Myths about Virginia Tech’s national marketability / coast-to-coast value
I feel like Hokies ourselves don’t give us enough credit in these very important categories. Comparing VT’s brand to B1G programs like Indiana, Purdue, Minnesota, Maryland, Rutgers, Northwestern, etc is funny to me. The overall B1G brand is very BORING and has been forever. Everyone knows and sees this.
Any casual fan in the North, South, East, West, or anywhere in-between is going to know where Michael Vick, Tyrod Taylor, Frank Beamer, Bruce Smith, Bud Foster, Cam Chancellor, and Deangelo Hall came from.
And likely the Edmunds and Fuller brothers, Khalil Herbert, Joey Slye, Logan Thomas, and many others (Fantasy Football if for nothing else). Dell Curry’s on TV all the time and is the famous father of a superstar NBA player. Seth Greenberg is also on ESPN all the time, along with Dell, Vick, and D-Lo.
Quick, name a famous U Minnesota player.
I’ll save you the search: Bronco Nagurski (1930’s) and that’s about it. Marion Barber and Eric Decker, fine. And PJ Fleck (as the current head coach) and Tony Dungy if you Google search it (I didn’t know he went there and I’m not a casual fan).
VT’s got a MUCH better media/marketing presence than our own fans give us credit for. Better than most of the B1G and B12.
Now do that same exercise with Northwestern (ouch!), Indiana, Purdue, Iowa, Maryland, Rutgers, Iowa State, Cincinnati, Kansas State, Texas Tech, TCU, UCF, etc.
They all have had some stars but are not close to VT in terms of nation-wide marketing and presence over the past 20+ years. With all due respect.
Plus, everyone everywhere has seen and gotten *goosebumps* from the Enter Sandman entrance. EVERYONE.
Don’t forget the lunchpail defense, Hokie Bird (National mascot of the year many times), turkey legs at Lane Stadium, many Gameday appearances, ESPN’s Thursday night sweethearts for decades, Herbstreit talking Blacksburg and VT up when justified, and even basketball’s environment and the bacon giveaways that made USA Today and CNN and every other outlet.
VT is highly marketable. Fans from other conferences will tune in to a Thursday night game of VT vs anyone because we are highly entertaining as a program even when we are mediocre on the field.
(But let’s fix that part too of course).
VT BABY!!!
** Edited by Hardcore_Hokie at 8/5/2023, 1:08:31 AM
43 Replies
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VPI_1998
2y
** Edited by VPI_1998 at 8/5/2023, 6:26:13 AM
(In response to this post by LeadingEdge)
2y
VT BABY!!!
** Edited by Hardcore_Hokie at 8/5/2023, 10:28:51 AM
(In response to this post by LeadingEdge)
2y
Sad when you mistake a B1G college’s spelling (Purdue) with a brand of chicken breasts (Perdue) but I did it.
:)
VT BABY!!!
(In response to this post by LeadingEdge)
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vtka93
2y
to not let schools into a conference or when the BIG wants to say they are better than the SEC. We aren't having academic competitions here and academics are not affecting the value of tv contracts.
If your school brings money to the conference, then you can get in. period.
(In response to this post by MikeVT85)
2y
I mean maybe in some highly unlikely tiebreaker type situation, but we're talking about *athletic* conferences.
Conferences want schools that bring media money to the table. No one chooses to watch a football game because the teams playing have awesome research budgets.
(In response to this post by MikeVT85)
2y
If you want to debate it, I’ll debate you all day and win.
We wouldn’t be in today’s ACC if it weren’t for our smarts.
VT BABY!!!
(In response to this post by Pylons)
2y
What I'm saying is academics and research don't really matter for ANYONE in conference realignment. You know, because conferences are actually about ATHLETICS.
Nowhere in my responses to your BS have I put down VT.
(In response to this post by Hardcore_Hokie)
2y
But it’s all good, I understand debate, sarcasm, and humor. This post is over, enjoy your weekend my fellow Hokie.
VT BABY!!!
(In response to this post by Pylons)
2y
Have a good weekend.
VT BABY!!!
(In response to this post by Pylons)
2y
where most of the listed names went to college. Vick? Sure. Beamer? Yeah. Smith? If you're old enough, maybe. Otherwise, people might recognize those names, but doubtful they think "VT" if you say Kam Chancellor or DeAngelo Hall.
Joey Slye? Khalil Herbert? lol. People who know where they went to college are not even close to casual fans. Plenty of pretty ardent fans wouldn't know where they went to college.
Of course, I'm not sure why it matters. A conference isn't going to want to add VT because lots of people know Michael Vick went there and Frank Beamer coached there. Maybe Joey Slye though. lol.
(In response to this post by Hardcore_Hokie)
2y
VT alum with no allegiance, and hoping for the worst for VT and all of college football.
You’re a casual fan.
I’ll hope and expect for better.
VT BABY!!!
(In response to this post by Pylons)
2y
(In response to this post by Hardcore_Hokie)
2y
…and absolutely knows where those players played college ball. Including Joey Slye.
You think LSU’s recent star power in the NFL hasn’t greatly improved their brand?
Regardless, you’re missing the point. VT is not an inferior BRAND to those B1G/B12 schools.
Name a couple recent great Northwestern or Indiana players for me. Yes they have a sweeter TV deal right now, but the B1G would trade them for VT in a heartbeat if they could. We are second-fiddle to very few in reality.
VT BABY!!!
(In response to this post by Pylons)
2y
For membership? So what if the B1G would trade NW for VT "if it could." Even the wackiest of pundits isn't throwing out scenarios like that.
Yes, when you handpick the worst B1G and B12 teams, we might have a marginally better brand. Yippee! What have we won?
It is is fantastic comedy to think Joey Slye is somehow relevant to VT's brand value in conference alignment.
(In response to this post by Hardcore_Hokie)
2y
That’s what this whole thing is about. You’re so caught up in this week’s news and not looking at the big picture.
If football marketing and branding and attendance and market and money and population is foremount…
…why on earth would Indiana or Purdue or Iowa be more valuable than the State of Virginia (Virginia Tech/UVA) and North Carolina?
They absolutely aren’t.
** Edited by Hardcore_Hokie at 8/5/2023, 10:12:03 AM
(In response to this post by Pylons)
2y
In Fantasy Football (which millions of people play) those players are very relevant/famous.
My point is that conference affiliation is very relevant to “The Brand” of the school. What is Miami or Penn State or Oregon without the brand?
VT is a *very* good brand that should not be forgotten in these discussions. ESPN and FOX certainly know that.
I made like 50 points about branding in that post and all you mention is the NFL kicker in regards to expansion, lol. Be a VT fan please.
The VT brand is all my post was about.
VT BABY!!!
** Edited by Hardcore_Hokie at 8/5/2023, 12:20:38 AM
(In response to this post by Pylons)
2y
Brand in these discussions.
(In response to this post by Hardcore_Hokie)
2y
(In response to this post by Pylons)
2y
"wait a sec, let me post more about Joey Slye."
(In response to this post by Hardcore_Hokie)
2y
My mother and father met and graduated in Blacksburg, all my aunts and uncles are VT grads.
My posts are in support of my alma matter. You calling it Joey Slye University might be lol funny to you, but it’s a complete derail of my original post, insulting to our common university, and completely irrelevant to my initial post that:
VT is a VERY marketable brand and football program. Better than MOST (not many, but MOST) of the P5’s (B1G/B12/PAC and some SEC).
The Virginia Tech brand and product is extremely valuable. FOX and ESPN know that.
Good night and Go Hokies.
VT BABY!!!
** Edited by Hardcore_Hokie at 8/5/2023, 1:31:20 AM
(In response to this post by Pylons)
With the add of UO and UW, I think our chances at P2 have improved.
They are not stopping at 16. Or 18.
I think there will be a turf war for the schools in the mid-Atlantic (VA and NC). The SEC wants in. The B1G wants in. This is good news for us. One more thing, I don't think we are viewed by either P2 as second fiddle to UVa. The fact that Oregon is in the P2 and Stanford is still sitting in the Green Room tells you that academic elitism isn't the top characteristic in a school's candidacy, even for the high and mighty Big Ten. If you want football and a passionate fan base, VT is your school. If you want one of the highest ranking public schools and a great basketball program, UVa is your school. It is just a matter of preference.
But I will say this, it is a waste of time to compare our resumes to the bottom half of the Big Ten or SEC. Those schools are already in no matter what they do. They are privileged children born into rich families. Class envy won't change that. So no need fretting over it. Just get to the next level the old fashioned way--by earning it. What we do need to do is get good enough to be attractive to the entire conference. I want them to say, "Yeah, I want to play them. I want to go on a road trip there." Or "Yes, I'd watch them if they were on TV."
(In response to this post by Hardcore_Hokie)
2y
(In response to this post by Maroon Baboon)
2y
…that *I* am not the one comparing these schools to VT on this board. Others are and pointing to the TV contracts as to why VT is inferior to Maryland or Rutgers or Purdue or Minnesota. Give me a break.
That’s why I posted this and said it was laughable.
We have an amazing brand, an amazing market (DC, NoVa, Richmond, 757, Charlotte, you kidding me?) that has remained untouched and highly desirable by the P2, in one of the richest and most populous states in America…and elite academics.
We aren’t going anywhere, everyone please layoff the panic button. We are Virginia Tech.
VT BABY!!!
(In response to this post by Maroon Baboon)
Didn't Paul Bunyan play for Minnesota? ;)
(In response to this post by HwoodHokie)
2y
Two days after the attack on Pearl Harbor.
I forgot about that one (lol).
He was drafted in the 13th round of the NFL draft and played professionally for 4 years. In the Nineteen Forties
(So we also win the Bruce Smith vs Bruce Smith contest, that’s a new fun fact)
VT BABY!!!
(In response to this post by HwoodHokie)
2y
(In response to this post by Hardcore_Hokie)
2y
Imagine the windfall going to Ohio State, Michigan, Penn State and Wisconsin. Big states, huge state flagship schools with zillions of alums, and culturally everyone is a fan of those teams even if not alums.
And I do think you are sleeping on Minnesota. Schools, states like that, Nebraska, Maryland, Illinois, etc are similar. Big State flagship Schools with zillions of eyeballs in alums and fans. The ratings don't lie. Compare Virginia Tech ratings to Penn State or Wiscinsin.
(In response to this post by Hardcore_Hokie)
2y
I already answered that in the post.
Marketability and state population are not the same thing.
VT plays on Thursday nights ESPN prime time 1-2 times a year. Usually 1 home game at least. That is not an accident, ESPN knows what they have in VT.
And that has been the standard for almost 30 years. Let’s give ourselves some credit, that’s all I’m saying. Things get lost in these crazy TV numbers, no reason to believe our future is being a nothing in the landscape.
VT BABY!!!
(In response to this post by SpeakToDamien)
2y
(In response to this post by SpeakToDamien)
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drb
2y
(In response to this post by Hardcore_Hokie)
2y
Look up Maryland, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Indiana….
If we’re talking population and eyeballs…and MONEY…the state of Virginia is unarguably a better market than those states. Fairfax and Loudon County and the DC television market? Seriously?
But that’s not even remotely the point of my post, so it’s all good.
VT BABY!!!
(In response to this post by drb)
Question for those in NOVA?
Is NOVA, since it is in the DMV, part of the Big Ten Network footprint since the television stations are in DC? I know that when I lived in Maryland (Baltimore area), ABC usually had Penn State on at 3:30. That was even before the BTN and Maryland being in the B1G. When I lived in the Baltimore area, the top 3 out-of-state college football programs were 1. Penn State, 2. VA Tech and 3. WVU. I saw cars and trucks with those three school's decals, flags and license plate frames almost every day when traveling on busy highways and interstates.
(In response to this post by Hardcore_Hokie)
2y
Granted, we sport more SWAG than any other local team…but that’s kind of the point.
In Fairfax County, you see more VT bumper stickers, T-Shirts, and Swag than Penn State, Maryland, and UVA combined. I see it every day.
Swag is not the only important measurement for branding but I stand by that comment with confidence.
We just promote our school/brand on a different level. Like SEC schools do.
VT BABY!!!
(In response to this post by Old Line Hokie)
R
RJHokie
2y
My daughter and her family live in Loudoun County - she agrees.
(In response to this post by Hardcore_Hokie)
How visible are the Terps on local TV?
Since they left the ACC, I don't see them much here (on ABC,CBS and Fox) in southern VA.
(In response to this post by Hardcore_Hokie)
2y
Maryland HS football participation is dwindling. Some schools have cancelled their programs altogether.
It’s absolutely nothing like the 757.
The Terps are an afterthought in NoVa.
VT BABY!!!
(In response to this post by Old Line Hokie)