Nike, Dick's, and AT&T Showcase Activation at the 2011 Cowboys Classic

Nike, Dick's Sporting Goods, and AT&T kicked off the 2011 college football season with impressive activation displays at the 2011 Cowboys Classic, a game played between LSU and Oregon at the new Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, TX.

Nike had a prominent on-site presence at the game with several customization stations set up around Cowboys Stadiums. At each of the stations, LSU and Oregon fans could customize their favorite t-shirts and have them produced on-site. Nike's on-site activation resonated very well with fans and further demonstrates how brands can leverage their team marks in an engaging manner on gameday. It's always refreshing to see a brand like Nike who effectively engages with both fan bases on-site at rivalry games.

Dick's Sporting Goods and AT&T also featured elaborate displays on-site that resonated well fans prior to the game. Dick's used a large footprint to showcase its Scorecard Rewards program and featured an inflatable football toss and several other elements to entertain fans. AT&T featured a mobile unit on-site that promoted the brand's sponsorship of the AT&T All-America Team and allowed fans an opportunity to trial AT&T products and meet their favorite school legends.

As kickoff and rivalry games begin to play a larger role in the college sports landscape, look for more brands to capitalize on these events and take their activation to new heights on game day!

Click here to check out photos the three impressive brand displays on-site.

A special thanks to Sean O'Hara for his photos, insights, and contributions to this column!

TCU Athletics Kicks off the 2011 Season with an Inspirational Video

TCU Athletics recently unveiled one of the finest season preview videos seen in the collegiate marketplace to date. While most athletic programs create montages filled with highlights, game action, and profiles of players and coaches, TCU Athletics teamed up with Red Productions to take a much different approach.

The 2011 TCU Football video effectively portrays how the Horned Frogs fanbase are part of something that's much bigger than just a football season. The video demonstrates how TCU Football is about a spirited community of all ages that stands united through all situations.

What's great about the video is that it creates a true sense of community, showing the fanbase (wearing licensed Nike gear) consuming TCU football at home, at retail, and live in the stadium. TCU Athletics also did a great job embedding a link in the YouTube video description to drive consumers to purchase tickets.

Check it out below!

LSU Athletics Shows Fans How to Fit in at Tiger Stadium

Sports organizations looking to create new, engaging videos to feature on their websites during the off-season should consider benchmarking a recent "How to Fit in at Tiger Stadium" piece developed by LSU Athletics. The video is unique, humorous, and educational as it sends a clear message to fans.

Check it this classic piece below: