BobcatAttack.com - For Fans of Ohio University Sports

Welcome Guest!
Create an Account

site search

where to watch

about us

advertise with us

help

BobcatAttack.com Message Board

General Ohio University Discussion/Alumni Events

Topic: Bewildered with cuts

Topic: Bewildered with cuts

Author

Message

bornacatfan
General User

Member Since: 8/3/2006
Post Count: 5,711

Status: Offline

Bewildered with cuts

Posted: 11/11/2010 3:19:51 PM

Interesting what we choose to cut

I read over here and get insight on saries and things but I do not get the whys for some things

This year we cut out athletic posters. Interesting position. Most of us go from t9own to town and see thes ubiquitous things hung everywhere. Sponsors pay big money to sponsor them in most cases underwriting the costs. Coaches hang them in their offices Little kids get them signed. I have BSU posters back to 1986 signed by each team. My kids have the same from Pacers, Black Hawks , Bears and their high school teams. SO we cut them out not really knowing their impact.

When I asked why I was told ...austerity....Makes sense that you cut out a collectible that brands your product and is underwritten easily by the community and serves to be a reminder when gamedays are for many teams. I personally check the BSU posters every time I walk in a store in Muncie to mentally remember when OU is coming to town in soccer, volley and other sports.
]
I was also told Title IX considerations.....nice ...Flip it over and put the girls on the back DOHHHHH!!!!!

I have handed these out at away games to Bobcat fans from DC, Delaware< Chicago etc. I have handed them out to caoches all over indiana....who knows when they have a kid who will walk into their office or classroom and remember the poster and get an interest in attending Ohio .

Today this came to me on my local mesage baord. How do I answer this request.? In the wake of the baddest poster Ohio ever produced ?

Hickory Husker Varsity Club

Register

User Options

Site:

Forum:

Page 1

Views: 0, Replies: 1

Thread Tools Rate Thread Display Options

Previous Topic | Next Topic | Back to Topics

WKWR

Post #683
MyFanPage
Add Buddy

? for Freebird

Reply

Last year, you had a copy of the Ohio Basketball Poster Schedule as a signature. We are always looking for new ideas for our schedule poster and we "borrowed" their's from last season. Did they do another one this season? Any idea where I can go to find it?
Thanks in advance!

Posted on 11/11 9:17 AM | IP: Logged

Previous Topic | Next Topic | Back to Topics

Continuosly amazeed by how difficult Ohio makes it to be a fan. From parking to anything petty it is just a constant battle. It just seems that with the best campus being the ultimate end point destination for many people youwould want to promote your product and make sure that you effectively clear all pathways to including your fans and appreciating them. The slogan shouold be "WELCOME BACK" and every time you come back should be special....for God s sake who does not love comeing home to campus or like being on the road to support the Bo9bcats. If you are trying to stay involved you would think all the little things like this really shoulod matter

never argue with idiots, they bring you down to their level and beat you with experience.

Winter comes and asks how you spent your summer.....

The game loves and rewards those who love and reward the game

Ted Thompson
Administrator

Member Since: 11/11/2004
Location: MAC Play
Post Count: 7,564

Status: Offline

RE: Bewildered with cuts

Posted: 11/11/2010 3:53:59 PM

There's some desktop artwork here (although the labels are messed up): http://www.ohiobobcats.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/m-baskbl-wallpapers.html

You might like this one:

At the University of Dayton, where basketball brings in about $9M per year, schedule posters are no longer free but can be purchased for $2.

Follow Ohio Football recruiting on the BobcatAttack.com football recruiting database.

John C. Wanamaker
General User

Member Since: 1/2/2005
Post Count: 1,103

Status: Offline

RE: Bewildered with cuts

Posted: 11/11/2010 7:32:46 PM

Ladies and gentlemen you have seen nothing yet. Tough times, money is in short supply

"Half the money I spend on advertising is wasted; the trouble is I don't know which half."

anorris
General User

Member Since: 7/6/2010
Location: Bristol, CT
Post Count: 2,262

Status: Offline

RE: Bewildered with cuts

Posted: 11/11/2010 8:53:32 PM

I'd pay that for a poster (or more).

I should post pix of my bedroom walls sometime. Collection of posters from basket, foot, and volley since I've been a student.

bornacatfan
General User

Member Since: 8/3/2006
Post Count: 5,711

Status: Offline

RE: Bewildered with cuts

Posted: 11/11/2010 11:59:46 PM

Interesting Ted.

I like the venture into the electronic meida and tying it in withthe schedule. It does not replace the posters which I have seen hanging inthe workshops and garages from years past in the homes of many boosters. Certainly Tommy has a roomful of posters signed by Reggie Miller, Rik Smits, Spike Lee, BOnzi and just as many programs and balls by legends of the game. suspect his willingness to stay and sign programs and things is a result of years of wiating for autographs.

Personally I handed out hundreds of posters to Bobcat fans from Delware to Tulsa. as I was meting fans from all over who showed up watch their Cats.

I still acually have a few from last year if anyone is interested ....find me at a game and I can get you one. I have a framed one with EVERY signature greeting every person who enters my ofice so my supply keeps dwindling.

SHould have expected Wanny to come in here and spread his message of doom that is so ubiquitous when he is here. Guess I will go back into my slumber directing my efforts at things that are pretty positive and remembering why.......

John C. Wanamaker
General User

Member Since: 1/2/2005
Post Count: 1,103

Status: Offline

RE: Bewildered with cuts

Posted: 11/12/2010 7:30:56 AM

Sorry Borna but the budget situation is real! and the new Governor of Ohio has already hinted at massive cuts to Higher Education, the University has announced a furlough plan for employees, and the ICA staff is barebones. People are doing a great job of working on. If you are only noticing things like missing posters, well then we are still able to provide the things the Athletes need, and I applaud the staff for such a fine job. A cut that has significant more of an impact, is can you tell me who the team physician for Ohio Athletics is today?

"Half the money I spend on advertising is wasted; the trouble is I don't know which half."

bornacatfan
General User

Member Since: 8/3/2006
Post Count: 5,711

Status: Offline

RE: Bewildered with cuts

Posted: 11/12/2010 8:45:36 AM

Actually Yes. His name and number are plastered around the COnvo. On a more personal note.....nahhhhh....I think I will let that one go also.

The reason I brought this over here is because I do read about all the budget cuts and those things RIGHT HERE in this forum. Posters are not all I notice but it is in my yard and asking for a logical answer...I am still incredibly amazed that you would cut one of the budget nuetral or potentially money making GREAT PR moves the university has. Those have so many uses from patrons of local business' being reminded that there is a game tomorrow nite to recruiting implications as well as putting faces with names for the fans. It's not just one thing but it is in my pervue. I can't help the guy who saw 300 open slots in a parking lot at a basketball game during break and aksed to park there after the game had begun so as not to walk in the snow and be later .....instead of being a good customer service rep and upgrading the guy for one game the parking agent told him Blue tags only in here and HE NEVER CAME BACK. We lost that fan for good. His story is not the only one I hear. This one I raise because I am involved.

The fact that you gleefully constantly blame everything on budget cuts shows you are of the same mind that thinks waaaaaaayyyyy inside the box. If I ran my business like that I would perish under the weight of my competition who have lots more resources. I work on quality , innovation and service....and a lot of thinking outside the box and carving out my own niche. Maybe that is why I love OHIO so much ...I feel the same thing as the underdog with more to offer if folks just had a chance to see ......

John C. Wanamaker
General User

Member Since: 1/2/2005
Post Count: 1,103

Status: Offline

RE: Bewildered with cuts

Posted: 11/12/2010 9:29:58 AM

Actually the name and number plastered around the Convo is not a team physician, Ohio Athletics does not have a team physician since the relocation of Dr. Rosenberg and the sad passing of Dr. Carin. ICA sacrificed replacing this service as a way to continue to cut $$$$

"Half the money I spend on advertising is wasted; the trouble is I don't know which half."

John C. Wanamaker
General User

Member Since: 1/2/2005
Post Count: 1,103

Status: Offline

RE: Bewildered with cuts

Posted: 11/12/2010 9:32:05 AM

I am not blaming budget cuts, I am telling you why they were cut. To blame would be to insinuate, this is not an insinuation it is a fact of the matter.

"Half the money I spend on advertising is wasted; the trouble is I don't know which half."

Ted Thompson
Administrator

Member Since: 11/11/2004
Location: MAC Play
Post Count: 7,564

Status: Offline

RE: Bewildered with cuts

Posted: 11/12/2010 9:49:02 AM

I'm curious as to how big of an expenditure these things were and what you'd have to sell them for to break even. I used to grab about 5 to give to some of my fellow alums to hang in their cubes and so forth. At 25 or 50 cents each, I'd probably keep on doing that and that might be enough to keep people from taking more than they need. At $2, I'd probably just buy one for myself. I know we ask the Athletic Dept. to do a lot with a little, but this seems like something that can be done. In one of the worst economic periods of our country's history, maybe it's OK to take a break from doing stuff like this and tighten the financial belt. Hope it comes back though.

Follow Ohio Football recruiting on the BobcatAttack.com football recruiting database.

Pete Chouteau
General User

Member Since: 11/17/2004
Location: You Can't See Me
Post Count: 1,625

Status: Offline

RE: Bewildered with cuts

Posted: 11/12/2010 11:34:47 AM

Staff time to prepare posters for every sport may be a larger consideration than paying for printing, transporting, and distribution.

Not that it's a good thing to have no schedule poster.

Alan Swank
General User

Member Since: 12/11/2004
Location: Athens, OH
Post Count: 7,072

Status: Offline

RE: Bewildered with cuts

Posted: 11/13/2010 5:54:32 PM

Ted Thompson wrote:

In actuality there would be no cost at all because there are businesses willing to finance these. I inquired about doing volleyball and got the Title IX deal - do it for one, do it for all. As for staff time to prepare them, whatever happened to getting an accomplished OU student designer to do the work. Heck, I work with high school yearbook kids who could do it. Like borna said, think outside the box - innovate and create.

mcbin
General User

Member Since: 12/20/2004
Location: Columbus, OH
Post Count: 949

Status: Offline

RE: Bewildered with cuts

Posted: 11/13/2010 8:04:46 PM

Alan Swank wrote:

Ted Thompson wrote:

IMO, there would be a cost, because that 'willing business' may front a few thousand dollars for some posters, but it would likely pull dollars back from the U in other areas (IE one less radio spot, no space in gameday program, OBC etc). So they could, and likely would, effectively be a money loser. If someone came on here and offered to pay for WBB/VB/MBB/FB posters, my guess is that it might be at the loss of whatever they planned to give OBC that year.

On one hand, I miss the nice posters, as I like to put the new ones up each year in my Bobcat room with the new teams as they come out. But on the other hand, I try to respect the decisions made by a department that has made cut after cut after cut and is struggling to make ends meet. As someone that supports this department with their wallet, it is semi-refreshing knowing that they're making the tough decisions to try to do the right thing with the funds they receive. I'm not saying doing this is right or wrong, but you can tell that they're managing down to the penny (or few thousand dollars) if they're pulling back on things like this.

Sidenote, I did a little (very little) research on what it would cost to make some 24in by 18in posters. I'm sure there are plenty of options and deals out there, but it looks like if you ordered a fair amount, you could do it for around .50 each. If they decided to sell the posters like they do the programs for a small fee, I think the people that really appreciate them would still be buyers.

ben

Alan Swank
General User

Member Since: 12/11/2004
Location: Athens, OH
Post Count: 7,072

Status: Offline

RE: Bewildered with cuts

Posted: 11/14/2010 12:11:05 AM

That's a valid point Ben but in my/our case it was incremental "funding" not a shift of existing dollars/contribution to the posters.

Bobcat Love
General User

Member Since: 12/20/2004
Post Count: 987

Status: Offline

RE: Bewildered with cuts

Posted: 11/14/2010 11:32:51 AM

I would pay upwards of $5 for a Cooper/Freeman/Washington poster this year. Probably put it in my kids room.

I would not pay $0.25 for a poster showing a FB schedule of Wofford and La. Lafayette however.

Just sayin.

bornacatfan
General User

Member Since: 8/3/2006
Post Count: 5,711

Status: Offline

RE: Bewildered with cuts

Posted: 11/14/2010 1:58:01 PM

Someone brought a stack of posters for signing aftr the game yesterday. Not quite the same as a having them.to hang w schedules all over town but certainly a bone for those who are autograph seekers. there was a very long line of kids and fans who waited patiently and the players waited equally as patiently to let little kids interact and talk to them during the signing.. The poster itself is not on cardstock having come offe a large color printer. The team is in a pose reminiscent of last year's poster but all standing. Was happy to see the little kids and players given a chance to interact and the fans a chance to get face time with all the players including the new guys. Way to start them off right. .

Staff member was nice enough to hand me A couple extra dozen to take on the road to distribute.. Find me at away games if you need one. a hearty thanks goes out to whomever took care of this.gla

Last Edited: 11/14/2010 6:41:54 PM by bornacatfan

Andrew Ruck
General User

Member Since: 12/22/2004
Location: Columbus, OH
Post Count: 4,853

Status: Offline

RE: Bewildered with cuts

Posted: 11/23/2010 3:09:31 PM

My boys were hoping to get a big poster like last year's to go in their play room. Settled for the smaller stock paper copies Borna is referring to. I was very appreciative of the players sticking around for autograph day and my boys loved being on the court and meeting the players. Too bad DJ & Reggie were busy with the radio interviews.

It seems pretty logical to try to get a sponsor to front some money for putting their logo in a corner, then charging a buck for them. I'm sure when they are free, half of them never really get put up or anything.

Andrew Ruck
B.B.A. 2003

Showing Replies:	1 - 17 of 17 Posts
Jump to Page:	1

View Other 'General Ohio University Discussion/Alumni Events' Topics

There are 199 Active Visitors on BobcatAttack.com

197 Guests
2 Registered Users:
	Spearchucker, BillyTheCat

There are no other users looking at this page.