OT: Tennessee charges media to watch spring game
Posted: Tue Apr 13, 2010 11:09 amFrom Sporting News:
Media members were offered the chance to watch Tennessee's spring scrimmage/practice last week — but it would cost them $50. According to a column by John Adams of the Knoxville News-Sentinel, the sports information department informed the media it could sign up for a weekend coaching clinic and attend the scrimmage. For the record, Adams did not attend.
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Pretty ballsy. I realize UT is the only game in town, or basically in the state, but charging the media? Big mistake. So much of public perception is formed through the media's coverage. You can't make the media into a bunch of cheerleaders for a program by letting them in for free, but you also don't want to alienate them. Maybe they could pull this off if they hired a Nick Saban-type coach, but Derek Dooley? Nice guy, but doesn't have the pull to do this. I'm sure it wasn't his idea, but still ... have to believe he didn't like the idea.
I'd be interested to learn how many members of the media ponied up the cash, and how many stayed away.
Media members were offered the chance to watch Tennessee's spring scrimmage/practice last week — but it would cost them $50. According to a column by John Adams of the Knoxville News-Sentinel, the sports information department informed the media it could sign up for a weekend coaching clinic and attend the scrimmage. For the record, Adams did not attend.
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Pretty ballsy. I realize UT is the only game in town, or basically in the state, but charging the media? Big mistake. So much of public perception is formed through the media's coverage. You can't make the media into a bunch of cheerleaders for a program by letting them in for free, but you also don't want to alienate them. Maybe they could pull this off if they hired a Nick Saban-type coach, but Derek Dooley? Nice guy, but doesn't have the pull to do this. I'm sure it wasn't his idea, but still ... have to believe he didn't like the idea.
I'd be interested to learn how many members of the media ponied up the cash, and how many stayed away.