NIL "Pep Rally" Feedback
This is just _feedback_, and it's worth what you paid for it (you didn't).
Today's event was awful. It was disorganized and frankly insulting to anyone who waited in the rain.
I'm personally salty, I admit, because I was one such person who arrived about an hour early to get ...pretty much nothing at all. A few people around me got stuff signed by Harbs, which good for them, but I got kind of blown off and that made me sad. I can't...blame anyone involved, I'm sure at a glance I just looked like yet another "superfan" who was about to flip shit on eBay (I'm not - I wasn't even getting something signed for *me*, it was a favor for a friend), but it didn't feel great.
BUT even more so, there were so many disappointed and sad kids. Lot who visibly got sad when it was announced JJ was going to be a no-show. A lot who wanted Corum and Edwards to sign stuff, and they had to say "because we have our own NIL deals, we can't".
Many of them simply didn't understand why not. Corum and Edwards, credit where it's due, tried to entertain with photo ops. Lot of sad faces everywhere. They all waited....for nothing.
But compare and contrast with events in the past, where teammates signed things using the concession stand areas all around the stadium. Everyone was a "winner" there, even if you had to line up for ((favorite athlete)).
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I love the idea of NIL and utlizing the space to support other teams beyond just football (or basketball) - hockey were stars of the show today. I understand the $30 entry fee. Lines are always a factor - though, ideally, with some strategy.
Great idea, horrible execution.
I personally plan on writing to the organizers (Valiant Marketing Group) more or less exactly this message, and hopefully they'll do better in the future.
If you were there, and had a remotely similar experience, I encourage you to do the same.
I once delivered a pizza to James Toney, and I will take selfies or sign a hat for any disappointed fans.
I lived on his street! You might've delivered a pizza to me as well.
Unfortunately due to prior NIL obligations I cannot provide any signatures however.
Haha well played
Hate to hear that.
I guess I don't quite understand why Corum and Edwards couldn't sign something but could still pose for a photo op. Did they sign away the rights to their own signature?
That was more or less the impression they provided.
That they couldn't do autographs events unless whatever organization they've agreed to do autograph events with has "signed off" on it.
I'm guessing they have deals with memorabilia companies to do paid signings at sponsored events or something. On a larger scale, guys like Tom Brady have autograph deals with like Fanatics.
I don't really have a problem with them not signing stuff. It's money out of their pockets if they do. They're showing up at these group things to help get their teammates some money basically. I guess the advertising for the event should be clear about who will and won't be available to sign (no clue if they did that or not), but that's not on the players.
I can't speak for other kids, but I know my 12 year old nephew would be happy just to see Blake Corum and take a picture of him from across the room.
It's an event before a football game--there should definitely be more football players interacting with the kids. Other suggestions:
1. Switch to 11-2 instead of 12-3 and allow an hour for people to get to the game.
2. Have a time just for kids to get pictures and autographs from 11-12 with the football team. Give adult collectors their own time too, but make sure the kids are served first.
3. Give/sell an item to get autographed like a poster or pennant or something. Most kids showed up with footballs, but nothing for wrestlers/hockey players.
4. Price point was fine ($30 per adult, kids free)--just make sure that the families get their money's worth.
5. Use the space more efficiently. Have teams set up in stations throughout the concourse and wrap the line through there on the way to the main floor, where the football and basketball teams are available. Then use line dividers on on the floor. Lots of families patiently waited, only to have people crowd in at the front and cut off the kids - not cool.
6. When the whole team was there, a few of the guys were great about standing at the edges and signing stuff, but the majority of the players stood by themselves in the middle. The kids don't care if you're a starter or if you never see the field--sign stuff for them and put your number on it so they can look you up later. They'll cheer for you every chance they get after that.
7. Keep the inflatables--kids seemed to really enjoy that.
8. Good job with staffing. Plenty of friendly, helpful people there.
We had friends go to the event to try to grab a surprise couple autographs for another friend's kids, with all of us being season ticket holders and duly paying our PSC's of course.
Unfortunately, they got slowed by traffic coming all the way across the state on a chilly, windy, rainy day only to get turned away at the door a half an hour before the event was even supposed to be over.
One of the guys at the door did offer to refund them, but they declined. Valiant / M Den (and UM by implication) is missing the point if they don't realize that it wasn't about the $60, it was setting aside their time on a less-than-ideal travel day to do something for someone else, only to have a tone deaf NIL group and athletic department turn them away because the organizers / coaches / athletic department didn't feel like honoring their advertised times, or intended to do that and knowingly misrepresented the times.
Those folks probably have 12 seats between them in not inexpensive PSC zones, have tickets (and use or donate them) in multiple sports, and are true Blue supporters...they're the type of alumni the university and AD work hard to cultivate, only to treat them like a commodity when times are good. Have we already forgotten giving away tickets with Coke?
We've always found the coaches and athletes to be very accessible and interactive when we've seen them at other athletic events, and watched them make time for kids...cutting the show 20% short for a paid event on university property is flat out arrogant.
The AD would be wise not to permit groups (starting with Valiant) to use university facilities or adorn themselves in maize and blue and not deliver what they promise...we've all got other places to spend our days, our $60, our PSC's and our ticket money.
TL;DR: You are your word. Don't take money and flip your donors the bird. Valiant and UM can do better.
Go Blue! 〽️
Please, please, please reach out with this to the following people.
I did, for reference, and if many of us all reach out, we all can maybe make a difference.
"President Santa J. Ono" <[email protected]>,
Athletic Director Warde Manuel <[email protected]>,
[email protected],
"[email protected]" <[email protected]>,
David Ablauf <[email protected]>, (Associate AD, Football Communications)
Scott Goldschmidt <[email protected]> (Director of Football Operations)
I agree it was a bust and a waste of time (could care less about the $30). Took my 10 year old daughter and her friend. Showed up right at noon, waited in line in the rain/wind/cold for close to 30 minutes (why only one entrance open?!), then on stairs to get onto court for 15-20 minutes, then in line to get picture/autograph for 15 minutes (we think but honestly not even sure what we were in line for) but players took off before we were halfway through the line. Then it pretty much ended at 130 because all the football players had to prep for the scrimmage.
They could definitely take some tips from the people who run comic cons. Would of gladly paid an extra 25-50 if I could of scheduled a time for the girls to take a photo/autograph with JJ, Corum or Edwards.
Definitely, the cons have whole section for autographs and photos and usually are smoothly run with clear up front pricing AHEAD of time.
This was just the first one and clearly there is a lot of work to do.
Please, please, please reach out with this to the following people.
I did, for reference, and if many of us all reach out, we all can maybe make a difference.
"President Santa J. Ono" <[email protected]>,
Athletic Director Warde Manuel <[email protected]>,
[email protected],
"[email protected]" <[email protected]>,
David Ablauf <[email protected]>, (Associate AD, Football Communications)
Scott Goldschmidt <[email protected]> (Director of Football Operations)
As has been discussed in other threads, NIL is evolving. Perhaps one construct / clause that should be added to “standard” Michigan NIL agreements in the future is - players are allowed to sign autographs at officially sanctioned Michigan Athletic Department sponsored events - and, you could add a note that the pre-game activities for the Spring Game and an open fall practice are two such events.
I’m all for supporting the players - and, I’m also for exciting the (especially) younger fans.
As an aside, let’s say a player is visiting some patients at Mott - nothing NIL related, just a visit to say hi and offer encouragement. Might an NIL deal prohibit this player from signing an autograph on a football the patient had already purchased? If so, there’s something wrong.
And, I did not attend the event at Crisler.
Go Blue!
Great idea, horrible execution.
Kinda seems like the story of Michigan NIL so far
Thanks for posting this, I will double down on this and say from the kids perspective they shut down the bounce house at 1:45 and face painting at 2. The event said 12-3 but the place was emptying at 2. I’m not mad about the $30 because it goes to the athletes, Im not looking for a refund, I’m mad because they didn’t actually operate it until 3pm as indicated on the ticket.
We took our 13 year old daughter who was really excited just to see JJ who they kept mentioning was on his way. It was chaos. We waited out in the freezing cold rain and wind because they only had one entrance. When we finally got inside there was no direction from anyone. We made our way down to the floor and just kind of stood there. It was a cluster of people and nobody really knew what was going on.
Blake and Donovan came out and were off to the side. Everyone rushed that area and we tried to get in a “line” which really wasn’t a line. Waited for quite a while and hardly moved and then they left.
The football team arrived and Harbaugh and a few other players spoke. It was announced JJ was not coming and many many kids were disappointed. Before we left I was able to help my daughter get close to Jansen and she got his signature and a picture, although she had no idea who he was.
It was a complete and utter waste of time and money. The group who put it on and the mden should be ashamed of themselves for charging money for a “pep rally”. It was advertised as being this fun event which I assumed would be similar to what the Big ten does at the conference hall at the big ten championship. And it wasn’t even close.
tl;dr: complete waste of time and money.
Please, please, please reach out with this to the following people.
I did, for reference, and if many of us all reach out, we all can maybe make a difference.
"President Santa J. Ono" <[email protected]>,
Athletic Director Warde Manuel <[email protected]>,
[email protected],
"[email protected]" <[email protected]>,
David Ablauf <[email protected]>, (Associate AD, Football Communications)
Scott Goldschmidt <[email protected]> (Director of Football Operations)
I thought the marketing materials were poorly prepared. When I first saw them, I did not know who was sponsoring the event, who was expected to appear, what I would expect to find when I got there or where the money was going.
I wasn't planning on going so I did not inquire further but it appears that the experience of some of fans was impacted by this.
I hope they can work this out.
This should reaffirm the idea that your NIL money is going to these players because you want them to play football at Michigan. You’re going to have athletes who just want the cash but don’t want to be at fan events. They want salaries to play football, not do all the extra stuff.
I’m sorry so many kids ended up disappointed. Seems like it was poorly planned, done at the wrong time, and the weather sucked.
I would copy the football office, ticket sales, Warde's office, and Santo Ono. Ono seems to be the kind of guy who would demand accountability from someone. Not to punish for punishment's sake, but to get it right. As others have suggested, benchmark the comic conferences.
UM has its standards.
I have done so. Good advice.
I wasn’t there, but from what I’ve read in the thread, this seems clear: Warde Manuel’s athletic department had a chance to start building positive relationships with its future paying fans—young kids—but through a combination of incompetence and indifference, it managed to step on its dick instead.
That first impression is going to be a lasting one. Good job everybody.
We waited to get tickets at the door because they said tickets would be available at the door. When we arrived a nice mden employee told us to hurry and get tickets otherwise we wouldn’t be let in.
when we got in there was a huge line to get on the floor so we just had a seat and watched a few interviews, which my kids were not super interested in. Once the interviews ended a lot of people left and we were able to get on the floor.
my younger son was very excited to get Jon Jansen’s autograph, but it could’ve been Steve from accounting and he would’ve been excited. Lol.
we had fun but it doesn’t take much effort to use the space better, form lines, and set clear expectations. Hopefully they learn for next time.
I debated going and decided to get a ticket at the last minute. I had low expectations for autographs since it was never clear who would be available. After stopping at Blimpy Burger when it opened, I only got there at about 11:55 and it took at least 20 minutes to get in. I am glad I went down to the floor right away so I didn’t get stuck on the stairs when they had to limit the crowd on the floor. I did try to join in the lines with Blake and Donovan and then another autograph line later, but didn’t get too far in either line (which weren’t well organized due to a lack of space.) Hearing the speeches was OK, but I probably should have just stayed close up front instead of bothering with the lines. It was sort of cool to see Blake and Donovan shooting baskets. It was disappointing when things shut down early, but I stuck around for a bit to get some pictures and take advantage of being on the floor of Crisler, which isn’t something you can do too often without risking arrest. After everything seemed to be over, Donovan came up on the left and someone else asked him for an autograph, which he had to turn down. He very kindly let me get a selfie with him and shook my hand. Shortly after this a crowd started to gather, and some staff pulled him off to other football activities.
It was fun to be on the floor and was a real highlight for me to get a picture with Donovan, but I can see why many were disappointed. I did wonder ahead of time how it could be scheduled until 3 pm given the time of the game. I think it was set up for failure if the expectation was that you would be able to get autographs, because there were too many people, too small a space, and not enough time for that to happen for everyone. People around me commented that an earlier event in the field house that cost $100 was much more worthwhile since there was more space and lines you could get in for each player.
When I entered the game, a family behind me was told that they could get armbands to have their kids go onto the field after the game. I am not sure if they got to meet players or just be on the field, but hopefully that was a better experience for them if they were disappointed by the pep rally.
Honestly the weather was far more disappointing than the pep rally. Lol. No chance my kids were going to tough it out through 4 quarters to be able to run on the field.