twirling around. That, effectively, should work.
- I'd imagined a non-permanent solar powered LED logo one could slap on your rear window which lit up.
- Like the idea of 'game day logos' on the helmets. Would probably be even cooler to always use the black uniform theme, but 'contrast' that with vibrant logos on the helmet.
- More branding in 'movies' is VERY important. A 'branding' position would be responsible for reviewing all prospective movies and lobby incorporating the ISU brand somewhere. Of course obscurity is directly related to cost. But, as a fan, even the most obscure places still draw the eye.
- A Jack Trice movie would be a HUGE swing in national perception. But, you have to have a huge name play the main character. Or, at the very least, a huge name production company making it.
- JP's vision of the RV park and entertainment district need to come to fruition. That will definitely improve national exposure as the media promote it.
- A tailgating 'competition' be launched and rewarded on each home game. With the best food being delivered to the press box at half time. Tell me that won't salivate the popularity glands.

And I wonder why I can't sleep. LOL.


Iowa State University was the main feature for Season 3 about a year ago on a HULU show, Future Man. The I-State logo was everywhere!


CAST
  • Josh Hutcherson
  • Eliza Coupe
  • Derek Wilson
  • Haley Joel Osment
  • Seth Rogen



Is this Haven?

No, it’s Iowa State University.
 
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This idea isn't branding related, but kind of is as it is game day atmosphere related, which also could look good on TV. I believe one of the best game day things added in the recent past is the addition of the tornado siren after scores. It's fun, unique, and relates well to a Cyclone. However, in addition to that, myself and my friends put our hands in the air, all while making a circular cyclone/tornado swirling motion while the siren blares. You can get your hips into it too. Maybe I'm wrong, but we think it's fun, looks cool, is unique, and everyone around us seems to get a kick out of us doing it. Sometimes we even get others to join. Now imagine if the whole stadium did that and what that would look like in person and also on TV. To my knowledge, nobody does anything even close to that.
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