Jim Tressel Bobbleheads

[K92]

I totally missed this one. Perhaps it was mentioned on another thread?

Found one on ebay.

I thought there would have been a lot of commentary surrounding this.

[mbalsinger]

$175? That guy is delusional...

But yeah, I'm not sure I get the whole Jim Tressel Bobblehead at an Akron Aero's game for The University of Akron thing...Perhaps it would make more sense at a Football game?

[Dr Z]

I totally missed this one. Perhaps it was mentioned on another thread?

Small mention here back in March.

$175? That guy is delusional...

Building a New Arena...One Bobblehead at a Time™

[pat]

$175? That guy is delusional...

But yeah, I'm not sure I get the whole Jim Tressel Bobblehead at an Akron Aero's game for The University of Akron thing...Perhaps it would make more sense at a Football game?

I hear ya! I hate to admit it but it comes off as try-hard or forced behavior. The university is overplaying the Jim tressel card and it shows. We don't need to come off as so desperate. BTW, I got Woody Hayes for $50 about 25 years ago. Any takers?

[Zip76]

I hear ya! I hate to admit it but it comes off as try-hard or forced behavior. The university is overplaying the Jim tressel card and it shows. We don't need to come off as so desperate. BTW, I got Woody Hayes for $50 about 25 years ago. Any takers?

The University had nothing to do with this... It was an Aeros promotion.

[tbozeglav]

Jim Tressel is a relevant name, and a popular one in Ohio... Aeros know they have him a mile away here at UA... so why not promote the university, the aeros, by proxy of a well-recognized and well-liked name? Play off his fame, UA... who cares.

[LZIp]

Not uncommon at all for minor league teams to run promotions like this.

[Z.I.P.]

Not uncommon at all for minor league teams to run promotions like this.

Did he have to milk any cows before the game?

[mbalsinger]

Jim Tressel is a relevant name, and a popular one in Ohio... Aeros know they have him a mile away here at UA... so why not promote the university, the aeros, by proxy of a well-recognized and well-liked name? Play off his fame, UA... who cares.

I care. Because it makes us look desperate and continues the dialogue of how much of a joke UA is. He has not done ANYTHING for the University (yes I know he helps with student recruitment but that's really not something worth of bobblehead recognition) and yet we're recognizing him. Every UA student I talked to about the give away said "What a joke" every non UA alumni or student basically "wow...that seems desperate."

I'm sick and tired of being the continual punchline of a joke.

[skip-zip]

I hear ya! I hate to admit it but it comes off as try-hard or forced behavior. The university is overplaying the Jim tressel card and it shows. We don't need to come off as so desperate.

I'm with you. Just about everyone I know outside the circle of UA athletic fans saw it that way. The whole Tressel thing is just embarrassing to me, as a UA alum. As I said back when we hired him, maybe waiting a few years or so, until he was no longer the poster child of disregard for the rules in college athletics, could have made the perception a lot different.

[LZIp]

I care. Because it makes us look desperate and continues the dialogue of how much of a joke UA is. He has not done ANYTHING for the University (yes I know he helps with student recruitment but that's really not something worth of bobblehead recognition) and yet we're recognizing him. Every UA student I talked to about the give away said "What a joke" every non UA alumni or student basically "wow...that seems desperate."

I'm sick and tired of being the continual punchline of a joke.

I'm with you. Just about everyone I know outside the circle of UA athletic fans saw it that way. The whole Tressel thing is just embarrassing to me, as a UA alum. As I said back when we hired him, maybe waiting a few years or so, until he was no longer the poster child of disregard for the rules in college athletics, could have made the perception a lot different.

Im not seeing what is so hard to understand that the University had nothing to do with the promotion. It was the Aeros.

[a-zip]

I'm with you. Just about everyone I know outside the circle of UA athletic fans saw it that way. The whole Tressel thing is just embarrassing to me, as a UA alum. As I said back when we hired him, maybe waiting a few years or so, until he was no longer the poster child of disregard for the rules in college athletics, could have made the perception a lot different.

Relax - We have high profile people at the school, Tressel is a popular coach/person. If a bobblehead helps, sell the damn bobblehead. Heck, my kids have a Lebron bobblehead and they love it, he never even went to UoA. Sell Bobby Bowden bobbleheads, Terry Bowden bobbleheads, Caleb Porter bobbleheads, Keith Dambrot bobbleheads....WTF people......how is it embarrassing to have quality/high profile people working at our school............Maybe you would be happier if they were at Can't State and embarrassing Can't State by selling bobbleheads. People will bitch about anything......sad

[LZIp]

Relax - We have high profile people at the school, Tressel is a popular coach/person. If a bobblehead helps, sell the damn bobblehead. Heck, my kids have a Lebron bobblehead and they love it, he never even went to UoA. Sell Bobby Bowden bobbleheads, Terry Bowden bobbleheads, Caleb Porter bobbleheads, Keith Dambrot bobbleheads....WTF people......how is it embarrassing to have quality/high profile people working at our school............Maybe you would be happier if they were at Can't State and embarrassing Can't State by selling bobbleheads. People will bitch about anything......sad

If I could rep you I would. Have never heard anybody outside of UA that I know degrade us for having Tressel associated with the University.

[pat]

I think some of us see quality as being more important than quantity when it comes to efficacy. This whole bubblehead mania is about quantity and unfortunately comes off as superficial and not effective. And for the record, UA had everything to do with this. The Aeros could not pull off this type of promotion without UA's expressed permission. They are using our trademarks for starters for crying out loud. Marketing at UA still leaves a lot to be desired and needs to reach beyond "feeding the chickens" or "throwing pasta up against a wall to see if it sticks." Assessing constructive criticism by some of us as "some people will bitch about anything" is sophomoric and misses the point.

We want to be part of the solution and not part of the problem. And keep in mind, I am one who continues to support Tressel being hired by UA. I just think UA needs to be more prudent about how it allows other organizations to exploit his presence on campus. We need to stop looking like "Stewart" claiming, "Look what I can do!"

[tbozeglav]

The university had about as much involvement as signing off on what the Aeros wanted to do and providing the logos for the permission. Production of the bobbleheads and marketing of the event was all Aeros.

I dont understand why people make a big stink about Tressel bobbleheads, yet theres hardly a peep about LeBron bobbleheads. The former works for us, actually doing positive things to help students in college, the latter infrequently throws the university some money, hosts a training camp there, and otherwise doesnt exist. I have more of a problem with associating ourselves with LeBron, whose only tie to the university its in and their current basketball coach, than a former coach who now works for the university and helps students directly.

[pat]

The university had about as much involvement as signing off on what the Aeros wanted to do and providing the logos for the permission. Production of the bobbleheads and marketing of the event was all Aeros.

"I dont understand why people make a big stink about Tressel bobbleheads, yet theres hardly a peep about LeBron bobbleheads. The former works for us, actually doing positive things to help students in college, the latter infrequently throws the university some money, hosts a training camp there, and otherwise doesnt exist. I have more of a problem with associating ourselves with LeBron, whose only tie to the university its in and their current basketball coach, than a former coach who now works for the university and helps students directly.

Thanks for making my point. Allowing the Aeros to use our trademarks and involving ourself with the promotion with our marching band and more makes UA significantly involved in this event. The post claiming that UA had nothing to do with this is way off base.

No one is making a stink about anything. A bobblehead of JT is not the same as JT himself being employed by UA. This is not about JT or LJ. It's about effective marketing. Some of us just don't think throwing around bobbleheads is all that effective of a tactic and smacks of cheesey, desperate behavior. Perhaps using LJ is just as lame as using JT and perhaps it is not. All I know is that UA has played the Jim Tressel card too much and it is wearing thin in the media and more. Give him credit for his role in helping students and being a power house coach by all means but stop the superficial fluff with TV show and other meaningless crap. People can see through this cymbal clanging.

[GP1]

One should look at this in two ways. The point of view of the Aeros and the point of view of UofA. Before I go on, I think this was a good idea and probably a win-win for both parties.

First, minor league baseball teams sell far more tickets before the season starts than during the season. Knowing that, did this give away have a positive impact on attendance for that evening and only that evening? There shouldn't be an expectation for this to have a long term effect on ticket sales. My guess is this was a win for the Aeros because they probably had an increase in attendance they might not have without this promotion or with another promotion.

Secondly, UofA should do everything it can to bring alumni and friends with their families at least in the near proximity of campus with events. Partnering with the Aeros for something like this is a good move and probably didn't cost much money at all. I don't see how the University loses in an event like this. I also don't know how much they win, but I don't see a loss.

[pat]

One should look at this in two ways. The point of view of the Aeros and the point of view of UofA. Before I go on, I think this was a good idea and probably a win-win for both parties.

First, minor league baseball teams sell far more tickets before the season starts than during the season. Knowing that, did this give away have a positive impact on attendance for that evening and only that evening? There shouldn't be an expectation for this to have a long term effect on ticket sales. My guess is this was a win for the Aeros because they probably had an increase in attendance they might not have without this promotion or with another promotion.

Secondly, UofA should do everything it can to bring alumni and friends with their families at least in the near proximity of campus with events. Partnering with the Aeros for something like this is a good move and probably didn't cost much money at all. I don't see how the University loses in an event like this. I also don't know how much they win, but I don't see a loss.

It has been looked at in the two ways you mention. To do so is obvious.

Yes, UA should do everything it can to promote UA but that does not include operating from a position of weakness and desperation. Marketing principles have proven that such behavior equals a loss. One must always operate from a position of strength. UA and the city itself has a long embarrassing history of operation from a position of corny overplayed weakness and it has proven to bring nothing but lack of growth and failure to the area and the university.

It must stop now. Can we say Corbin Benson boys and girls?

[GP1]

Yes, UA should do everything it can to promote UA but that does not include operating from a position of weakness and desperation. Marketing principles have proven that such behavior equals a loss. One must always operate from a position of strength. UA and the city itself has a long embarrassing history of operation from a position of corny overplayed weakness and it has proven to bring nothing but lack of growth and failure to the area and the university.

I think you are reading too much into a minor league baseball game with a bobblehead doll give away.

[pat]

I think you are reading too much into a minor league baseball game with a bobblehead doll give away.

I think you are defending it way too much. It's corny..it's feeble...it's Akron. Jim Tressel is not the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe or the Shroud of Turin. Akron and Cleveland for that matter has to lay off all of these personifications of "the lord and savior"

Hey, next game...how about a Jesus bobblehead for the ZIPS and Aeros?

[mbalsinger]

I dont understand why people make a big stink about Tressel bobbleheads, yet theres hardly a peep about LeBron bobbleheads. The former works for us, actually doing positive things to help students in college, the latter infrequently throws the university some money, hosts a training camp there, and otherwise doesnt exist. I have more of a problem with associating ourselves with LeBron, whose only tie to the university its in and their current basketball coach, than a former coach who now works for the university and helps students directly.

There was considerable stink about the LeBron bobbleheads...what world were you living on? The Facebook announcement was majority negative twoards LeBron bobbleheads.

[GP1]

I think you are defending it way too much. It's corny..it's feeble...it's Akron. Jim Tressel is not the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe or the Shroud of Turin. Akron and Cleveland for that matter has to lay off all of these personifications of "the lord and savior"

Hey, next game...how about a Jesus bobblehead for the ZIPS and Aeros?

Actually, I can't stand bobbleheads, but I'm not an 8 year old boy either. They are toys for children. Minor league teams use them to draw children an their parents to games.

Is it corny?...Yes, so is so much of what goes on at minor league baseball games. The Aeros are a popular thing to do around Akron. They should try to side with that popularity on some level. If you are going to saddle up at a minor league event, expect some level of corny. May is when schools begin their push for season tickets for next year so a May event could have presented a good kick off opportunity.

Is it feeble?...Somewhat, but it is part of what goes on in minor league sports. Hell, the Pittsburgh Pirates have "Free Shirt Friday" for home games and they are sort of a major league team. They pack the stadium. Is that feeble or knowing how cheap Yinzers are that you can give out a cheap shirt with a grocery store chain written on it and they will flock to games for the shirt.

Is Tressel the Shroud of Turin?...No, its hard to be a cloth.

Is Tressel Our Lady of Guadalupe?...No, but who knows what lies Our Lady of Guadalupe might have told to win football games.

As far as a Jesus bobblehead, Google "Jesus bobblehead" and you can pick from quite a selection including a Jesus bobblehead that simulates walking. The people of NE Ohio have been prone to strange Christian cults/cult leaders masquerading as mega churches going as far back as Rex Humbard and probably before him. A Jesus bobblehead door prize, with a halftime show by Faith Plus One, might just pack in the Big Dialer.

[skip-zip]

Relax - We have high profile people at the school, Tressel is a popular coach/person. If a bobblehead helps, sell the damn bobblehead. Heck, my kids have a Lebron bobblehead and they love it, he never even went to UoA. Sell Bobby Bowden bobbleheads, Terry Bowden bobbleheads, Caleb Porter bobbleheads, Keith Dambrot bobbleheads....WTF people......how is it embarrassing to have quality/high profile people working at our school............Maybe you would be happier if they were at Can't State and embarrassing Can't State by selling bobbleheads. People will bitch about anything......sad

Because "quality" isn't quite the first word that comes to mind when we're talking about someone who ends up on the cover of SI, with an accompanying story about a long history of undesirable behavior (I'm being kind).

High Profile? I'll give you that. But, that just makes the quality issue stick out even more.

Yes, I'll stick with my claim of being embarrassed. I'm disappointed that my alma mater didn't hold themselves to a higher standard when making this hire.

[Dave in Green]

If the Aeros approached UA to get permission to give away Jim Tressel bobbleheads in Zips colors as a promotion, I can't imagine anyone in a position of responsibility at UA refusing. There are legitimate connections. Canal Park is primarily used by the Cleveland Indians minor league affiliate and also by the Zips baseball team. Beyond that, Tressel cooperated with the Indians when they called on him to help "recruit" Nick Swisher. So there's a history of cooperation among the main parties. While I think it's generally positive for everyone involved, it's understandable that some will find reasons to be less than thrilled. The important thing is that it comes out a net positive.

[Dr Z]

If the Aeros approached UA to get permission to give away Jim Tressel bobbleheads in Zips colors as a promotion

So a scarlet tie and grey paints are Zips colors? I'm starting to see the issue.