(11-27-2014 10:55 AM)texd Wrote:  

(11-26-2014 11:23 PM)NYNightOwl Wrote:  To your point, I don't believe there's another top tier school in a major city that has an actual collegiate-type open, spacious campus.

There are a lot of qualitative words that are open to interpretation in that short sentence (top tier, major, collegiate-type, open, spacious), so it's hard to know exactly what you mean, but:

Harvard
Stanford
MIT
Northwestern
Cal Tech
Brown
Vandy
WUSTL

would all fit that description to my mind.

>major city

>Northwestern (Evanston, IL)
>Stanford (Palo Alto, CA)

Come on now.

(11-27-2014 11:04 AM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(11-27-2014 10:55 AM)texd Wrote:  

(11-26-2014 11:23 PM)NYNightOwl Wrote:  To your point, I don't believe there's another top tier school in a major city that has an actual collegiate-type open, spacious campus.

There are a lot of qualitative words that are open to interpretation in that short sentence (top tier, major, collegiate-type, open, spacious), so it's hard to know exactly what you mean, but:

Harvard
Stanford
MIT
Northwestern
Cal Tech
Brown
Vandy
WUSTL

would all fit that description to my mind.

1. Stanford has a beautiful, Rice-like (if not better) campus, but it's in Palo Alto, which is NOT a major city. It's 30+ miles for S.F..

2. Northwestern is in Evanston; NOT Chicago (which is 20+ miles away).

3. I'll grant you Cambridge can be viewed legitimately as part of Boston (MIT is only a bridge away from downtown Boston), but the MIT campus is anything but spacious and beautiful. Harvard comes much, much closer to the Rice-like campus, but even the Harvard campus is interwined now with the hussle and bussle of Harvard Square; it's not as self-contained within the hedges as Rice is.

4. Brown's campus pales next to Rice's, and Providence is a dump of a City. Not pretty at all; especially in the winter.

I'm aware of where both Stanford and Northwestern are. Forget San Francisco. San Jose is bigger and much closer (it's closer to San Jose than I am to some parts of Austin from my house in the middle of the city. And Northwestern's on the El. You don't have to agree with me to acknowledge that those are both arguably in a major city.

As far as Providence, I don't recall Houston being especially attractive, except in a few limited parts of town.

And for self-containment, it seems to me Rice's trend is moving towards campus beyond the hedges.

(11-27-2014 11:32 AM)texd Wrote:  And Northwestern's on the El. You don't have to agree with me to acknowledge that those are both arguably in a major city.

Will respectfully disagree on NW (main campus) :-)
Lots of Unis are connected to some downtown via some sort of rail. However if it takes >hour to actually use it.....

(11-27-2014 11:32 AM)texd Wrote:  

(11-27-2014 11:04 AM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(11-27-2014 10:55 AM)texd Wrote:  

(11-26-2014 11:23 PM)NYNightOwl Wrote:  To your point, I don't believe there's another top tier school in a major city that has an actual collegiate-type open, spacious campus.

There are a lot of qualitative words that are open to interpretation in that short sentence (top tier, major, collegiate-type, open, spacious), so it's hard to know exactly what you mean, but:

Harvard
Stanford
MIT
Northwestern
Cal Tech
Brown
Vandy
WUSTL

would all fit that description to my mind.

1. Stanford has a beautiful, Rice-like (if not better) campus, but it's in Palo Alto, which is NOT a major city. It's 30+ miles for S.F..

2. Northwestern is in Evanston; NOT Chicago (which is 20+ miles away).

3. I'll grant you Cambridge can be viewed legitimately as part of Boston (MIT is only a bridge away from downtown Boston), but the MIT campus is anything but spacious and beautiful. Harvard comes much, much closer to the Rice-like campus, but even the Harvard campus is interwined now with the hussle and bussle of Harvard Square; it's not as self-contained within the hedges as Rice is.

4. Brown's campus pales next to Rice's, and Providence is a dump of a City. Not pretty at all; especially in the winter.

I'm aware of where both Stanford and Northwestern are. Forget San Francisco. San Jose is bigger and much closer (it's closer to San Jose than I am to some parts of Austin from my house in the middle of the city. And Northwestern's on the El. You don't have to agree with me to acknowledge that those are both arguably in a major city.

As far as Providence, I don't recall Houston being especially attractive, except in a few limited parts of town.

And for self-containment, it seems to me Rice's trend is moving towards campus beyond the hedges.

Because I'd rather quibble than peel onions...

Wash U's Hilltop Campus has pretty buildings but lacks the same greenery Rice has (probably due to the volume of construction during my time there). Also little of that campus is in the city proper (it is in Clayton, with some also in University City). The parking lot I trudged from is in the city.

The Med school campus (the real source of the school's ranking) is in the city, but as with many med schools, is not built to be pretty.

(11-26-2014 11:23 PM)NYNightOwl Wrote:  

(11-26-2014 10:04 PM)GoodOwl Wrote:  I'm not disputing mentioning the Nobel and Pulitzer prizes. It is the visual image that to me is lacking. You can still represent those things, but above shots over our beautiful campus and the Med Center in the background (a quick shot form Reckling Park, and one of the National Championship sign would be nice) with a voiceover saying something like: "Located in the world-class city of Houston, TX--This is where champions are made on fields of play and in the classroom. At Rice, you can become the best of what you were meant to be. Rice University--what a university is meant to look like."

To your point, I don't believe there's another top tier school in a major city that has an actual collegiate-type open, spacious campus.

I agree. At least not like we have. (Maybe Emory comes close as it's very nice (not like Rice, though) and next to the CDC--but that anthrax is scary!)

Outside of most in Texas, far too many people outside still don't even know Rice is located in Houston,TX near downtown and right next to/across the street from the World's Biggest Medical Center (which should be a drawing card for applicants who might later wish to pursue a medical or related business career). If they don't know that, they're not even thinking of applying to Rice.

Maybe we need:
a top Alumni Doctor spokeman to point that out in the spot.
And then a top lawyer spokesman to point out lawyers come from Rice.
Then Lance Berkman, saying "Major League baseball players come from Rice;" in front of a shot of a game from Reckling Park with the Med Center buildings in the background;
Phil Gaines, James Casey, Luke Willson and Vance McDonald saying: "NFL players come from Rice";
Robert Curl and Robert Woodrow Wilson (the astronomer and Physics laureate) saying "Nobel prize winners come from Rice" with a picture of Richard Smalley alongside
Morris Almond saying: "NBA players come from Rice" with pictures of a few others;
Larry McMurtry saying "Pulitzer prize winners come from Rice"
Candace Bushnell (who wrote Sex and the City--a few people have heard of her work) saying "Famous and cool pop culture people come from Rice"
And wasn't Billy Gibbons (ZZ Top rock band guitarist) an Associate at Lovett College along with Geo. Bush Sr.? Can we work them in?

And the group at the end saying: "You can come to Rice, too!" with an overhead shot rising on a crane above the campus pulling out and up.

Sure, you'd have to condense the individuals, and do more jump-cuts to get it all in, but there's a way, and to still include a quick shot/mention of the med center/ downtown Houston, and a mention of Rice's Top 20 status in academics.

Given the time, permission and budget (I used to produce 30 second TV spots back in the day) even I could do it if they wanted me to and gave me a small budget and rented the equipment. (I produced some basketball highlight videos in the old Media Center for some of our teams back when I had to source 1/2" and 3/4" tape. With digital equipment and editing, it'd be a snap today!)

I like your list, but I'd go with Ricky Pierce for the NBA.

(11-27-2014 08:56 PM)Tomball Owl Wrote:  I like your list, but I'd go with Ricky Pierce for the NBA.

+1

Texas does a good job of tying itself to its city (including tracking shots that go from downtown to the Tower), but more importantly, IMO, does a good job of providing multiple ads that fall back on a common theme. These are older... The new ones have a series in rotation where they project onto the Tower similar to what we did with Lovett Hall during the Centennial Spectacular.

(11-27-2014 06:55 PM)GoodOwl Wrote:  Maybe we need:
a top Alumni Doctor spokesman to point that out in the spot.

Paging Dr. Johnston. Paging Dr. Johnston

(11-26-2014 11:13 PM)NYNightOwl Wrote:  Separately, personally... I never did like highlighting the Kennedy speech because to me it relegates us to 2nd tier. As in -- even in 1964 when we were in the SWC, even the President knew we were struggling to compete. "Trying harder" worked for Avis because in auto rentals having "customer service reps who try harder" is a real benefit. In most cases/places, it's just a synonym for "compensating for being not as good."

Except that this ignores that when Kennedy made the speech, Rice was basically 500 against UT. The key line wasn't 'why does rice play texas'... but because THAT goal serves to measure the best of our skills and energies, and that we intend to win. We DO beat them petty regularly in baseball and other sports.

The point of why does Rice play Texas had to do with a small scholl of perhaps 1000 students at the time competing against one of the largest state schools in the country in a game where being 'smarter' wasn't a partcularly big asset. The point was that Rice students (and Americans) didn't judge themselves by doing things people expect them to do, but by doing things that people DON'T expect them to do. That we played them BECAUSE it was hard. Heck, playing UTSA and UTEP and UH is hard BECAUSE we expect ore out of our athletes in the classroom, and yet still exopect them to win on the field/court/pitch


ETA: Frankly, I think it is EXACTLY THIS QUALITY, that unlike the ivies, or schools like Chicago, we don't back down from 'impossible' tasks that makes Rice special. I'm more proud of that fact than I would be if we didn't even TRY in these other aspects but were 10 places higher in the rankings

(11-27-2014 06:55 PM)GoodOwl Wrote:  Outside of most in Texas, far too many people outside still don't even know Rice is located in Houston,TX near downtown and right next to/across the street from the World's Biggest Medical Center (which should be a drawing card for applicants who might later wish to pursue a medical or related business career). If they don't know that, they're not even thinking of applying to Rice.

Maybe we need:
a top Alumni Doctor spokeman to point that out in the spot.
And then a top lawyer spokesman to point out lawyers come from Rice.
Then Lance Berkman, saying "Major League baseball players come from Rice;" in front of a shot of a game from Reckling Park with the Med Center buildings in the background;
Phil Gaines, James Casey, Luke Willson and Vance McDonald saying: "NFL players come from Rice";
Robert Curl and Robert Woodrow Wilson (the astronomer and Physics laureate) saying "Nobel prize winners come from Rice" with a picture of Richard Smalley alongside
Morris Almond saying: "NBA players come from Rice" with pictures of a few others;
Larry McMurtry saying "Pulitzer prize winners come from Rice"
Candace Bushnell (who wrote Sex and the City--a few people have heard of her work) saying "Famous and cool pop culture people come from Rice"
And wasn't Billy Gibbons (ZZ Top rock band guitarist) an Associate at Lovett College along with Geo. Bush Sr.? Can we work them in?

And the group at the end saying: "You can come to Rice, too!" with an overhead shot rising on a crane above the campus pulling out and up.

Sure, you'd have to condense the individuals, and do more jump-cuts to get it all in, but there's a way, and to still include a quick shot/mention of the med center/ downtown Houston, and a mention of Rice's Top 20 status in academics.

Given the time, permission and budget (I used to produce 30 second TV spots back in the day) even I could do it if they wanted me to and gave me a small budget and rented the equipment. (I produced some basketball highlight videos in the old Media Center for some of our teams back when I had to source 1/2" and 3/4" tape. With digital equipment and editing, it'd be a snap today!)

I like your concept. Might want to also include political folks (Obama press secretary/Houston Mayor) ... corporate CEOs (lots to choose from, from Houston energy companies to Silicon Valley) ... include Anthony Rendon with Berkman?

Maybe each celeb can be shown for a split second with a few students, then turns to the camera as he/she delivers the line.

There are quite a few career/alumni categories to choose from, so maybe make a series of spots, so the same one isn't repeated in every game.

Also, I'd add a aspirational aspect to the "come to Rice" tag line. Maybe like: "If you aim to be at the top of YOUR game, come to Rice."

Cue the storyboards? :-)

(11-29-2014 01:44 AM)Almadenmike Wrote:  

(11-27-2014 06:55 PM)GoodOwl Wrote:  Outside of most in Texas, far too many people outside still don't even know Rice is located in Houston,TX near downtown and right next to/across the street from the World's Biggest Medical Center (which should be a drawing card for applicants who might later wish to pursue a medical or related business career). If they don't know that, they're not even thinking of applying to Rice.

Maybe we need:
a top Alumni Doctor spokeman to point that out in the spot.
And then a top lawyer spokesman to point out lawyers come from Rice.
Then Lance Berkman, saying "Major League baseball players come from Rice;" in front of a shot of a game from Reckling Park with the Med Center buildings in the background;
Phil Gaines, James Casey, Luke Willson and Vance McDonald saying: "NFL players come from Rice";
Robert Curl and Robert Woodrow Wilson (the astronomer and Physics laureate) saying "Nobel prize winners come from Rice" with a picture of Richard Smalley alongside
Morris Almond saying: "NBA players come from Rice" with pictures of a few others;
Larry McMurtry saying "Pulitzer prize winners come from Rice"
Candace Bushnell (who wrote Sex and the City--a few people have heard of her work) saying "Famous and cool pop culture people come from Rice"
And wasn't Billy Gibbons (ZZ Top rock band guitarist) an Associate at Lovett College along with Geo. Bush Sr.? Can we work them in?

And the group at the end saying: "You can come to Rice, too!" with an overhead shot rising on a crane above the campus pulling out and up.

Sure, you'd have to condense the individuals, and do more jump-cuts to get it all in, but there's a way, and to still include a quick shot/mention of the med center/ downtown Houston, and a mention of Rice's Top 20 status in academics.

Given the time, permission and budget (I used to produce 30 second TV spots back in the day) even I could do it if they wanted me to and gave me a small budget and rented the equipment. (I produced some basketball highlight videos in the old Media Center for some of our teams back when I had to source 1/2" and 3/4" tape. With digital equipment and editing, it'd be a snap today!)

I like your concept. Might want to also include political folks (Obama press secretary/Houston Mayor) ... corporate CEOs (lots to choose from, from Houston energy companies to Silicon Valley) ... include Anthony Rendon with Berkman?

Maybe each celeb can be shown for a split second with a few students, then turns to the camera as he/she delivers the line.

There are quite a few career/alumni categories to choose from, so maybe make a series of spots, so the same one isn't repeated in every game.

Also, I'd add a aspirational aspect to the "come to Rice" tag line. Maybe like: "If you aim to be at the top of YOUR game, come to Rice."

Cue the storyboards? :-)

Can't believe I forgot about Rendon! I like most of your additional ideas and really like your tagline. I've never been crazy about the "unconventional wisdom" tagline in the first place. It's getting kind of old anyway.

If we REALLY wanted to get attention, we'd produce a spot co-sponsored by Hooters with the hostesses throughout the ad along with the students and spokespeople from various disciplines saying their lines as mentioned above and the tagline: "What happens at Rice stays at Rice!" over some NOD pictures! Directed by THRILL, of course! Ha ha!

and the Rice spot at halftime precedes the C-USA Bowl location spot. Hadn't recalled seeing something like that before?

I cannot disagree that we can and should do much better with our spots. There are so many factoids that could be emphasized:

Our location and our contribution to the energy business, and making Houston the Oil Capital of the World (When I was in High School, Tulsa was considered the Oil Capital)

Our founding, with the murder of William Marsh Rice (his vision vs the outcome, which exceeds it) and the role of James A Baker in proving that it was a murder, and that his grandson was the Secretary of State under Bush I.

Bucky Balls, and the advent of nanotechnology, with the resulting Nobel Prize. The picture of Robert Curl as a Rice Undergraduate should be emphasized, as to just who he is.

The Kennedy speech in Rice Stadium, along with Rice's role in getting the Johnson Space Center into Houston. (Rice had 1600 undergrads at the time; I was one of them)

The proximity to the Medical Center, and all of the joint developments made with them. Dr. Akers, of the Chemical Engineering Department worked with, I think, Baylor to develop and artificial heart in the 1962/1963 time frame.

The Superbowl that was held in Rice Stadium.

Professional Athletes, including King Hill, Frank Ryan (started for Cleveland for years, but was not a starter for Rice), many more after him, who other posters to this board would know better than I. The manager for the old Gas House Gang for the St. Louis Cardinals in the 1930s. Berkman, Rendon, et.al. and the Baseball Championship

These 7 are off the top of my head, but they could be the basis for a series of spots that emphasize why Rice is different, and better.

(11-27-2014 06:55 PM)GoodOwl Wrote:  Maybe we need:
a top Alumni Doctor spokeman to point that out in the spot.
And then a top lawyer spokesman to point out lawyers come from Rice.
Then Lance Berkman, saying "Major League baseball players come from Rice;" in front of a shot of a game from Reckling Park with the Med Center buildings in the background;
Phil Gaines, James Casey, Luke Willson and Vance McDonald saying: "NFL players come from Rice";
Robert Curl and Robert Woodrow Wilson (the astronomer and Physics laureate) saying "Nobel prize winners come from Rice" with a picture of Richard Smalley alongside
Morris Almond saying: "NBA players come from Rice" with pictures of a few others;
Larry McMurtry saying "Pulitzer prize winners come from Rice"
Candace Bushnell (who wrote Sex and the City--a few people have heard of her work) saying "Famous and cool pop culture people come from Rice"
And wasn't Billy Gibbons (ZZ Top rock band guitarist) an Associate at Lovett College along with Geo. Bush Sr.? Can we work them in?

Shannon Walker (astronaut) and any of the grad-student astronauts.
Ezra Charles (musician)

OMG-that honest commercial is hilarious and an amazing lot of truth to it. The cost of college education may be the most out of control part of our economy. I mean 8x over the last 30 years????