So do we just pack up the tents and fold the program like U of Chicago, aspire towards the middle of the B1G, or work our tails off to overcome this? This board has talked about all of the reasons that it is more difficult to win here countless times.
As I have said many times, our fans need to play a bigger role in elevating the status of this program in the community. Let's face it... the U has competition here in the pro leagues that many P5 schools are not up against.
The U suffers from a visibility problem in the TC. In some areas of outstate MN, you are more apt to see UND, NDSU, IA, ISU, and WI gear than Gopher gear. This needs to change. We need the U of M to be the dominant brand.
Here is a short list of some easy ways to make a difference in elevating the brand:
- Wear your Gopher gear proudly at every opportunity. Organize a wear our Gopher jersey to work tradition on Fridays.
- Buy Gopher gear as gifts... especially for children and new friends from out of state.
- Donate Gopher gear and toys for Toys for Tots drives and similar requests for donations.
- Provide Gopher gear/toys/tickets to charity auctions.
- Attend as many games with the target market in #2 as possible to help inculcate a love for the program or, at minimum, a connection to the program.
- Be a super fan... decorate your office/cube with Gopher paraphernalia, steer conversations away from the Vikes and to the Gophers at every opportunity, or organize a team function to include a Gopher connection like a game or tour of TCF, etc.
- Try to emphasize the positive and be less negative... the target market in #2 picks up on this negativity which lessens their positive perception of the program. Once lost, this target market is nearly impossible to gain back.
We can't be a national brand until we are a local one. We CAN make a difference.
Row the Boat, Ski-U-Mah, Go Gophers!