Florida Gator Student-Athletes Create a Thriller

Are you looking for new, unique ways to showcase student-athletes? Are you looking to create a promotional video that features your team's athletes in a new light?

Kristin Giannas, a telecommunications and news broadcasting major at the University of Florida, recently produced a tremendous Florida Gators remake of Michael Jackson's hit song/video "Thriller". Giannas worked closely with members of several University of Florida athletics teams (gymnasts, softball, baseball, cheerleaders, Dazzlers) to create a 5:50 video that is destined to become an online hit.

The video serves as a great example of a unique way that collegiate athletic departments can drive buzz and position their student-athletes (especially those competing in non-traditional sports) in a new light.

Check out the video below as well as Kristin Giannas' website here.

The West Coast Conference Goes Viral with Fan Draft...

Is your conference or organization looking to drive buzz with a captivating viral campaign? Are you looking for new ways to stimulate online fan interest?

The West Coast Conference recently unveiled a humorous "WCC Fan Draft" social media campaign that will serve as the primary marketing campaign for each of the conference's eight (8) member institutions in 2009.

Fans can view the campaign by visiting one of the eight (8) customized University viral sites: 

• Gonzaga - http://zagsfandraft.com
• Santa Clara University - http://broncosfandraft.com/
• University of San Francisco - http://usffandraft.com/
• Saint Mary's College - http://gaelsfandraft.com/
• University of San Diego - http://torerosfandraft.com/
• Loyola Marymount - http://lmufandraft.com/
• University of Portland - http://pilotsfandraft.com/
• Pepperdine University - http://pepperdinefandraft.com/

It is exciting to see a conference using social media to better its institutions. Organizations that can find a way to scale these type of social media projects across a number of beneficiaries will find that they will deliver better results. The West Coast Conference has been able to successfully drive a significant amount of buzz online already with the campaign. Fans that take part in the viral initiative even have the chance to win tickets to the 2010 Zappos.com WCC Basketball Championships (March 5-8).

The West Coast Conference used funds received through a 2009-10 NCAA Women's Basketball Marketing grant designed to increase awareness, exposure, and attendance of women's basketball. The West Coast Conference is hoping that the targeted viral initiative will result in a 15% increase across the board (awareness, exposure, attendance).  

The humorous campaign is very entertaining but will it drive fans to take action? It will be interesting to see. Check it out below:

Source: GoZags.com