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- Home of the Wave - 12-10-2004 12:02 PM
I think that the first part of marketing Tulane sports, and football in particular, should be to try create empathy amongst the local population. I think that most Tulane people already understand that many local New Orleanians see Tulane as elitist, snobbish, full of northeasterners, etc. So how do you create empathy? Here are some ideas:
1. The first thing is a pet peeve of mine and, I believe, something we can all relate to. If you have this superiority attitude, get rid of it or, at the very least, don't show it. How many times do Tulane fans throw out the "we're smarter than you" or "you're gonna work for us one day" or, like at the Loyola game, chant "Tulane rejects," etc. Do you think that attitude creates new fans for us. No. It makes people hate us and drives them away.
2. I think a series of things that mention Tulane and New Orleans together could be created. How about merchandise (t-shirts, hats, etc.) with "Tulane University, New Orleans."
3. How about a motto such as "Tulane Green Wave, New Orleans' College Team." Or a variation on an old bumpersticker, such as "Tulane, Proud to Call New Orleans Home."
4. How about a motto taking a (not so subtle) swipe at the Saints, such as "Tulane Green Wave, We're Here to Stay."
5. Here's a controversial and "thinking outside the box" idea: Target LSU fans. We all know that LSU fans make up the vast majority of sports fans in the New Orleans area. But who says being an LSU fan means you can't be a Tulane fan also? We don't even play each other any more except, what, once every 5-6 years? So there's no real rivalry. Sure LSU fans think we're a "mid-major" or "minor league," but so what? That could actually work to our advantage because we're in a different league and don't pose any threat to them. But that doesn't mean we still don't play good and exciting football. Schedule football games so that they don't conflict with LSU. If scheduled properly, why couldn't people go to both games? Older people (70's+) tell me it was very common for people to go to both Tulane and LSU games, back in the day.
6. Saints fans are also a market opportunity. They're already football fans, and, while most are probably LSU fans, it still doesn't mean we can't convince them to go to Tulane games. Bottom Line: advertise at Saints games, using #3 above.
- Observer - 12-10-2004 12:09 PM
If Tulane really wanted to build rapport with the local community they should begin by putting more effort into recruiting students from the local Catholic and private schools. There are more than enough Tulane qualified students at those schools to fill all of Tulane's scholarship offerings. By doing so Tulane would become known as a local university of high academic merit. After all, Tulane was founded on the premise that it was to be available for local students.
- Home of the Wave - 12-10-2004 12:33 PM
Observer Wrote:If Tulane really wanted to build rapport with the local community they should begin by putting more effort into recruiting students from the local Catholic and private schools. There are more than enough Tulane qualified students at those schools to fill all of Tulane's scholarship offerings. By doing so Tulane would become known as a local university of high academic merit. After all, Tulane was founded on the premise that it was to be available for local students.You're right about that.
I was under the impression that there was going to be a better effort to increase the local make-up of the school. Has this not happened?
- Observer - 12-10-2004 12:39 PM
There were some scholarships set aside for Louisiana applicants specifically. But you can guess where the effort to recruit students to fill those scholarships was applied. As a result the complaint follows, "the Louisiana school system is terrible and does not offer the caliber of student we are looking for." I guess they have never heard the quote, "You can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear."