Mr. Pollard -- You lost a huge opportunity today.
This afternoon, at the annual spring game, with a record(?) crowd in attendance, our football team put on the WORST performance I've ever been witness to in this spring event.
The anticipation could not have been higher. With a new coaching staff in place, with our marketing staff out trying to drum up support for this program and the "promise of things to come", we couldn't have laid a bigger egg.
This is, what, you're 2nd spring ISU game? It's my 34th. I've been here way longer that you, and I'll be here way longer when you're gone. I can't remember when I've been more disappointed in this event.
Remember when Coach Mac said that he didn't like to play late night games? You said, "Hey Mac, You coach the games - I'll handle the marketing" You were right! So now, you should have said, "Hey Coach Chiz -- I know you just want to have an ordinary practice -- but I've got to "sell this program and sell future hope" to our fan base. ISU put on a terrible show. The whole idea of a spring game, I would think, would be to build up anticipation and excitement for the coming fall. What a let-down. I’M going to be there in the fall, but how many people do you think walked away from our event today saying, "Well, if that's all there's going to be to it, I'm not going to come again."?
Wow! You, me, ISU, all of us -- missed out BIG TIME on an excellent opportunity to wrap our arms around some more of those "fringe" fans that are needed to grow any university's fan base.
Regardless of how Gene wants to run his program/practices -- Right now, at this point in time, ISU needs to PROMOTE it's football program. And, if ANYONE should know, you're the one that should realize that!
Up to now, you've been ONE STEP AHEAD OF EVERYBODY ELSE!
But this spring game was a big SWING and a MISS! It was VERY disappointing!
What have you been trying to accomplish these past few months? Build up anticipation, and SELL SEASON TICKETS! Ask yourself -- "Did this spring game help further that goal?" Answer -- "No!"
Could it have been a kickoff to the summer ticket selling season? Yes! But not now!
Were you out in the parking lots 4-5 hours prior to this game? We were! We were looking forward to a new era! Something to hang our support onto. We toasted Coach Mac for 12 great years, and hoped that both you and Coach Chiz would stay around long enough for ISU to get to greater heights. We're ready to drink the kool-ade and hope for better days to come, but you know what - we're been down this road before. Hey - We didn't just fall off the turnip truck yesterday, by the way.
So far, you've been excellent at looking at a certain situation, trying a different approach, and saying, "OK, let's try something different and see what happens. If things turn out positive, great! If not, we'll do something different." Hopefully, in the case of the spring FB game, you and Gene will make some positive changes.
Please let me know how we can help with our mutual Cyclone marketing efforts.
Thanks.
