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Appalachian draws attention, publicity with Nike commercial |
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Tuesday, 01 April 2008 |
by ASHLEY DAVIS
Sports Reporter
With one football game, one blocked kick and one win, Appalachian took a spot alongside Boise State University, North Carolina State University and Georgetown University in the latest Nike “Become Legendary” commercial.
Initiated by Michael Jordan, the commercial recognizes several unpredicted happy endings for collegiate underdogs.
According to the third installment in the commercial campaign called “There are no Cinderellas,” only late practices turn into victories.
“It is publicity that you can’t put a price on,” Assistant Athletics
Director and Sports Information Director at Appalachian Mike Flynn
said. “You can’t pay for [it] even if you tried. The exposure that it
is giving the university is unreal. Running during the NCAA Tournament,
there are millions of people watching and seeing the Appalachian logo.”
Flynn said the segment that shows the Appalachian logo on a concrete
wall was actually created by sending in 12 sequential photographs of
the wall connecting the locker room and weight room in Owens Field
House.
“Everything in the commercial is actually a recreation of the photographs that were sent in,” Flynn said.
Since winning three-consecutive national championships in the Football
Championship Subdivision, the university has seen a steady rise in
public attention.
Yet after the victory over University of Michigan at the start of the
2007 season, students are becoming accustomed to seeing Mountaineer
spotlights on prime television networks.
“I wasn’t surprised to hear that Appalachian was on TV again,” senior
communication major Julie M. Koontz said. “Football has really been
bringing a lot of publicity to our school and I think it’s great… I’ve
always been proud to go to school here and now others can share that
pride too.”
According to many, the impact of that Sept. 1 game will always be defining moment in all collegiate athletics.
“This commercial just once again shows the magnitude of the game
against Michigan,” Assistant Athletic Director and Director of Public
Affairs at Appalachian David Jackson said. “I think it’s going to take
years for us to see the real impact that all of this is having on the
university though, because you don’t know what kids are seeing that
image on that wall right now and aspiring to come to school here in the
future…It’s huge for Appalachian to even be a part of the conversation
[of the commercial].”
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