From Athletic Business: http://athleticbusiness.com/articles/article.aspx?articleid=3789&zoneid=8
Review by Brittany Clem in KIN 332 (Section 1)
Dominic Carola, President of Orlando, Florida- based Premise Entertainment, drew a cartoon character that looked like Oklahoma Universities mascot in attempt to reach out to young people interested in Oklahoma University Sooner athletics. Oklahoma’s Athletic Director Joe Castiglione describes that Sooner Jr. is “one of the most unique youth outreaches by any college athletics program in the nation.” Sooner Jr. is founded on four educational pillars, the F.A.N.S. system which involves fitness training, academics, nutrition, and sportsmanship. Not only is the Oklahoma University Athletic Department working on helping today’s youth get involved in a healthy lifestyle, they have reached as far as making an IPhone application for the program so that people nationally may become part of the Sooner Jr. program.
From a Marketing standpoint, OU’s AD for marketing, Charlie Taylor, says a six figure sum has been invested into the launch but this figure will change as people become more interested in the program. Tee-shirts, sweatshirts, and other apparel have been created with the Sooner Jr. logo in youth sizes and there is plan for future merchandise such as backpacks and water bottles supporting the healthy lifestyle theme of the Sooner Jr. program. Taylor also describes that there was a very large persuasive research project stating that more than 80 percent of the three and a half million people Oklahoma identified themselves as Sooner fans and of that 80 percent, 67 percent use a Smart Phone and one third an IPhone. This makes it possible for not only people in the state of Oklahoma to enjoy the program but people nationally through this technology. If interest in the Sooner Jr. program grows, technology will make sure that it will spread to rival school athletic programs.
The Sooner Jr. program and this article opened my eyes to not only a new program that benefits today’s youth, but the benefits brought to Oklahoma University’s Athletic Department by creating such a program. I believe that kids should choose their own path as to which college they wish to attend or what athletic department to be involved in but I also am very supportive of children becoming involved in an active healthy lifestyle. I think that it is a genius idea to take a character that is already known and turn that character into a positive influence and good role model as opposed to some of the examples set by today’s mascots or top ranked athletes.
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