SINKRATZ
PhD in Analogy
And what narrative is that?
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Spring Football Schedule (Some changes coming)
- Thread starter Buffnik
- Start date
It's in their best interest to keep people interested in the program. If they are controlling the 'news' out of practices, they can communicate whatever content they believe will be favorable. Opening practices lifts the covers, to a degree.
It seemed to me that's exactly what happened last year. We knew the defense would likely take a step back due to key player losses. But the news, as I recall, was that we had a solid O-line, great returning WR's, solid QB play, and a stud RB. So the offense should be able to overcome the deficiencies that may exist on the defensive side of the ball. I had reasonably high expectations for the season because of this narrative. The first half of the CSU game is when I began to question what I had heard. With open spring and/or fall practices, those more knowledgeable that I would have likely seen some of the weaknesses that we eventually saw during the season.
I'd still have a problem with it. I'd forgive about anything if the program was winning 9+ game a season, for sure. But some things are just bad business and those things bother me on a foundational level.
SINKRATZ
PhD in Analogy
So you prefer the North Korea strategy? The flip side is anything coming out of camp is assumed to be fluff that we can disregard. NFL camps are wide open, I'm not sure why a college program needs to be so secretive. At a minimum it dampens interest in the program so when we bitch about how the Broncos dominate the media, it's partially self-inflicted.
^^This
It would be like if I said I don't need the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Fortune, The Economist and others because I get all the news on companies from their press releases. Their internally controlled and generated content is what CU hopes to become the entirety of the CU news, it seems.
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People get paid over three million dollars to beat us, we are definitely relevant enough.
It's time AB approach RG
No, not at all. I would prefer that we have exposure to progress in the camps, even if on a limited basis. I was just trying to reason why this staff does what it does, and I believe it is to control the information. Eventually, perhaps even this year, it will no longer serve the fan base because, as you say, the news will assumed to be fluff. But then again, maybe they believe it buys them the necessary time until they get good enough where it won't matter. They need a really good year this year. I think they will have one, but I'll have to see it with my own eyes. I won't be paying much attention to the fluff.
Fair. But I have to wonder how many people sitting on the fence about buying a season ticket package or 3-game package might be swayed by some fluff. Not like CU is selling out every home game.
I think I was last year. Let's not forget, season tickets have definitely gone up.
What other reason do you think would cause them to close practices?
50% bunker mentality / 50% driven by business reasons (they want to have special content for their in-house media they've invested in & the Pac-12 network/Pac-12 media partners that pays about 30% of the AD budget).
business reasons = controlling the messaging in my book.
The slash in my response delineates the "dumb business thinking" from the "smart business thinking".
Ha! Gotcha - and agreed.The slash in my response delineates the "dumb business thinking" from the "smart business thinking".
SINKRATZ
PhD in Analogy
And that's the problem right there. It's fluff, so it's less interesting. If an outside news organization was doing a piece on the QB situation part way through camp that would be more compelling to me than a Woelk article telling me how all the QBs look good and improved over last year.
CU thinking: why risk negative coverage when you can hire aged formerly respected journalists and have them disseminate the information that CU decides the outsiders should see? outsiders include: fans, alums, students, the press, and every tax payer in colorado (many of whom do not believe CU represents them).
i hate this so much. look, i like woelk and bg. but, this is not how you win influence in the modern era. i can't wait to read yet another puff piece about how the o-line looks the best it has looked since 2001.
small time thinking leads to small time results.
i hate this so much. look, i like woelk and bg. but, this is not how you win influence in the modern era. i can't wait to read yet another puff piece about how the o-line looks the best it has looked since 2001.
small time thinking leads to small time results.
additionally, this narrative that folks in the state of Colorado are from so many different places and there are so many other things to do and that it is fundamentally a bronco market is dumb and misguided. CU media policies reinforce the stupidity of this thinking. this goes beyond coaches connecting with and visiting the high school programs in the state. you also have to connect to the communities. and, if you build the base now, when you have a good year, it can become a magical year, with everyone talking about the Buffs and supporting the Buffs. that can help get us to the next level.
Even if they want to have a bunker mentality it wouldn't kill them to have one open practice a week.
Yes it might allow somebody to figure out who is or isn't practicing but they aren't going to give away any deep, dark secrets in that amount of time.
Realistically it's spring ball, they wouldn't be giving up much if they were open every practice but let the coaches have their paranoia and sense of control, still open at least one practice a week
Yes it might allow somebody to figure out who is or isn't practicing but they aren't going to give away any deep, dark secrets in that amount of time.
Realistically it's spring ball, they wouldn't be giving up much if they were open every practice but let the coaches have their paranoia and sense of control, still open at least one practice a week
What is CU paying to have this "news control"? I see no value add here by Woelk. Zero. Let Adam and the beat guys do their jobs. Heck, require the paper/press to actually have someone who writes about the buffs on a regular basis to get a practice badge. Throw in some incentive.
If the Buffs had a spring men's sports team such as lacrosse, this wouldn't be as big of a problem. The other sports that have fall practices benefit from having football season running during that time so why can't football benefit from such a distraction as well?
Football still pays the bills. The scrutiny is inherent.
Yep. Not like LSU's great baseball program and fan support means there's any less focus on its football team in the spring.
We have a thread about how much we hate the Denver media and then one about how much we wish we gave the Denver media more access to the program?
I dislike the bunker mentality as much as anybody, but I frankly don’t give a damn if the Post never gets access to practices, games, lockerrooms, coaches interviews, tailgates, the Mall Parade, etc.
I dislike the bunker mentality as much as anybody, but I frankly don’t give a damn if the Post never gets access to practices, games, lockerrooms, coaches interviews, tailgates, the Mall Parade, etc.
Yikes.