Quick Social Media Primer for 2013-14

Face it: Most SIDs are jacks of all trades, but master of too few.

There's always someone who knows more on a given subject. Recently I met with Berry College's Director of Social Media Cameron Jordan. 

Listed below are some of tips he suggested for Berry College athletics.

Most of our Facebook posting is done with a simple click of the Facebook box through our Presto Sports website.

However, if you add a photo manually (action shot from a game, for example), and then paste the headline and URL, you will see more activity.

The reason? Facebook users are more likely to click your story link, like or share when there's a photo--rather than just a shortened URL.I'm going to test this out and expect to see positive results.

It's also a great idea to share and like other campus Facebook posts. Additionally, tag the user (Berry Football, for example) for another "best practice." 

Yet I got a better review on my use of Twitter. I still automate the posts through Presto, but I also like to add images at games, and for other occasions. 

General rule of thumb: Users want unique content and photos, people!

I'm looking to expand our Instagram use, too. I may forgo Twitpic and Imagetwit.

Which brings up a good point: Instagram now has video. Once again, the popular Instagram could replace Tout and Vine accounts for many.

Lastly, don't forget to interact with users on all social media platforms. That is the kind of goodwill that will get you a very large "thumbs up" from your community.

Add Value and Enhance Career

The first CoSIDA convention under the NACDA umbrella is still fresh on our minds. What are your takeaways?

My big one: add value.

According to a report, college division athletic directors (most) are our biggest fans. They now see the the quality and quantity of what the SID does. That is HUGE progress, my friends.

On the negative side, many higher ups--VPs and Presidents--are unaware of the tremendous value we add to our institutions.

They need to know that a strategic communicator greatly assists in attracting and retaining students to a college or university.

What can we do to convince the higher ups of this fact?

Continue the good we are doing and broadcast the successes.

Be Yourself, but Make a Splash 

What is your AD, coach or president saying about you?

The valued SIDs are using their unique talents to fortify their jobs.

For example, one SID is big on game shows and can take over a room. But he also gets in his game files promptly each night. His bosses know the job he does but also that extra effort to make the student-athlete experience unique and special.

Define your unique skills and build on them. What are you adding to your repertoire in 2014? If you don't at least try something new or to get better, you are not helping your situation or the profession.

Know Your Limitations

Just about every job interviewee is asked of his/her biggest weakness? Have you defined yours in relation to your job? If the answer is yes, ask for help.

If graphic design is not your thing, can the PR office assist on layout and cover design of a media guide?

Does your office have a plan in place for editing and accuracy? Don Ranly once said a doctor can't operate on himself and an author needs an editor as well.

Do you have too many responsibilities on game day? Perhaps a local statistician or PA announcer can help. Identify the hole and ask for help. They can only say "no."

Nice Guys Finish First 

If I were to guess what the biggest asset of an embedded/successful/respected SID was, it would be that he/she is well-liked.

"Every time I say yes to a coach, it's a deposit in the bank," was a takeaway from a CoSIDA panel about dealing with coaches. The veteran from the commonwealth of Virginia made a wise point.

For those of us handling multiple sports, do you have a genuine interest in every athletic team you cover? Say "yes" to their unique needs and you can reap dividends.

More importantly, do you strive to achieve positive personal relationships with coaches? A friend is likely to be your biggest advocate.

Get Involved

It may be a broken record, but get involved. The CoSIDA Board, committees, divisional leadership, and activity on the conference level are all good examples.

SIDs can make a difference elsewhere. We now can sit on sport championship committees, which is another indication of the increasing respect of our profession within intercollegiate athletics.

However, there are other ways to be involved. Be an asset by blogging about the profession, get active on LinkedIn discussion boards, the SIDBoard.com or SIDChat. If you are helping or educating others, you are an asset.

Or, perhaps simply pick up of the phone and see how a colleague and or newcomer is doing once a week. I can do that.

Live Video Streaming

There are many live streaming options for college athletic departments. At the 2013 CoSIDA convention, I coordinated three different approaches to successful live streaming.

This document outlines what we do at Berry College: Presto Sports and UStream. (Note: Brent Harris from Wabash College and Brandon Tripp from Fresno Pacific presented other options.)

Berry live streaming from Bob Lowe

Video on a Budget for SIDs

Adding video recaps and content adds great value to college athletic departments. This presentation at the 2013 CoSIDA Convention was moderated by Berry College's Bob Lowe. All the three panelists had similar ways of creating videos. Caley McCool of the PSAC and Aaron Seagraves did much of the Power Point work.

Please enjoy the presentation below:
 

Mount Berry, Ga.  – Bob Lowe has been named the director of sports information and promotions at Berry College, announced Viking Athletics Director Todd Brooks.

"We are glad to welcome Bob to Berry College," Brooks said. "He has exhibited leadership in his profession, administrative skill, and creativity in his career. This is an exciting time at Berry and we believe Bob will be a great asset to our institution."

Lowe has been involved in collegiate athletics for nearly 15 years, most recently as the director of communications for the Liberty League.  Prior to the Liberty League, Lowe was hired as Greensboro College's sports information director in the fall of 1999 and served through March 2011. He provided publicity for GC's 18 intercollegiate athletic teams, and was promoted to assistant athletic director for communications in 2008.

Lowe was the driving force behind PrideNet/PrideTV, a venue offering live and archived broadcasts of Greensboro College athletic events.  He served as chairman of the CoSIDA New Media/Technology committee from 2003 to '10, and now sits as a member.  Lowe also has won two Fred Stabley "Best in the District" awards for writing.

In 2010, Lowe was selected to serve on the CoSIDA Board of directors. A college division representative from the Southeast region, Lowe was one of 16 elected board members representing the more than 2400 sports information professionals in the USA and Canada. He continues to serve on D3SIDA, an advisory board for the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).

In the summer of 2002, Lowe helped form the North Carolina Collegiate Sports Information Association (NCCSIA). Since its inception, NCCSIA has honored more than 1200 "All State" student-athletes. Lowe served as both the organization's treasurer and past president.

A native of Whittier, Calif., Lowe received a bachelor's degree in journalism from San Diego State University. He was the sports information director at Santa Ana (Calif.) College for two years prior to arriving in Greensboro.
"I am very excited to join the Berry College team," said Lowe. "I relish the chance to return to an NCAA Division III campus. I was greatly impressed with the people, facilities, and atmosphere at Berry. It is a special and unique place, and I can't wait to get started!"

Lowe and his wife, Kim, have a teenage daughter, Brinley. A member of the SDSU Lacrosse Hall of Fame, Lowe is a certified college men's lacrosse official. He is also a dedicated fan of Bruce Springsteen.

About Berry College

Nationally recognized for both quality and value, Berry College (www.berry.edu ) is an independent, coeducational college of approximately 1,850 students offering exceptional undergraduate degrees. Students are encouraged to enrich their academic studies through participation in one of the nation's premiere on-campus work experience programs. More than 90 percent of Berry students take advantage of this unique opportunity to gain valuable real-world experience prior to graduation.

Berry athletics (www.berryvikings.com) is a member of the Southern Athletic Association, which is a new league celebrating its first year. Other members of the NCAA Division III league are Birmingham-Southern College in Alabama; Centre College in Kentucky; Hendrix College in Arkansas; Millsaps College in Mississippi; Oglethorpe University in Georgia; and Rhodes College and Sewanee in Tennessee. Berry is in its fourth and final year as a probationary NCAA Division III member. The Vikings offer 20 sports, and will sponsor intercollegiate football in 2013.

Improve Your Website

There are THREE factors that can move your communications platform from good to GREAT.

They are:

-Video

-Strategic websites

-Social media

Or, just check out the "Pathway to Internet Excellence" slide show.

P.I.E. -- Pathway to Internet Excellence from Bob Lowe

Lowe Finds a Career Calling?

The computer network at the fledgling conglomerate of Robert B. Lowe Communications was hit by viruses. This was more of a black plague bug than an upset stomach.

Computer virus buster "Big Mike" of Archdale, N.C. noted: "There's one thing for sure your computer will do: it'll die."

Big Mike is right. If not a virus, a computer crash can cause similar heartache. Having been a PC owner for 20+ years, I knew better.

I lost about 20 hours of recently-completed work and countless personal information. Most notable was the 4 years of personal photo images. (Note: my next installment will be about setting up a virus-preventing system and data backup procedures.)

After the attack--and with our main desktop in the ICU for one week--there was plenty of time to contemplate worms, Trojans and the state of viruses on the digital world. Here are a few thoughts I heard on the subject.

I'm going to go out on a limb and say the loss of money, productivity and sanity is near infinity on this issue.

-Macintosh users don't have to worry about viruses (see update below).
-Virus authors create havoc-wreaking software just to see if they can.
-Hackers are now hitting Macs.
-Microsoft and Windows have not done nearly enough to prevent invasion to their software and our computers.
-Computer virus writers, under the guise of being malware-finders, extort millions from unsuspecting users.

This being said, my new career path should be that of a politician. It would have to be a high-level post because my reign would have to cover miscreants from Kernersville, NC to Kuala Lumpur who seek to ruin your life.

Seriously, what is our government and the rest of the World doing to combat these thugs who exist to hoodwink, extort and steal from good people?

Truth be told, I just read a story that American intelligence forces hacked into to Iraqi computer systems. Certainly computer virus warfare operates at a very high level. Ironically, hacking into your PC has been helped by our tax dollars.

As the self nominated "World Hacker Czar" I would be a hanging judge. Break out old punishments--stoning, tar and feathering, and firing squads--to deal with criminals who are invading business and households worldwide.

My name is Bob Lowe and I approve this message. I'd appreciate your vote!

Confessions of a Working Stiff in Transition

What would happen if a long-time working stiff said "enough?"

Time for a change. A new direction. He needs new challenges, not the same GroundHog Day of the past 13 years.

There are no guarantees, however. They say it's a tough economy. NPR just told me it takes the unemployed an average of 39 weeks to find work.

I'm sorry, that's too pessimistic. Was Ari Fleischer (seen with author Bob Lowe above) a buzzkill when he started his PR firm? I doubt it.

A proposed name for my new company was Half Full Media, meaning that glass is not near empty. I'm taking the road less traveled, the path of positive thinking and Norman Vincent Peale.

When I decided to move on, good things happened. The long-expected IRS refund arrived. On my last day at my old job, the state refund was in the mailbox. There were many more signals that new path was indeed the right choice. I certainly hope that trend continues.

In the short time I've been "without a traditional job" my eyes have been opened. In addition to fixing many house-related repairs, I've had a new look at work and life. Most employees, certainly in that field of sports information of which I toiled, sacrifice family, free time and regular hours to tell the story of their teams. To these soldiers I say, it's OK to turn the bedside light off if the email or game file hasn't arrived by 11 p.m.

I have relished the opportunity to connect with other communications and business professionals here in Greensboro. There's a dynamic group called Linking Greensboro (http://www.linkinggreensboro.com) that is doing a fantastic job of sharing ideas and creating networking opportunities.

What I know about new media is that many business are not using this valuable tool. If you need more business, you are losing an opportunity if your not engaging current and potential clients on their Droid via Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn. Is your competitor doing the same thing?

I commend my childhood friend, Bob Mutch, for taking a leap of faith and starting a business. Good luck to him as he tries to connect people and businesses via the Internet in Fairfield, Ca.

I'm proud of my journalism background--Whittier HS and San Diego State--and my work in the athletic communications field. I believe very strongly, however, that we all need to challenge ourselves to keep learning.

My journey as a strategic communicator will be with eyes wide open. If you haven't been paying attention, that generation behind us has been raised on Blackberrys, and social media. They don't have to go back to school to learn it. Just keep that in mind. That much I do know.

With more than 20 years of communications experience, Bob Lowe started Robert B. Lowe Communications in April, 2011. He can be reached at robertbrianlowe@gmail.com or, of course, on Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn.

Pointing Us to a Playoff!

My daughter got me the "Death to the BCS" book for Christmas. I could not put it down and finished it on Dec. 25, 2010.

The book by Dan Wetzel, Josh Peter and Jeff Passan does a great job of exposing a great job of exposing the BCS for what it is: an un-American, unfair money grab by some of the nation's best universities.

I challenge any sane person to read this and still support the sham that is "bowl subdivision."

The book contains many examples and illustrations of why this farce must end. There is, however, one thread that keeps coming to mind for me:

Many Public institutions need taxpayer subsidies to cover the cost of their athletic departments. These schools are doing this when they are well aware that a football playoff could easily support said programs without the taxpayer subsidy.

This fact seems unfathomable in today's economic times.

What can we do about this? Well, you can contact your alma mater and voice your displeasure.

San Diego State University, my undergraduate college, is not part of the "Big Six" conferences that siphon 86-percent of the current bowl revenue. Their conference, the Mountain West, is currently on the outside.

As much as I hate to admit it, if the Aztecs were in the "cartel" (that's the book's fair term) they, too, would likely support the status quo. That's the frustrating part: If you get in the club, all good sense goes by the wayside, and you simply shrug your shoulders and run to the bank with your deposit.

If President Obama just got "don't ask, don't tell" pushed through can he not mandate a 16-team playoff. Executive order!

Already 90-percent of fans dislike the BCS. Yet more grassroots support is needed to keep the light shining on the nuclear-sized roach that is the BCS.

I'm a fan, too, of UCLA and the Pac 10. I plan to write Bruin Athletic Director Dan Guerrero and Conference Commissioner Larry Scott about my BCS opinions.

Additionally, I am a resident of North Carolina. Since there's a viable alternative to help fund athletic departments that go into the red, I will contact my elected officials.

What will you do today to help end the BCS sham?

Fabulous Football Friday

Friday, November 26 will go down in infamy as one of the best ever days of college football. Let's revisit some of the highlights.

Uptight About Uprights

Did Boise State kicker's field goal really go wide right? The boot at the end of regulation was much higher than the high-school-height uprights. Like many of the calls in the game, this "miss" favored the Wolf Pack.

In the officials' defense, this has to be one of the toughest calls in football. Replay should probably be in effect for such plays, but not sure that would've mattered.

Yet it's the WAC and Karl Benson who are red-faced. The WAC looks like the Bush League by not requiring higher goal posts. Wethinks there will be taller yellow uprights in Reno in 2011.

Greensboro College lost to Guilford in overtime on a similar call in the 2006 Gate City Soup Bowl. But that's NCAA Division III football with a little less on the line.

Friday's Loser: Boise State

Not playing in the national championship? Check.

Not winning the BCS lottery? Check.

Yet the highlight of the Bowl season would've been the undefeated Broncos heading to Pasadena to face Ohio State. Remember, OSU Pres Gee just dissed BSU and their "sisters of the poor" schedule.

I would've paid for the cross country flight to see BSU wax the elitist Big Ten team. It would've happened, trust me, I promise.

War Eagle Comeback

Yes Auburn's comeback at Alabama was impressive. Most of the free world, however, wanted to see 'Bama roll and one of the outsiders (TCU, BSU) get a shot at the brass ring.

We all hear how great the SEC teams are. However, a more efficient Tide team should've been ahead by 40 points int he first half!

If the SEC and its teams are so great, why didn't Alabama pounce Auburn when it had the chance?

More BSC/SEC/BS

On Friday I heard a radio analyst utter ridiculous banter. He said even if Auburn lost in the SEC Championship, they should go to the BCS title game.

Huh?

Let's says Oregon, BSU and TCU all ended up undefeated. You should take a one loss Tiger team riding a one-game losing streak ahead of undefeated clubs?

"Boise and TCU could not withstand the SEC schedule week in and week out," he pontificated.

Really. We'll never know because geography and elitism would never allow such a dynamic.

By the same token, we will never know if an SEC team, with much fewer resources, much fewer future NFL athletes, with much less tradition, could go 14-0 in the WAC or MWC.

Don't Drink BCS Kool Aid

I implore you to turn the channel, page or station if you hear that current structure of the FBS/BCS is a reason to keep the status quo--or is somehow responsible for the Fantastic Friday.

Fans should not have hope that one team loses so that its undefeated team can get a shot at a championship. All undefeated teams should be included in a playoff.

It's happening today in the FCS, Division II and Division III. Imagine that...

A championship among current FBS teams would have the thrills of Friday and the excitement and pageantry of March Madness. It would also bring more money to college athletics than anything we've ever seen.

How much longer do we have to wait for a playoff?

Future NBAer Singleton Leads FSU

FSU 97, UNCG 73 -- Singleton Gets Triple-Double

By Bob Lowe

Greensboro, N.C. – Chris Singleton had a triple-double and a game-high 22 points as Florida State (2-0) defeated UNC Greensboro (0-2), 97-73, on Sunday.

Singleton also set a new school record with 10 steals. He added 11 rebounds and six assists. His triple-double is the first in the Atlantic Coast Conference to feature 10 or more steals. He is the only ACC player to record one in the Greensboro Coliseum--home of this year’s ACC Tournament.

“Hard work paid off, and I was really into the game tonight,” said Singleton. He was 7-14 from the field, and made all seven of his free throws.

"Chris contributes for us when he’s not scoring," said FSU Head Coach Leonard Hamilton. “He is quick and has such long arms that he makes things difficult for opponents."

Singleton joins former Seminoles Reggie Royals and Bob Sura in the exclusive FSU triple-double club.

FSU got off to an 8-0 lead and led 46-29 at halftime. The visitors used a 12-2 run near the end of the half en route to the advantage.
"We got off to a good start due the energy of Singleton and (Michael) Snaer," Hamilton said. "We played well tonight and are improving as a team. The one negative: too many (21) turnovers."

Snaer and Okaro White added 16 points apiece for the Seminoles. UNCG got a team-high 16 points from David Williams, who was 7-13 from the field.

“We came out flat on offense and were just standing around on offense," said UNCG Head Coach Mike Dement. "You just can’t do that against a good defensive team like Florida State.”

Aloysius Henry scored 15 and Cody Henegar contributed 12 points for the Spartans.

The Seminoles had 11 blocked shots and forced 26 Spartan turnovers resulting in 32 points. UNCG was out-rebounded 42-39.
UNCG, a member of the Southern Conference, hosts four Atlantic Coast Conference men’s basketball teams at the Greensboro Coliseum this year. This is the Spartans second year using the venerable arena as its home court.

In addition to boosting attendance for UNCG, playing at the site of this year’s conference tournament has been a draw for ACC teams. In addition to FSU, Virginia Tech, and Duke will play at the Spartan’s home floor. Additionally, North Carolina, Wake Forest, and North Carolina State will compete in the arena this year.

"I guess it's good to play here in preparation for the tournament, but I think the exposure on Tobacco Road is more imporatnt," said Hamilton.

"We lost in the first round of the ACC Tournament here last year, so I'm glad we came out and played well in this building tonight," added Singleton.

In regards to being just four short of the extremely rare quadruple-double, Singleton said: “I had one in high school and I won’t rule it out.”

The Seminoles host Gardner Webb on Tuesday. Thereafter, FSU has two more mid-major schools before the University of Florida visits on Nov. 28.

Virginia Tech visits UNCG on Nov. 21.

-30-

Hockey Hack For Hire

Hockey Game Story

A View From the Other Side

I recently had the opportunity to see my job from the other side.

I'm a sports information professional or--some say--a "strategic communicator for college athletics," at Greensboro College. With an open evening, I took on the job for stringing for a newspaper at a professional sports event.

The experience illuminated the challenges of the sports writer. It also reiterated some of the basics of our profession: common courtesy and customer service.

After confirming the gig, I contacted the public relations professional from the home team. My email requesting credential and parking details was not responded to. A day later, two phone calls requesting the same information were not returned.

I left early and it was good thing. Traffic put me behind schedule.

When I arrived, I circled the arena searching for media parking. I then asked a parking lot attendant and she noted that the television stations park "on the street near the red cones."

My baby blue Ford Taurus squeezed between TV station vans. I haphazardly created a hand-written media pass and stuck it on my dashboard.

The thoughts raced through my head. Will I be ticketed? Towed?!

The media entrance was nearby. I passed through security. Alas, there was a media pass for me.

An employee directed me to press row. I searched for my name plate, to no avail.

I asked for the PR director and where I should sit and maybe some game notes. One staffer suggested I got to one of the luxury boxes since it was very tight in the media area.

The PR pro was summoned to the press box. He was friendly bloak and cleared a seat for me. The game notes arrived shortly.

Due to the pomp and pageantry of the season opener, the game started late. That was good in some ways, but would make the 11 p.m. deadline difficult.

When halftime arrived, I made my way to the food room. You know, the big perk for scribes is a square meal provided by the home team.

Well, the prime rib was gone. There was bread, salad, popcorn and some cake. No problem except the only utensils available were plastic knives.

This meal lacked protein. I prayed the starch, veggies and sugar would get me through the night!

After the game, I headed to the locker room. To my surprise, there was another journalist waiting outside the visitor's dressing room. Intrigued, I struck up a conversation with the chap.

Turns out, he was covering the game for the same newspaper! A phone call to the sports editor followed.

Basically, we did rock, paper, scissors (or Ro-Sham-Bo, if you prefer) to seal the gig.

I won. (Note: When feeling strong, go with "rock!")

After getting some quotes, I ventured to the media room. I popped in the quotes, proofed the story and emailed it off.

My numerous confirmation calls to the sports editor went to voice mail. You know, it was Friday night night and high school football rules the day.

I exited the arena to find my car. Things were going good and there was no ticket!

I worried the entire drive home if my email made it to the sports editor. Would the whole night be for naught?

Too tired for much else, I hit the sack at 12:30 a.m.

The next morning, I checked the paper's web site and saw my article with byline. Phew!

What an adventure. It should've been a night with much less drama.

To my fellow athletic communicators, please return calls and emails.

And, save a seat for a writer and you will be cherished.

The Power of "Win"

If you are a regular fan on Bob's Blog (we have some room on the couch for newcomers) you might be wondering what's up with the photo of DJ Kahled. Why is a rapper on this site that talks of sports and tech stuff?

The answer is in three letters: W-I-N. The DJ has a catchy tune with Ludacris and Snoop that has become a popular song for sports teams. I thank the Greensboro College softball team for turning me onto it last Spring.

In addition my GC teams winning at 74-percent clip on the weekend, it was a very good run for Bob's football teams.

-My alma mater, San Diego State, beat Utah State 41-7. The Aztecs 3-1 start is the best in 28 years.

-UCLA surprised all and took the Texas Longhorns to the woodshed in Austin. This seemed impossible when the Bruins were 0-2 two weeks ago.

-The Rams broke a 14-game losing streak and hammered the Redskins. It's nice to see your NFL team block and tackle for once.

What occurs after such a successful weekend?

There's more bounce in your step on Monday morning. The smile is wider when you greet co-workers.

Early in the afternoon, you start to believe:

-SDSU fans have been waiting long enough. Brady Hoke can bring a bowl, if not a championship to the Montezuma Mesa.

-USC is down, way down. LA is ripe for a Bruin Pigskin renaissance.

-The NFC West is weak, maybe the Rams can prevail.

Winning is the serotonin for the sports fan's soul! Hope springs eternal in the Fall.

Here's the CLIP, enjoy.

Good luck to YOUR teams.

Some Can't Accept the Underdog

Two non-BCS teams enter the season in the national top 5 and BCS Establishment (note capitalization) raises an eyebrow.

Boise State then beats perennial power Virginia Tech and all heck is breaking loose in the sham that is the monopoly of major college football.

This whole Bowl Championship Series shindig has been closed card game for the fat cats since day one. The system (I use that term with tongue in cheek) has been a misdeal to many dues-paying institutions since its outset.

The fact that Boise, Hawaii, Utah and TCU have made a huge dent in the BCS calamity has been simply amazing.

Newspapers, talking heads and radio shows this week have all chimed in how unjust it would for a BSU to play in a BSC championship.

And I say BS.

Pundits say the upstarts from the MWC and the WAC:

-Don't play a tough-enough schedule.
-Would lose 3-4 games in the SEC.

Sorry, establishment, your syndicate wants no part of scheduling these teams that have defied the odds. Your best offer is "two games at our place and one in you home." Old habits die hard and this scheme has been prevalent long before there was a thing called B (C) S.

These teams haven't had a much of a choice where they are located or which conference they are in. Unless the SEC recruits Hawaii to join, there should be no discussion on the point.

Perhaps the upstarts would lose three games per year in a big time conference. But maybe these teams would do better with the resources afforded the BCS teams.

These are just irrelevant points.

It's not if a matter of "if" yet a challenge of "how soon" we get to a real determination of selecting a national playoff.

Every other league does it fellas. It's called a playoff. Let's do it.

Now!

Thirteen Takes on MWC/WAC Shenanigans

It's been a wild week in the West with all that occurred this week. Seems like nobody is shedding a tear for the BYU Cougars. The Y felt they had to counter Utah's admission to the PAC 10 with football independence. Their reach could cost them mightily.

(At right: SDSU and the MWC are in good shape...for now, anyway!)

The Western Athletic Conference is on life support. Let's hope a solution will result in the WAC remaining viable and Mr. Benson's bad moves won't cost the member institutions.

1. The Mountain West Conference is in good shape as it is. Even if BYU goes, the MWC boasts highly-rated TCU and Boise State in 2011. The addition of a solid Fresno State program and a decent Nevada Reno outfit solidifies the future.

2. The Western Athletic Conference needs to act and act fast. The WAC and Benson should be proactive. The best bet is to recruit strong FCS teams.

3. UC Davis should jump up to FBS status. While the Aggies just recently jumped from NCAA Division II, UCD has an outstanding athletics program and the wherewithal to jump the hurdle.

4. Brigham Young University had its goose cooked. There was a time when the Cougars could’ve thrown its weight around, but not now. The Y’s tail is between the proverbial legs. The rest of the MWC is stronger than the Provo school.

5. Independence a gamble for Cougars? Was taking BYU in all but football a backlash to losing Boise State? Seems that way. It seems a shortsighted move by Benson. My odds are 65-35 against this being a good thing.

6. Benson is a hypocrite. Calling out two institutions—FSU and Nevada—for loyalty is a selfish call. Benson was trying to recruit BYU and had his bluff called.

7. Montana is the other team should be courted by the WAC. The Grizzlies are strong enough to make the move.

8. Hawaii is a better independent than BYU. The Warriors are better off as an independent than in the WAC. They can schedule home-and-homes with many due to the destination. Why play Louisiana Tech when can likely get a pay day from LSU?

9. The Big West is a better fit for Hawaii for the rest of its sports. The WCC is made up small, religious schools that have no similarity to UH. The Big West, on the other hand, is a bunch of public that don’t play football. Who is the better fit?

10. BYU will end up playing in the following order. A. Status quo with football and everything in the MWC. B. Football Indy and the rest in the WCC. C. Football Indy and in the WAC.

11. The MWC should NOT combine with Conference USA. A football championship game with CUSA could earn a BCS berth. That might be good for some, but not the MWC. This coalition also buys into the BCS farce. Let’s keep a separate MWC and CUSA and a playoff in 2014!

12. Utah State to the MWC? Last I heard, Houston had no interest in the Mountain West. Should BYU exit, the Aggies are good fit to keep presence in the absence of BYU and the Utes.

13. Somebody (NCAA) needs to put a tent over this circus. A playoff would be the best for all involved. (Then maybe we could go back to 1A and 1AA!)

The Best in College Football Attire

After the recent worst of college football fashion (congrats THE Ohio State University), it's time to focus on the positive. So here e the best college football uniforms

8. Greensboro College. Who you ask? Okay, my day job is to promote The Pride. Give GC Head Coach Dr. Randy Hunt credit, however, for adding the "GC" to a blank canvas helmet. This is the only NCAA DIII institution on the list. Coach Hunt led The Pride to six wins in 2009, the most in program history. Looking forward to seeing the new green tops, after wearing all-white the past three years.

7.Army Black Knights. Gotta give some love to a United States service academy. Air Force has a little better look than the Midshipmen from Navy. How can you not like a service academy that is bold, black and--from what we hear--has a great game-day atmosphere. They have an attractive"A" that will likely never make it on a helmet. Too bad...

5. Cincinnati Bearcats. Cincy does what my alma mater has never been able to accomplish: Make the red and black look great. The Bearcats stylish duds are modern and attractive. I don't love the helmet logo, but it does work. Cincy loses marks for the red jerseys that are inferior to the black tops.

5. Oregon Ducks. Many would've like to see the University of Oregon's traveling smorgasbord of colors, schemes and "Nike-ness" on the ugly list. However, OU and Phil Knight's deep pockets have produced one of the best branding images in recent memory: The "O." The problem with Oregon is they have too many different combinations. C'mon Phil, less is more sometimes.

4. Penn State Nittany Lions. Old coach, old school, Linebacker U gets an "A" in apparel. Not much has change in Joe Paterno's 70 years or so in Happy Valley, and that's good thing. The clean blue and white look stands the test of time.

3. Texas Longhorns. Mack Brown and the Longhorns win a lot of games. Their athletic department is the richest in the land, partly due to their marketing smarts. Their hook 'em horns logo is perhaps the best in the nation. (Note: the Houston Texans practically stole the logo.) The burnt orange lettering on all white is gorgeous.

2. University of Miami Hurricanes. You love them or hate them, but they are number one in logo branding. When Bernie Kosar played they adopted the famous "U." It was and is brilliant. Miami also meshed orange and green into an attractive combo that my hometown minor league baseball team (Greensboro Grasshoppers) lifted.

1. University of Alabama Crimson Tide. The Tide are the defending national champs and are numero uno in fashion sense, too. They wore similar duds when Bear Bryant was boss, and for good reason. While we chastised Oklahoma, Nebraska, and Wisconsin for being red, white and bland, 'Bama is distinctive. Maybe it's the numbers on the helmet. We can't put a finger on it but Alabama wins!

The Ugliest Uniforms in College Football

The College football season is just days away. There's no better time go Mr. Blackwell and judge the teams on their fashion sense.

5. Tie Arkansas, Oklahoma, Wisconsin and Nebraska. The reason? The red and white scheme is too prevalent and does not allow any of these institutions to pull away from the crowd.

4. LSU Tigers. They haven't updated these duds since Eisenhower was President. The "LSU" with a tiger head below on the skullcap reminds me of Pop Warner football opponents. C'mon, Baton Rogue, you can do better!

3. Minnesota Golden Gophers. As much as I dislike USC, the school with 1,000 lakes stole the patent on burgundy and gold schemes from Troy.

2. Florida Gators. I don't know exactly what it is about the Gators unis, but I just don't like 'em. They're not quite old school and they certainly not modern or cutting edge. They should be able to do better with orange, blue and an alligator.

1. Ohio State Buckeyes. Yes, THE Ohio State University is an institution in the Buckeye State. However, their football success has more to do with their reputation than their attire. Grey, white, and little Buckeye stickers on the helmet? It drives me to root for Michigan annually. (Note: Sorry, these clothes and head wear are too ugly to show on this blog.)

Coming up next: The best of college football uniforms.

Politico Prejudice

Ask about anyone where they stand on politics and they claim to be centrist or middle-of-the-road.

This goes to my colleague who is not in "any party" and not a Republican. Every time we go to lunch Rush Limbaugh is yelping on his SUV's AM radio. As for the Tea Party, they "just don't like big government." Gimme a break!

My liberal chum drives a Prius and railed about Carl Rove for years. When a buddy spews some right wing falsehood (Obama a Muslim, or not born in the USA), he goes bonkers.

My self-evaluation of my politics. I'm Democrat. I've voted that way all but twice in Presidential elections since 1980. When Reagan-led Repubs hooked up with the far-right Christian wing, I leaned more left.

The point is we all have strong opinions. We want our people to win.

Yet the problem is the folks on the far fringes of each side. There's so much hate and a willingness to do whatever it takes to crush the opposition.

Can't we all just get along or just be civil?

LeBron's Personal Brand Went South

The most popular phrase out there is "personal branding?

And in this week after LeBron deserted Ohio for South Beach, his brand took a nose dive.

Wherever he chose to sign, he was going to get more money than he could ever spend. In Miami, he may have team success if more talented players sign with the Heat's "Big Three."

Had King James signed with the New York Knicks his "marketability" would've went through the roof. But marketing over the next three years is not what we're speaking about in this piece.

If James had signed with his hometown Cavaliers he his personal branding Q-rating (or is it PB-rating) would've risen to epic proportions.

-Hometown hero stays home
-Loyalty
-There are things more important than money and winning.

Those things are invaluable and could've been parlayed positively by personal branding for many, many years.

We'll never get to see that special cachet that LeBron would have if he'd chosen to remain in the Buckeye State.

I won't second guess his decision, although he did not seem elated when he shared his thoughts with the World.

Though it's off topic, the LaBron haters (Cavs owner, fans) need to get a life. Whining is not good for your personal branding, Mr. Gilbert.

He was a free agent and can go wherever he wants. The Cavs should worry about getting some new players, rather than crying over spilled Gatorade.