I don't want to beat a dead/dying horse here, but at this point, it really is a head-scratcher that our conference has zero web presence outside of the member schools' websites. When this subject came up after our July 1 official launch, I was among the group that thought it was not really that big a deal. Now it has become an embarrassment.
Let's review the timeline:
Dec 15 -- C7 schools announced they were forming their own league
Mar 20 -- new league formally introduced with all 10 teams under the Big East name
June 26 -- Val Ackerman announced as commish, with headquarters in NYC
July 1 -- League officially started
Aug 30 -- Volleyball, soccer seasons began
My question is, when it became obvious that the commissioner search (and the subsequent support staff hiring) was dragging out, why did the member schools not farm this out themselves? They were able to hire law firms and PR firms to represent them beginning in December of 2012, so why not a website?
I've sent several tweets to them asking when the site will be up. Still no response.
I'd assume it will be up before the first conference sport begins.
Honestly they are putting even more pressure on themselves. With all the extra time they've spent developing this website, we are now expecting something great.
This better be the Mona Lisa of conference websites
Really, this is what you worry about?
Going back to the basketball roots from the 80's also means using the technology of the 80's.
They probably should have just tried outsourcing it to Fox Sports/MSN.
Quote from: LittleMurs on August 31, 2013, 06:23:30 PM
Really, this is what you worry about?
I just think it looks like someone dropped a fairly obvious ball.
Why not just have your PR firm come up with something? If this is something that they've left for Ann Crandall, the new CMO, who doesn't even START her job until September 10, where would that put the website launch? Midnight madness, if they're lucky?
Quote from: barfolomew on August 31, 2013, 11:45:44 PM
I just think it looks like someone dropped a fairly obvious ball.
Why not just have your PR firm come up with something? If this is something that they've left for Ann Crandall, the new CMO, who doesn't even START her job until September 10, where would that put the website launch? Midnight madness, if they're lucky?
It's not just a website it's the complete lack of web presence. They haven't tweeted or anything. This isn't rocket science, get on the stick and start making the Big East known.
Quote from: chapman on August 31, 2013, 11:00:11 PM
Going back to the basketball roots from the 80's also means using the technology of the 80's.
They probably should have just tried outsourcing it to Fox Sports/MSN.
Yes, be easy on them! It's tough writing in BASIC on a Commodore 64!!
Quote from: Bleuteaux on September 01, 2013, 09:27:50 AM
Yes, be easy on them! It's tough writing in BASIC on a Commodore 64!!
I can let them have some cassette tapes to use for backing up their work.
Quote from: LittleMurs on September 01, 2013, 09:45:52 AM
I can let them have some cassette tapes to use for backing up their work.
LOL. I had the cassette tape with the C-64. Memories
(http://stopxwhispering.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/c64-cassette-drive.jpg?w=450&h=301)
Quote from: TallTitan34 on August 31, 2013, 03:41:12 PM
I've sent several tweets to them asking when the site will be up. Still no response.
I'd assume it will be up before the first conference sport begins.
Marquette's women's soccer team just wrapped up their fourth game. Men's soccer & volleyball started their season on Friday.
Quote from: Brewtown Andy on September 01, 2013, 12:24:38 PM
Marquette's women's soccer team just wrapped up their fourth game. Men's soccer & volleyball started their season on Friday.
Apparently this is a clown operation so far, did the AAC get all the marketers in the divorce?
Quote from: mu03eng on September 01, 2013, 01:52:59 PM
Apparently this is a clown operation so far, did the AAC get all the marketers in the divorce?
I would love to see the data that shows where the conference website ranks in order of unique visits for sporting event schedules/results. I'd guess it's something like this:
1) ESPN.com
2) Foxsports.com
3) school websites
4-10) other sports websites
.
.
.
??? Conference website
The information is out there for people to find. Google is a wonderful thing. The lack of a conference website is practically meaningless.
Quote from: ATL MU Warrior on September 01, 2013, 02:01:34 PM
The information is out there for people to find. Google is a wonderful thing. The lack of a conference website is practically meaningless.
I know a number of marketing folks who would disagree with that. Not sure there is an organization out there that is ok letting others control their brand identity.
Quote from: barfolomew on September 01, 2013, 03:57:18 PM
I know a number of marketing folks who would disagree with that. Not sure there is an organization out there that is ok letting others control their brand identity.
I agree on your point on branding, but other than the link here on Scoop, I've never been to a conference site, only to team's and sports reporting.
Seriously, why would anyone even go to a conference website other than maybe to see the conference tourney game times?
A whole lotta angst about something that matters about as much if vander high fives a teammate or not.
Quote from: madtownwarrior on September 01, 2013, 05:27:02 PM
Seriously, why would anyone even go to a conference website other than maybe to see the conference tourney game times?
Conference wide statistic aggregation and a press release archive.
Getting a site to exist is easier than getting people to make sure it updates on a regular basis.
Quote from: madtownwarrior on September 01, 2013, 05:27:02 PM
Seriously, why would anyone even go to a conference website other than maybe to see the conference tourney game times?
A whole lotta angst about something that matters about as much if vander high fives a teammate or not.
+1
Far down on the list of priorities, IMO.
Unless it was linked here, I never went to the Old Big East website.
Quote from: ATL MU Warrior on September 01, 2013, 02:01:34 PM
The information is out there for people to find. Google is a wonderful thing. The lack of a conference website is practically meaningless.
Reporters looking for information while writing stories go to conference websites. They want to find info easily and won't spend time looking things up on google. If we complain about how stories are being written portraying the conference split unfavorably for our side, the lack of a website is partly to blame.
If you are an organization that exists in the 21st century and depends on a mass audience, you have a web site and keep it up to date. Period. It is ridiculous that they don't have one.
Quote from: Terror Skink on September 02, 2013, 08:34:54 PM
If you are an organization that exists in the 21st century and depends on a mass audience, you have a web site and keep it up to date. Period. It is ridiculous that they don't have one.
Exactly. Yes the general fan may not utilize the conference website but it is a basic necessity of any self respecting organization.
Both Marquette soccer teams are ranked in the top 20 and started playing last week. The women's volleyball team played well in a weekend tourney, losing a tough match to top 20 BYU. It would be nice if the Big East had their website up so one would be able to check out the rest of the conference without having to go to several other sites.
One of the women on the volleyball team was named freshman big east player of the week. Found that out on the MU site and word of mouth from roommates, wonder if anyone else in the big east knows about any of this.
There are other sports played in the Big East other than basketball. Pretty bush not to have a website working.
An excellent college soccer website is
http://www.topdrawersoccer.com/
Even when the Big East website is completed, I'll still use top-drawer-soccer for college soccer news...
Men's Standings for All Conferences
http://www.topdrawersoccer.com/college-soccer/college-soccer-conference-standings/men
Men's Big East Page
http://www.topdrawersoccer.com/college-soccer/college-conferences/conference-details/men/big-east/cfid-5
Marquette Men's Soccer Page
http://www.topdrawersoccer.com/college-soccer/college-soccer-details/men/marquette/clgid-383
Women's Standings for All Conferences
http://www.topdrawersoccer.com/college-soccer/college-soccer-conference-standings/women
Women's Big East Page
http://www.topdrawersoccer.com/college-soccer/college-conferences/conference-details/women/big-east/cfid-5
Marquette Women's Soccer Page
http://www.topdrawersoccer.com/college-soccer/college-soccer-details/women/marquette/clgid-53
great, thanks for the links :)
Quote from: billyjack on September 03, 2013, 10:07:55 AM
An excellent college soccer website is
http://www.topdrawersoccer.com/
Even when the Big East website is completed, I'll still use top-drawer-soccer for college soccer news...
Men's Standings for All Conferences
http://www.topdrawersoccer.com/college-soccer/college-soccer-conference-standings/men
Men's Big East Page
http://www.topdrawersoccer.com/college-soccer/college-conferences/conference-details/men/big-east/cfid-5
Marquette Men's Soccer Page
http://www.topdrawersoccer.com/college-soccer/college-soccer-details/men/marquette/clgid-383
Women's Standings for All Conferences
http://www.topdrawersoccer.com/college-soccer/college-soccer-conference-standings/women
Women's Big East Page
http://www.topdrawersoccer.com/college-soccer/college-conferences/conference-details/women/big-east/cfid-5
Marquette Women's Soccer Page
http://www.topdrawersoccer.com/college-soccer/college-soccer-details/women/marquette/clgid-53
Quote from: Archies Bat on September 01, 2013, 04:07:27 PM
I agree on your point on branding, but other than the link here on Scoop, I've never been to a conference site, only to team's and sports reporting.
Same here, who uses a conference website for anything?
Quote from: Red Stripe on September 03, 2013, 12:15:58 PM
Same here, who uses a conference website for anything?
Litehouse addressed it up above. A reporter looking for information....a fan wanting a composite volleyball schedule..
Honestly, can you guys think of better answers then "well, I never went there...must not be necessary." I have never gone to Wal-Mart's web site, but I'm sure there is a good reason why it is there.
Quote from: Terror Skink on September 03, 2013, 12:18:34 PM
Litehouse addressed it up above. A reporter looking for information....a fan wanting a composite volleyball schedule..
Honestly, can you guys think of better answers then "well, I never went there...must not be necessary." I have never gone to Wal-Mart's web site, but I'm sure there is a good reason why it is there.
Apparently they have never googled anything. Google American Athletic Conference and see what comes up first.
The Big East does have a Facebook page that's updated regularly. It only has a little over 2,200 likes, compared to almost 200,000 for the B1G.
https://www.facebook.com/BIGEASTconference (https://www.facebook.com/BIGEASTconference)
Quote from: Terror Skink on September 03, 2013, 12:18:34 PM
Litehouse addressed it up above. A reporter looking for information....a fan wanting a composite volleyball schedule..
Honestly, can you guys think of better answers then "well, I never went there...must not be necessary." I have never gone to Wal-Mart's web site, but I'm sure there is a good reason why it is there.
Wal-mart is a terrible example, as is any ecommerce, transaction-based website.
Of course the Big East needs a website
eventually. As someone said earlier, it's part of their brand identity. Maybe they are working on a larger rebranding effort and the website will be launched as part of that effort. Wouldn't be surprised if that's the case. However, they didn't need a website from Day 1 when they had far more pressing issues.
If someone whose job it is to write stories on some secondary or tertiary Big East sport (let's call them a reporter or journalist even though that's probably being kind) can't bother themselves to put some actual effort into finding some information then that's on them. Same with the few thousand people that would actually think to go there because they need a volleyball schedule. jeez.
I'm sure they will have one soon and then all the geniuses on here can tear it apart for how crapty they think it is and why it took them so long to come up with such a piece of sh!t.
The time to rebrand was July 1st. That's the date you had all of sports paying attention--everyone knew for months that big changes were going to take place . . . and when they tuned in that day to see what all the excitement was about, what did they get?
An image that the new league didn't have their act together--that's what. It was a perfect opportunity to come out of the gates strong. And it was blown.
Compare that to 1990, when the Great Midwest was being formed. Mike Slive was already working behind the scenes as the league was being formed. When he was publicly named commissioner in Feburary 1991 he hit the ground running with plenty of time to build awareness and excitement before the first league games months in the future. He evangelized the GMC tirelessly, and it paid off.
The Big East simply lost opportunity for momentum and excitement that they will never get back. Instead of coming out of the gates strong, they made it seem like they were trying to not have their act together--no web site, hiring a commissioner five days before lanuch, getting to the first day of classes with a facebook page that still says "Coming July 1, 2013".
The moves of the league's presidents so far smack of an atttude that they think they can simply ride the coattails of the orginial Big East's success--without actually taking any of the efforts to build a league the way Slive did it 23 years ago (or Gavitt 34 years ago).
Yeah, didn't take AAC long
http://theamerican.org/
Quote from: melissasmooth on September 03, 2013, 09:25:11 PM
Yeah, didn't take AAC long
http://theamerican.org/
Man, I gotta say, when I look at that conference it's very respectable athletically. However, for some reason, UCF sticks out like a sore-thumb.
Quote from: ElDonBDon on September 03, 2013, 09:29:15 PM
Man, I gotta say, when I look at that conference it's very respectable athletically. However, for some reason, UCF sticks out like a sore-thumb.
and south florida
Quote from: The Equalizer on September 03, 2013, 08:58:05 PM
The time to rebrand was July 1st. That's the date you had all of sports paying attention--everyone knew for months that big changes were going to take place . . . and when they tuned in that day to see what all the excitement was about, what did they get?
An image that the new league didn't have their act together--that's what. It was a perfect opportunity to come out of the gates strong. And it was blown.
Compare that to 1990, when the Great Midwest was being formed. Mike Slive was already working behind the scenes as the league was being formed. When he was publicly named commissioner in Feburary 1991 he hit the ground running with plenty of time to build awareness and excitement before the first league games months in the future. He evangelized the GMC tirelessly, and it paid off.
The Big East simply lost opportunity for momentum and excitement that they will never get back. Instead of coming out of the gates strong, they made it seem like they were trying to not have their act together--no web site, hiring a commissioner five days before lanuch, getting to the first day of classes with a facebook page that still says "Coming July 1, 2013".
The moves of the league's presidents so far smack of an atttude that they think they can simply ride the coattails of the orginial Big East's success--without actually taking any of the efforts to build a league the way Slive did it 23 years ago (or Gavitt 34 years ago).
So you want to launch a rebranding campaign for a basketball-centric league in July? When absolutely no one in the world is paying any attention whatsoever to college basketball? Great idea.
Would it have been nice to have a better web presence on July 1? Sure. Is it the train wreck many here seem to think it is? No way. Nobody will care until anticipation for the upcoming basketball season starts ramping up...and promos begin running across Fox properties. If they don't have something by that time it is obviously a big problem.
Quote from: melissasmooth on September 03, 2013, 09:25:11 PM
Yeah, didn't take AAC long
http://theamerican.org/
Because they already had the staff to run the website hired, because they were the old Big East staff.
Quote from: ATL MU Warrior on September 04, 2013, 07:02:30 AM
So you want to launch a rebranding campaign for a basketball-centric league in July? When absolutely no one in the world is paying any attention whatsoever to college basketball? Great idea.
There are at least six strong reasons to have been ready on July 1:
First, because for MONTHS leading up to that date, THAT was the date the league was telling everyone in the world that they launch. Not being ready on that date sends a message of incompetence. Still saying that you're "Coming July 1st" when the caledar flips to September cements that notion. If July 1 was such a bad date, someone should have thought of that back in December when they started telling everyone in the world that they get started on July 1st. And if they were concerned that nobody would be paying attention on July 1, then they should have told the world a different date.
Second, because NOT having a website ready sent a signal to the world that the league didn't have its act together, which was reflected in the coverage at the time. Instead of building on the success of the Big East, we dug a hole that now reqires some sort of rebranding to get out of--and it will invite comparision to the "not ready for prime time" image we presented on the day we initially SAID we would launch.
Third, becuase every website has bugs when launched, and launching during a slower period gives the staff a chance to weed them out---launching before the heaviest period risks more embarassment of system crashes--which would extend the notion that the league doesn't have its act together.
Fourth, because we certainly would have received more coverage in a down time when the media are looking for stories than we will going head to head agianst the NFL, College Football, the World Series, every OTHER conference's own basketball coverage, NBA pre-season, NHL preseason, and who knows what else.
Fifth, a "rebranding" was completely unnecessary given the already strong Big East brand if only someone thought about trying to leverage it and build on it to be ready to go on July 1st. I mean, there WAS six months lead time. That's plenty to take all the existing Big East coverage and come up with one or two new ideas--maybe an interactive league history timeline.
Sixth, and most importantly, the league staff SHOULD be completely and 100% focused on much more important basketball-related priorities once basketball season nears.
Think for just a moment about what you're suggesting: You want the league to divert resources AWAY from its most imporant sport at EXACTLY the most critical time of the season in order to instead focus on a website redesign and unnecessary rebranding campagin. But in your mind, that's the BETTER idea.
Is it a train wreck? No--and nobody said that.
It was, however, a HUGE missed opportunity. We could be building right now on a strong start as opposed to needing to "rebrand" to get back on track.
Can it be done? Sure. Nobody said it couldn't.
The question is why wasn't it done in the first place.
The launch date was more about the operation of the NCAA calendar. July 1 is the day the NCAA flips from 2012-13 to 2013-14, so that was the day that the transfer of teams was official in the eyes of the NCAA.
When the Big East presidents took until June 26th to announce Val Ackerman as the commissioner, and therefore the person in charge of hiring the next level of staff on the flow chart, things were going to be delayed.
Hell, they just brought in John Paquette to run media relations back on July 24. He still has to hire his staff, etc., etc.
Outside the few hardcore fans - i.e., us, who rarely if ever go to a conference website for information - nobody cares about college basketball in July. Or August. Or early September.
The sports hierarchy these days is going:
1. NFL
2. NFL
3. College football
4. MLB in towns where teams are still relevant
5. High school football
.
.
.
.
.
6. Everything else
The notion that "the world" was watching with bated breath for the launch of a Big East website on July 1 is ridiculous.
Having an awesome website ready to go July 1 would obviously be better than nothing, but the reality is in four months nobody will care and the impact this has on the league's future is nonexistent.
But it's the offseason, there's no Hiroshima to fret over, so Scoop has to find something to b*tch about, because that's what we do.
Quote from: Pakuni on September 04, 2013, 10:34:42 AM
Outside the few hardcore fans - i.e., us, who rarely if ever go to a conference website for information - nobody cares about college basketball in July. Or August. Or early September.
The sports hierarchy these days is going:
1. NFL
2. NFL
3. College football
4. MLB in towns where teams are still relevant
5. High school football
.
.
.
.
.
6. Everything else
The notion that "the world" was watching with bated breath for the launch of a Big East website on July 1 is ridiculous.
Having an awesome website ready to go July 1 would obviously be better than nothing, but the reality is in four months nobody will care and the impact this has on the league's future is nonexistent.
But it's the offseason, there's no Hiroshima to fret over, so Scoop has to find something to b*tch about, because that's what we do.
Timeout, lets throw out the artificial date of July 1st. You and the others are right, probably too ambitious and not required.
However, it is two months later, 5 weeks from midnight madness(roughly) and not only do we not have a conference website, we have a completely unused twitter account, and a barely used facebook account. You think that will all magically change in October and people will pay attention with college football conference games in full swing, the NFL hitting it's stride and all the other basketball conferences but ours getting pimped by TWWL? The time to get some sort of awareness was early August. Plus as people pointed out we have sports going on now and nowhere to post the news/schedule/info.
We are now shackled to FS1(which I'm happy about), but that also means we can't ride the eyeball train that is ESPN. The Big East is going to have to promote itself and so far it is has promoted exactly nothing. They very well may have some sort of master plan for brand building and an awesome awareness campaign, but I don't see any evidence of it. They've been slow to hire a lot of stuff so I don't have a lot of confidence that they are really on the stick.
Hmmm, a startup having problems with marketing and brand management.
And this is a surprise to anyone because.......?
Having said that, I would like to see a conference schedule soon, so I know what Tix to buy.
Website is live....you freaks:
http://www.bigeast.org/
It's horrible!
What an embarrassment!
Should be better with all the time they took!
---------------------------------
Ok. glad we could get that out of the way.
Quote from: MUCrew on September 05, 2013, 11:09:30 AM
Website is live....you freaks:
http://www.bigeast.org/
Yay. And I think at first glace it is nice. Simple, straightforward...
Quote from: Terror Skink on September 05, 2013, 11:18:18 AM
Yay. And I think at first glace it is nice. Simple, straightforward...
(http://www.stripersonline.com/content/type/61/id/1413802/width/550/height/336)
No mobile site? I thought every site had a mobile version. This site gets all messed up on my iPhone.
First time I've ever been to ANY conference website. Looks kind of lame.
Quote from: MUCrew on September 05, 2013, 11:09:30 AM
Website is live....you freaks:
http://www.bigeast.org/
cool
Quote from: ceh on September 05, 2013, 11:46:13 AM
First time I've ever been to ANY conference website. Looks kind of lame.
This site is temporary per MU twitter
www.twitter.com/marquetteMBB (http://www.twitter.com/marquetteMBB)
Quote from: Nukem2 on September 05, 2013, 12:00:46 PM
This site is temporary per MU twitter
www.twitter.com/marquetteMBB (http://www.twitter.com/marquetteMBB)
yeah missing pages for results, stats, standings but at least schedules and press releases are there
Field Hockey conference championships are at UConn?
Tennis conference finals are on the U.S. Open courts in Flushing, Queens. Thank you St. John's.
Anyone want "to attend the women's golf conference final tournamant" and not actually attend the tournament?
Quote from: MUCrew on September 05, 2013, 11:09:30 AM
Website is live....you freaks:
http://www.bigeast.org/
No its not. Its just a nicer looking interim page. You missed this:
"The excellence and tradition of the BIG EAST began a new era on July 1, 2013. The new online home of the BIG EAST is coming soon."
Hey, we should be happy. It took one really big entity with limitless resources and 3.5 years to get right and it has been an epic disaster to get launched. 404 baby, 404.
I'm proud of what the Big East was able to do. No 404s! ;)