"Let's Be Mad Again," Says Smiling New Guy
by Adam Jacobi on Apr 2, 2010 5:51 PM CDT
in Iowa Hawkeyes Basketball
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PrintThe regime change is in full, swift effect, folks. While the athletic department hasn't yet rebranded the Tigerhawk or anything like that, they certainly are distancing themselves from the last, let's say, 11 years of Iowa basketball.
Case in point: LetsBeMadAgain.com, the school's slick new website with one message at its core: Iowa's getting back to the tournament. It's certainly an audacious message, as all calls to action ought to be. Hlasand Bohnenkamp both approve, and they're not wrong.
But there's one thing kinda off about it: the main page. Observe.
Like, okay. We're not going to base our opinion of McCaffery's efficacy as a coach on what he looks like. That's just stupid. He is probably a very good coach, and we'll find out soon enough when his teams start playing. But if you're going to have a website called "Let's Be Mad Again," doesn't it seem weird to have the focal point of the entire site be a picture with a completely incongruent tone?
It's trite and cliche, but we have to ask: where's McCaffery's Serious Sports Face? Does he even have a Serious Sports Face? His wife sure does. She's like a black belt in Serious Sports Face.
Again, this has zero bearing on his ability to win games at Iowa. None. This is totally superficial. But that's the whole point of marketing! They clearly just took some random picture for McCaffery's presser and slapped it on there. You're telling me nobody said, "hey, let's hold off on launching this until we can get Fran to mean-mug like Hank Rollins for one picture first"?
Other than that, the site's cool.
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When i saw this slip into my inbox this afternoon
I saw “Bloodpunch” reinacting the famous scene from Network.
I think you've got way too many chunk money in your Netflix queue
NTTAWWT.
My blog: http://www.gretainthebox.com
money = movies
God. Its a good thing its Friday.
My blog: http://www.gretainthebox.com
by Leftcoast Hawk on Apr 2, 2010 6:01 PM CDT up reply actions
Angry Fran has been known to bite the head off mole rats during close games.....
to fire up his team and totally confounding the opponent.
If you feel like singing along, don't.
James Taylor
I love it.
In fact, I’m in. I haven’t been to a Hawkeye basketball game in probably 5 years, and yet I’m seriously considering season tickets. Maybe I’m a giant sucker, but I’m fucking pumped.
Holy fucking website!
No self-respecting man from Iowa goes anywhere without beer
by Hayden Fry's Moustache Ride on Apr 2, 2010 6:33 PM CDT reply actions
Yeah. I suspect you'll be moving back to Iowa in time to enjoy the season tickets you just purchased.
Welcome back to the heartland, sir.
by The Mexican't on Apr 2, 2010 6:36 PM CDT up reply actions
"Fans of the Hawkeyes want to be mad in March, again."
I was already pretty mad when we last played a meaningful game in March:
I've sentenced boys younger than you to the gas chamber. Didn't want to do it. I felt I owed it to them.
-- Judge Smails
I wasn't mad after that,
I was inconsolable Pollard’d.
Less memorable than Sam Okey's Hawkeye career.
by Kyle McCann't on Apr 2, 2010 7:44 PM CDT up reply actions
If you think the "Let's Be Mad Again" site was weird...
you should have seen Barta’s planned website if McCaffery did not take the job.
I've sentenced boys younger than you to the gas chamber. Didn't want to do it. I felt I owed it to them.
-- Judge Smails
I mean, I guess.
The website is cool and all interactivey and stuff. But what the hell is up with the part about “what mad again means”? Big voice guy is trying to be all tough while explaining what the word “be” means. It’s just kinda “ghey”.
"You're going to go out there with a dick full of confidence. Then, you're going to go out there and shoot that confidence all over the stadium." -Blue Mountain State
That's quite a name there, Benjaminsdfhh.
European?
(I like posting comments like this for the inevitable confusion when someone gets here after the spam is erased)
Unproductive since August 21st, 2008.
All the site needs...
is an intimidating answer to hockeybear. I suggest basketballgiraffe. He drives (flies) a nuclear powered M1 Abram that shoots Tom Izzos from the turret. He also slam dunks CHA which, of course, destroys Columbus. He then shows Evanston his lightning laser.
I'd prefer a nuclear powered M1 Abrams that shoots Ed Hightower's head from the turret.
Unproductive since August 21st, 2008.
by ReadingRambler on Apr 2, 2010 8:18 PM CDT up reply actions
Not to be dyspeptic or anything
but I think that is a seriously retarded web site and marketing pitch for the new program.
The narrator sounds like a State Farm salesman teaching Sunday school, and you know? he may be, and if you want to get MAD show McCaffery getting hot, and some shots of the Iowa glory teams actually doing stuff in the old Field House — something besides weaving around 30 feet from the hoop, like we’ve been watching for three years.
However, were I (that would be the subjunctive) to be more of a believer in all of this, I’d simply ask for a few action shots of MAD MARGE. Margaret makes this coach highly credible, for me. He’s got a lot of slack, owing to Marge, in my view. Marge deserves her own web site. Heck, even FakeMarge deserves her own web site. That’s a freebie, somebody.
Mr. Boh Knows ...
On taking a long hard 2nd look
x100
I think they pulled the trigger a little too fast on the marketing campaign there. To be honest – it really looks amateurish, on a level with the Hockeybear vids… opposing fans are going to have a field day with mocking the website if we seriously seriously suck next year.
This is something they could’ve waited another week and probably found a MBA marketing student with a MUCH better idea.
My blog: http://www.gretainthebox.com
by Leftcoast Hawk on Apr 2, 2010 11:17 PM CDT up reply actions
agreed
the whole concept is kinda cheesy, and the announcer guy is beyond ridiculous, and i also agree its way too soon, like 7-8 months early.
Tigers love pepper... they hate cinnamon.
by White Lightning on Apr 2, 2010 11:29 PM CDT up reply actions
Regardless of the quality of the site
and i also agree its way too soon, like 7-8 months early.
I think this is dead wrong. They should absolutely run a campaign 7-8 months from now, but that in no way should prevent them from doing something now.
This website seems less like a direct call to buy tickets or anything (I don’t even think season tickets are on sale yet) than a statement of purpose: to remind people of Iowa’s basketball tradition and to make it clear that the goal is to be involved in postseason basketball again.
The latter point seems abundantly obvious, but it’s also arguably necessary after spending the last four years in the wilderness. The former point is a good one and, frankly, is my biggest complaint with the site — they should emphasize Iowa’s postseason tradition more. After two coaches who basically disregarded Iowa’s past, I think it’s very important to make it clear that the new coach ISN’T going to be doing that and, in fact, EMBRACES that past and wants to return Iowa to those levels.
The website exists to further make a clean break from the past decade of Iowa basketball and to position Fran as the man to return Iowa to an era of Iowa basketball that’s still very fondly remembered by many fans.
"I want to be a cowboy. I don't want to be a panda. Pandas are boring, stupid and boring. Bad panda!"
I know at least students tickets are on-sale
I bought my football and basketball tickets for next year on Thursday.
Good point
I guess at this point, I could give two shits about basketball, I’m itching for football.
Tigers love pepper... they hate cinnamon.
by White Lightning on Apr 11, 2010 7:53 PM CDT up reply actions
opposing fans are going to have a field day with mocking the website if we seriously seriously suck next year.
Give me a break. Iowa basketball is completely fucking irrelevant right now. If we suck, no one is going to bat an eye or care.
"I want to be a cowboy. I don't want to be a panda. Pandas are boring, stupid and boring. Bad panda!"
Ross is right
We’re way, way past the point of worrying what opposing fans are going to do. Iowa’s not good enough for opposing fans to care. That’s the simple truth of it. Illinois just invaded our arena with their own student section; you think anyone’s going to give a fuck about a “your marketing strategy was ineffective!” taunt? Please. Iowa has bigger things to worry about, and #1 on that list is getting people back into Carver. This is how you do it.
Just kinda wish they’d waited a week or so to make it perfect. Not 7-8 months—that’s a direct invitation to the same malaise that infected the last regime—but a week, and only to get a decent picture of Fran. That is all. Otherwise, the idea is an improvement.
I got more rhymes than Wade Lookingbill's got dunks
Yeah, a little more fine-tuning couldn't have hurt at all.
I think the opening is excellent, but the main page is a little goofy, between the pic of Fran and the VO on the explanation of the slogan. The slogan itself kind of walks that fine line between being clever and a bit stupid, so I can see why people might be a little put off by it. It works fine for me.
Fran needs to take some angry-face classes with Brands, though.
"I want to be a cowboy. I don't want to be a panda. Pandas are boring, stupid and boring. Bad panda!"
You make some good points
I do think they could’ve spent another week on the site and gave it more (Blood)punch, for sure.
My blog: http://www.gretainthebox.com
by Leftcoast Hawk on Apr 3, 2010 3:21 PM CDT up reply actions
Just one more week
And BHGP coulda had him looking like this:
"We just forgot our pants. Nothing against the team or anything like that." -- take a guess
Henry Rollins would be an excellent assistant coach.
Make it happen, Fran. Make. It. Happen.
by The Mexican't on Apr 7, 2010 6:40 PM CDT up reply actions
Well
they could’ve waited another week and probably found a MBA marketing student with a MUCH better idea.
You’ve seen the University of Iowa online ad, right? That’s what happens when they have time to think things out. I’ll take this.
It never gets to be easy
by chitownhawkeye on Apr 3, 2010 9:02 AM CDT up reply actions
You're just lucky I couldn't find it
Well, we’re all lucky. I would have linked it.
It never gets to be easy
by chitownhawkeye on Apr 6, 2010 12:51 AM CDT up reply actions
Two things
1) You dare call the Hockeybear vids “amateurish”? I assume you just made the list of targets to be slashed with his laser hockey stick next.
2) Opposing fans mocking your basketball team is any different from the status quo how?
I have deflector shields powered by a quantum tap of zero point energy
Hockeybear is basically a mosquito to me. His technology is rather primitive.
My blog: http://www.gretainthebox.com
by Leftcoast Hawk on Apr 3, 2010 3:19 PM CDT up reply actions
I don't usually agree with SpartanDan...
but when I do, I prefer HockeyBear.
Stay supernaturally polar, my friends.
I've sentenced boys younger than you to the gas chamber. Didn't want to do it. I felt I owed it to them.
-- Judge Smails
by WaterlooChazz on Apr 3, 2010 4:32 PM CDT up reply actions
Just tell em large marge sent ya!
I have the same fashion sense as Tom Arnold.
by CyHawk on Apr 2, 2010 8:36 PM CDT reply actions 1 recs
I've already forgotten about the awesome website
due to your awesome gif
No self-respecting man from Iowa goes anywhere without beer
by Hayden Fry's Moustache Ride on Apr 2, 2010 10:45 PM CDT up reply actions
Then I forgot about your awesome gif when I posted an awesomer gif
No self-respecting man from Iowa goes anywhere without beer
by Hayden Fry's Moustache Ride on Apr 2, 2010 10:49 PM CDT up reply actions
Some Senator checks out patio furniture?
Is that what they call gay hook-ups up on Capitol Hill now?
PC Desktop Picture Link
That tigerhawk over metal grille background makes a sweet desktop picture That’s 1680×1050, crop as needed. I wanted to get rid of the ® but the lighting wasn’t looking right.
Facts sometimes have a strange and bizarre power that makes their inherent truth seem unbelievable. - Werner Herzog
I just can't bring myself to get rid of this desktop picture.
And yes, that is really what my desktop looks like. I can’t explain it but I’m a slob everywhere but my PC. I can’t stand crap on my desktop.
If you change it...
the new desktop has to be the “sad fans” montage.
I've sentenced boys younger than you to the gas chamber. Didn't want to do it. I felt I owed it to them.
-- Judge Smails
by WaterlooChazz on Apr 3, 2010 10:59 PM CDT up reply actions
I don't even have to look
It’s fucking meaningless.
Seriously. You guys are too smart for this shit. Try again, Iowa.
"I always like it better when the clowns seem to try to be happy."
Yeah, probably shouldn't
But, seriously, that’s how I talk in pretty much every walk of life.
"I always like it better when the clowns seem to try to be happy."
by MarcMorehouse on Apr 3, 2010 2:48 AM CDT up reply actions
Hockey people...
Less memorable than Sam Okey's Hawkeye career.
by Kyle McCann't on Apr 3, 2010 9:42 AM CDT up reply actions
I apologize
Too much berry juice and internets.
"I always like it better when the clowns seem to try to be happy."
by MarcMorehouse on Apr 6, 2010 2:28 PM CDT up reply actions
Is that beerberry juice?
Master of the convoluted IOWA cheers!
by EnergizerHawk on Apr 7, 2010 3:17 PM CDT up reply actions
Probably the Adrian Clayborn beer from today's chat
Bourbon County Stout.
by The Mexican't on Apr 7, 2010 6:41 PM CDT up reply actions
Yeah ...
A rush job. And cheesy. But I appreciate the effort.
I’ve worked on several minisite projects and this one suffers from some classic blunders, as mentioned. But to launch something like this within such a short time frame is tough to do technically and creatively. And, usually, you have too many asswipes involved that need to sign off so it gets delayed for eons. Makes me wonder who pushed this one through so quickly? Marg?
That's what she said.
by Bizryter on Apr 3, 2010 7:25 AM CDT reply actions
Classic
“Do what I tell you and do it now” Bloodpunch
It never gets to be easy
by chitownhawkeye on Apr 3, 2010 9:04 AM CDT up reply actions
Is it ever too soon to get your fan base RE- Interested?
Even if the quality wasn’t top notch, or the message seemed hokey. It is still not a bad idea. Who gives a fuck if someone makes fun of it? What do you think they’ve been doing for the last 4-5 years? There are alot of people that have become disenfranchised with the whole basketball program. As an athletic program don’t you have to strike while the iron is hot and try to get your fan base re-energized? They should almost do something to a bigger extent 2-3 more times before the season starts. This is just my opinion, which has (on numerous occasions) known to be wrong. But I think anything you do to try to bring life back to a dying program is, to some extent, is good.
Who's leg do I have to hump to get a drink around here?-Brian
Right, but Senator Chaise Longue is right there, wrecking the vibe
If all they do is change the picture to a Sports Serious Face, then we have no real issues with the site. It’s not perfect, but it’s worth doing, and worth doing like this.
I got more rhymes than Wade Lookingbill's got dunks
Serious Sports Face?
I’ll take Happy Uncle Fran, thank you very much.
Less memorable than Sam Okey's Hawkeye career.
by Kyle McCann't on Apr 3, 2010 12:56 PM CDT up reply actions
I kind of agree with Fliphawk...
While I don’t find the “Mad Again” website to be all that cool, and it probably won’t be effective, they have to do something soon in this new digital age.
Even if some people hate it or lampoon it, they will at least be giving some thought to Iowa Basketball, and I think that was the point.
In reality, they won’t see a huge jump in attendance until midway through Fran’s first year, (and depending on how much winning they do) maybe not until the second season.
However, I would like to see the response of the Des Moines guys who pissed off the Lickliter family with their Hoosiers knockoff. I would like them to make up some really crappy parody, and then see the Iowa athletic department get really angry in response. Maybe I’m just rooting for too much anarchy.
I've sentenced boys younger than you to the gas chamber. Didn't want to do it. I felt I owed it to them.
-- Judge Smails
by WaterlooChazz on Apr 3, 2010 4:39 PM CDT up reply actions
He's making *two fists* and winding up!
I think he’s calling the ref a moron! Good!
It would be more impressive without the Jos. A. Bank suit, which looks like he moonlights as an assistant cashier at a community bank, but this is good.
Mr. Boh Knows ...
I can see the Mad there
It’s not Bob Knight mad. It’s not even Marge mad. It’s the kind of mad that I always dreaded seeing in my parents. It’s the “I am so f-ing mad at you right now that I can only stare at you in disbelief with this forced grin on my face so I don’t rip your head off because your sister would turn me in for killing you so go to your room right now” kind of mad.
Speaking of mad, g-damm Dookies.
Just thought I'd stop by...
Been a while since I’ve posted (I have lurked) as I’ve been waiting for, you know, Football Season. Anyway, being retired military I know MAD as an acronym for a nuclear deterrent we used against the Soviet Union. Stood for “Mutual Assured Destruction”.
Oh yeah, one more thing…is it just me or is Fran’s wife kinda’ hot?
You might be right about Marg, the wife.
Difficult to make a definite verdict from the few pics I’ve seen so far.
I've sentenced boys younger than you to the gas chamber. Didn't want to do it. I felt I owed it to them.
-- Judge Smails
by WaterlooChazz on Apr 4, 2010 7:08 PM CDT up reply actions
I am just glad to see that the sports marketing folks are doing something proactive rather than the usual invisible act.
If you feel like singing along, don't.
James Taylor
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