Athletics seek to promote spirit
Corey Jaros
Issue date: 5/1/08 Section: News
It is time for Bulldog fans to get fired up.
Assistant Athletic Director Linda Anderson is heading an effort to increase local interest in Truman athletics by making the events more exciting and interactive for the fans.
"Our two goals are to enhance the atmosphere at athletic events by doing more promotional contests during halftime and time-outs and to put together a spirit club that is going to attend as many of the games as possible and help the rest of the crowd have fun and take advantage of the promotions and sponsorships," Anderson said.
Anderson has had weekly meetings with junior volleyball player Dana Hanselmann and junior football player Andy Swedenhjelm for the last month about potential strategies for a sports marketing campaign. The biggest problem that the group has identified so far is the lack of awareness about the variety of competitive sports at Truman and the action taking place at the Div. II level.
"We are trying to get everybody interested in the games, if not for only the athletics, then at least to have some fun with their friends and create an exciting atmosphere for the athletes," Swedenhjelm said. "The whole purpose of the group is to make people more aware of the great athletic teams that we have here at Truman."
Anderson, Hanselmann and Swedenhjelm will meet with the president and vice president of Truman's chapter of the American Marketing Association next week to formulate a plan for the near future. One of the group's main goals is to increase sponsorships from vendors who want to get their word out at Truman and become more involved with the athletics scene.
"It's going to involve some marketing to inform the public about what it is that we are trying to do," Anderson said. "We want to get the word out there that basketball is playing on this night versus this opponent, this is the halftime event or the theme for the night, and you should come and participate and have fun."
Anderson said she also wants to establish a committee with representatives from the major organizations on campus to help brainstorm ideas, spread the word throughout campus and also find volunteers to help out at the events.
Assistant Athletic Director Linda Anderson is heading an effort to increase local interest in Truman athletics by making the events more exciting and interactive for the fans.
"Our two goals are to enhance the atmosphere at athletic events by doing more promotional contests during halftime and time-outs and to put together a spirit club that is going to attend as many of the games as possible and help the rest of the crowd have fun and take advantage of the promotions and sponsorships," Anderson said.
Anderson has had weekly meetings with junior volleyball player Dana Hanselmann and junior football player Andy Swedenhjelm for the last month about potential strategies for a sports marketing campaign. The biggest problem that the group has identified so far is the lack of awareness about the variety of competitive sports at Truman and the action taking place at the Div. II level.
"We are trying to get everybody interested in the games, if not for only the athletics, then at least to have some fun with their friends and create an exciting atmosphere for the athletes," Swedenhjelm said. "The whole purpose of the group is to make people more aware of the great athletic teams that we have here at Truman."
Anderson, Hanselmann and Swedenhjelm will meet with the president and vice president of Truman's chapter of the American Marketing Association next week to formulate a plan for the near future. One of the group's main goals is to increase sponsorships from vendors who want to get their word out at Truman and become more involved with the athletics scene.
"It's going to involve some marketing to inform the public about what it is that we are trying to do," Anderson said. "We want to get the word out there that basketball is playing on this night versus this opponent, this is the halftime event or the theme for the night, and you should come and participate and have fun."
Anderson said she also wants to establish a committee with representatives from the major organizations on campus to help brainstorm ideas, spread the word throughout campus and also find volunteers to help out at the events.
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