Mock The SIFL if you Must, But ...

[daytonadan]

Allow yourself to give a modicum of credit where credit is due.

In the pathetically low minimal standards that indoor football continues to maintain in communications, the SIFL fared well.

Unlike the premier national indoor league and another indoor football association, the SIFL had a game recap on its league site this morning. With photography even.

And during the game last night, the SIFL made good use of technology that doesn't cost its teams $1,000 per pop and kept us updated during the game as well as the premier national indoor football league.

Now granted, I'd like to see stories posted on the same day as the game, just like Rookie League baseball and Division III lacrosse or anything else halfway professional, and I'd like to see that league PR guy know that Alvin Bartie's 8 touchdown passes were a league record,even though it was against a replacement team, but I will allow a modicum of grace.

Now excuse me, I'm going to make waffles.

[Caballo Diablo]

Can we judge the league on what the Swashbucklers do?

After all the `Bucs have had a good website long before the SIFL was around and have a history of streaming games and professional PR. The same guy owning the league and the team also help with getting the most attention. The Swashbucklers were the team to chase both on the field and in the media for years.

Mr Hager and the Swashbucklers definitely deserve props for what they've accomplished but they need to work harder on bringing the rest of the league up to their level both on and off the field.

[daytonadan]

Cabby:

I didn't even look at the LA Bucs site today. All my opine was based on the league site ran by one Matthew Hester out of Columbus, Georgia.

Gotta go make some more waffles!

[newiflfan]

Unlike the premier national indoor league and another indoor football association, the SIFL had a game recap on its league site this morning. With photography even.


You claim to be unbiased, yet you praise this team/league for getting photos out within 24 hours of a game, but you haven't said jack about a certain IFL team (http://www.westmichiganthunderhawks.com) that has had a selection of nearly 20 game photos on their website less than 12 hours following the end of both games this year.

[preeths]

Hester's done a very good job, I have to agree with that.

[daytonadan]

I'm just focusing on league sites for now...

But I have seen your work and it is solid.

Here's your challenge.

Get a picture up at halftime...Get a brief story (100 words) on your site by game's end and then a 400 ot 500-worder by two hours after game is over.

Then I will sing your praises like Ozzy Osbourne belting out Iron Man....

Gotta make more waffles!

[Caballo Diablo]

Cabby:


Gotta go make some more waffles!
Slow down, I think you've had enough Waffles and ice cream.

[Caballo Diablo]

I'm just focusing on league sites for now...

Then I will sing your praises like Ozzy Osbourne belting out Iron Man....


or you could just belt out SHARRRRR - ON !!

[daytonadan]

One can never have enough waffles, Cabby.

C'mon, be a sport and debate me...

[Caballo Diablo]

Ok, meet me at the Waffle House and we'll debate fresh fruit vs Syrup.

[daytonadan]

And here's how it will end...

Yeah? Well F&&%* you!"

Caby will be speechless. I thought that's what I was trying to do

[newiflfan]

I'm just focusing on league sites for now...

But I have seen your work and it is solid.

Here's your challenge.

Get a picture up at halftime...Get a brief story (100 words) on your site by game's end and then a 400 ot 500-worder by two hours after game is over.

Then I will sing your praises like Ozzy Osbourne belting out Iron Man....

Gotta make more waffles!

I don't do anything with the team website.

[daytonadan]

Then pass the challenge along to someone who is, noble squire.

[newiflfan]

Something tells me the team has bigger things on their minds than making some random dude on a message board happy.

[daytonadan]

And doing a halfway decent job of publicizing the team's on the field efforts isn't one of them.

[dagr8_1_4ever]

I thought the action from the league website was fairly swift on the FORCE vs Wildcatters game as well today.

If Columbus is involved they will do their best to do it right. Matt Hester is a Columbus Lion and has learned to do it right if those around the league will allow himto.

I think the new boys on the block faired well for themselfs today in Greenville.

Go FORCE 44-28

.

[Big Easy]

Mr Hager and the Swashbucklers definitely deserve props for what they've accomplished but they need to work harder on bringing the rest of the league up to their level both on and off the field.

In a semi-related story, IFL Austin Turfcat fans just overwhelmingly voted the T-cats the best SIFL Texas team. :p

[sportznut]

Too Funny, But That issnt going to happen :-)

We tried hard last season to make sure current game information was sent to me during each game so i could get the twitter updates up almost as soon as the action happens. This season is no different. I attended the Swashbuckler game, and had 3 separate updates coming in from Greenville. We will strive hard to keep the fans as up to date as we possibly can, especially on game nights!!

Huge Kudos to Matthew, and the rest of the SIFL Staff for their hard work as we started the first weekend of action

[jerry101jlh]

Good job on the Twitter updates Bob and I mean that, think its an added feature that's very fan friendly and does add a personal touch to things, but might I suggest as a part to this that the SIFL teams use the live reporting feature of the stat program, then fans can not only get your great play by play, but also have all the stats for the games updated during play.

[daytonadan]

Jerry, may I interject?

The live stat option has always been discussed and was part of the SIFL communication plan.

There are some logistic concerns, and the focus was to make sure there were stats, so the SIFL decided that stats would be passsed along through the twitter feeds and the live blog feeds until that functionality.

So there. The Crunch showed up. You were

W

R

O

N

G!

See ya. It's time to make waffles.

[jerry101jlh]

The Crunch uniforms showed up ans with the score what it was, those uniforms might have been empty'

I don't exactly understand the problem in using the live stats as opposed to Twitter. You might elaborate

[daytonadan]

But Jerrrrrrrry, I'm making waffles. Can I elaborate later?

[dagr8_1_4ever]

Good job on the Twitter updates Bob and I mean that, think its an added feature that's very fan friendly and does add a personal touch to things, but might I suggest as a part to this that the SIFL teams use the live reporting feature of the stat program, then fans can not only get your great play by play, but also have all the stats for the games updated during play.


So with twitter feeds from Greenville, Lafayette, Louisiana already coming in and one would assume Columbus since they have it up on their site. That only leaves Albany without a sure twitter feed. That means alll of those games should be covered by visiting twitter feeds. Thus a great step in the right direction of keeping the fans up to date around the league with scoring updates.

It may not be the best but it sure seems like a step in the right direction to keeping fans informed as the game progresses. A great first step by the league. If this continues maybe some creditablity will be established and greater things will come down the road.

.

[sportznut]

So with twitter feeds from Greenville, Lafayette, Louisiana already coming in and one would assume Columbus since they have it up on their site. That only leaves Albany without a sure twitter feed. That means alll of those games should be covered by visiting twitter feeds. Thus a great step in the right direction of keeping the fans up to date around the league with scoring updates.

It may not be the best but it sure seems like a step in the right direction to keeping fans informed as the game progresses. A great first step by the league. If this continues maybe some creditablity will be established and greater things will come down the road.

.


We used twitter last season also, So what may seem like a great first step, is a standard for us here. In the Intense Football League I used a Flash program that updated the score of each game, where the fan could come to the main page on the League site, and wouldnt have to refresh the page to see updates. I wished i had access to that still...

We are looking for more creative ways to keep everyone updated..

[dagr8_1_4ever]

We used twitter last season also, So what may seem like a great first step, is a standard for us here. In the Intense Football League I used a Flash program that updated the score of each game, where the fan could come to the main page on the League site, and wouldnt have to refresh the page to see updates. I wished i had access to that still...

We are looking for more creative ways to keep everyone updated..

Keep it up and you'll be in the NFL one day.
Thinking you are better than everyone else is usually the first sign of the soon to arrive downfall.
But enjoy yourself while you can.

.

[jerry101jlh]

So with twitter feeds from Greenville, Lafayette, Louisiana already coming in and one would assume Columbus since they have it up on their site. That only leaves Albany without a sure twitter feed. That means alll of those games should be covered by visiting twitter feeds. Thus a great step in the right direction of keeping the fans up to date around the league with scoring updates.

It may not be the best but it sure seems like a step in the right direction to keeping fans informed as the game progresses. A great first step by the league. If this continues maybe some creditablity will be established and greater things will come down the road.

.

Twitter adds the personal play by play touch, a good thing, but still doesn't replace having all stats readily available. Some of us do have our own reasons for wanting to access stats during a game. A second choice to that being the game stats posted in a timely manner, not a day or two after a game. Having those stats available only help the media who just might like to write about the game.

The SIFL pretty much raised the bar last season with Twitter, a great idea and still the only league that actually uses it as a scoring tool. Others should follow suit because as I said it does add a personal, almost live, play by play feature.

[daytonadan]

And now flying into our message board-- Captain Obvious!

Jerry, for crying out loud, we know the coolness of live stats. They are an extremely effective tool and I appreciate them when they are available at games I cover.

Remember how bad the clusterfrak was in the SIFL, especially in Houma and Texas. They were lucky to even have a game, let alone the pathetically minimal communications standards this sport has. Some venues didn't had wireless, thus, no live stats.

So we devised the twitter system and it works. We even had a twitter style guide that encouraged the twitterers to place stat info after each quarter and when possible. It works and continues to be decently effective.

Should the effort be made to get live stats. Frak yes. Get the extra computer, the air card or even get your teams to fork over a grand for a system that needs to go back to beta testing.

Until then, no sense beating a dead horse, and speaking of dead horses, let's talk about this exhaustive five-part series on minor league football PR that you're doing for free.

It's like that scene in the Breakfast Club where Judd Nelson is ripping Anthony Michael Hall about being in the science club. It's informative --demented and sad -- but informative.

Maybe I should count the turds in my cat's litter box. You know what that would tell me? I needed to change the litter box last night.

All this time you could be spending enjoying the beauties of life-- a sunset, a quality restaurant, well-written and produced cable television such as Damages or Caprica, making love to a beautiful woman or playing with nephews, nieces or grandchildren if you are so fortunate.

Cut to the chase, call the leagues and ask them "Why does your PR suck sweaty balls?" and get it over with? Well, be a little more diplomatic,but you get the idea

Now, dagr or whatever, be very careful when you call out Robert Winfrey, who has been a driving force in keeping sanity in the old Intense league and SIFL.

Kathie Lee Gifford treated her sweatshop workers better than what Dittman and Benizio trickled down to Sporznut in Texas and Rob has had to deal with the incredibly unneccesary drama that Franklin Thomas, the Texas Pirates, Pastor Watkins, John Sisson and Andre White have unloaded on him. In fact, you should just "Thank You" and go about your business.

Phew, I feel better. Best 3 minutes of the day.

My clips from last night

http://www.standard.net/topics/sports/2010/03/22/knights-fall-hard-fought-season-opener-glover-scores-five-total-tds-loss

http://www.trib.com/sports/college/article_46db101b-5cc5-51f3-8355-9f4c985664f4.html

Now, if I can write 2 seperate stories in 45 minutes after keeping my own stats and updating the aifa fans page and still make it to the Knights post-game party before the wings go cold, why can't the premier national indoor football league get stuff out on the same day?

Okay, time to make waffles!

[jerry101jlh]

Now Dan, you go through all the long BS and yes, mostly just that, BS and how you close minus the waffle comment says it all, if you can do this or that in a timely manner, why can't so and so league. That my friend does say a lot.

Rob does a great job with what he has to work with and as you and I both know from experience can be very frustrating, but he hangs in there, so a big credit to him on that.

As to well lucky they even made it to the field to play a game, let alone stats. Sometimes I realize Dan that we have to play the cards we're dealt and in this case so true, but I look at who dealt the cards? Who let these shouldn't have even been here to begin with teams in? if leagues and not referring to the SIFL alone simply does their job in the qualification process, you minimize in season problems. One bad team makes life difficult for everybody as we know, but we also know that add other to that one team and its a nightmare.

And finally what I do for free. Maybe I, unlike some others, believe strongly enough in how I see things that I'm willing to do for free in the hope there might be improvement. Others may talk of improvement or that a league or team should be doing this or that, but wouldn't lift a finger to help make that happen without someone writing them a check. Not speaking of message board chatter either.

[daytonadan]

What the frak Jerry?

This sport isn't a 501c3.

If you're good at something, never do it for free. At least work a trade.

[Caballo Diablo]

If you're good at something, never do it for free.
So there's no need for interns or volunteers in the business world?

Good will and charity come from the heart and usually makes both sides feel better

[preeths]

It can also be beneficial to both sides. The volunteer can gain valuable experience and exposure.

[daytonadan]

Ah, the slippery slope begins.

Always a need for interns and volunteers. Always.

But by God, when they crack my chest open, I don't want an intern working on me. I don't know. That's just me.

[jerry101jlh]

but if I get what you are saying Dan is one should never speak up, even though they believe passionately about the subject, unless they are paid to do so.

Be careful my friend, under the proposed universal health care, an intern may be just what you get lol.

[daytonadan]

Okay Jerry, if you wanna work for free, work for free. As long as you get something out of it. Hobbies are good.

But quit this namby-pamby nerdy analysis. Up your game.

Go for the jugular. Ask Benizio why his PR sucks and why he only pays $20K when his salary is 3 times more.

[newiflfan]

So there's no need for interns or volunteers in the business world?

Good will and charity come from the heart and usually makes both sides feel better

I think you left out a key part of Dan's comment... "At least work a trade."

One of my friends does photography for a nearby sports team. They said they couldn't pay him, but they offered to advertise the heck out of him, and gave him permission to sell his photos at the games and online. In his mind, that was a fair deal, a few hundred dollers worth of free advertising, and encouragement to make a buck with photo sales. As such, he was willing to accept the photo gig for no (technical) pay.

[jerry101jlh]

This is ridiculous, but says a lot about people today, don't do anything unless you get something out of it. Well I guess you are all right because I do, I get emails telling me to keep up the good work or ones that say they agree with me and yet others that in essence say why are you picking on us?

I came up with the idea of writing again because in the early am I have these strange ideas that maybe somebody might read what is said by me and others and take steps to improve things. I am also a realist, will never happen. lol

You see the old NIFL was bad for the sport although gave many a chance to play and fans an opportunity to have local teams they wouldn't ordinarily have had, bur that aside the NIFL created a model for others to follow, some more than others. Here a new league was started, there a league and so forth. All claiming to start in the name of change, yet I could point out in each how the NIFL is a live and well. Granted there has been progress, fewer games cancelled mid season for one, better communication for the fan another, yet some of the core problems still exist, the main one being ego getting in the way of real change.

I have not attacked any by name, nor do I intend to. If you Dan want to call Tommy B out on issues, I'll give you the space on my site and trust me he will read it. What do you get out of it you ask? Nothing other than to stop the babbling here expecting others to do your bidding. Other than that, maybe the satisfaction of saying what you mean or want to say in a more public forum, but money or trade, nope, not going to happen.

You can rant on about how fast you can do this or that and we're all so proud of you, but instead of asking why can't others, why not help them. Oh wait, you'd want to be paid, right? If you're issue is to just complain and offer no help, what value do you have to offer?

Someone told me you had thought of writing a primer on the media thing as it relates to sports at this level. I think you should. There is no question you know what you are talking about and have proved a professional time and time again, so why not share your wisdom. Who know might sell a few copies and pick up a couple bucks. As much time as you have to post here, you obviously have time to write it.

[daytonadan]

"Instead of asking why can't others, why not help them. Oh wait, you'd want to be paid, right?"

Yep. There's thing I need called electricity that powers my house. There's also another I like to do called eating ... Get the idea?

And my communication manual and crisis communication plan are still on file with the SIFL. Bless his heart, Thom Hager even copyrighted the damn thing. Can't cut and paste it.

Jerry, if you wanna be the written voice of reason, go for it. Quit wasting your time breaking down how many press releases each league sends out. Other than, you me and 17 other nerds, who the frak cares? You're on your third or fourth lap doing this need better press release and better web site mantra. Go for the jugular. Instead, ask the leagues directly what are they doing to improve publicity.

And a lot of people are going to freak when I say, but yes, we need to do a better job with the on-the-field stuff. You can get up now, newiflfan.

There are a lot of great stories eminating from the game. I dedicated one day a week to feature stories. They are fun to write, and the players appreciate them as well.

Ok, I gottab go make waffles.

[preeths]

The teams should care how many releases they're sending out. The leagues should care. Releases are the way these organizations communicate not only first to the media but ultimately to their fans. So fans should, and in fact do, care how much their teams and leagues communicate with them.

As for the IFL, Mike Allshouse has done a terrific job with league communications. Communications jobs at this level are never going to be career positions, and yes, commissioners are going to be paid more. I don't think Mike, Tommy, Jerry or anyone else would be surprised by that.

[daytonadan]

Et tu, Paul?

[preeths]

LOL, you ain't Caesar, and I'd look terrible in a toga.

On subject, I agree with Jerry's overall point about the importance of press releases. In addition to spurring local media coverage, they're great team and league website content and are also carried by sites such as this one. Issuing periodic releases is and should be one of the foremost methods teams and leagues use to communicate with their customers.

[daytonadan]

Hey everybody, Paul dropped a funny and it was pretty good one.

Paul, shall we two professional, respected, credible and successful communications experts opine about the dynamics of effective communications in the new media or just say "Frak It" and take the kids to the playground on a beautiful day?

[preeths]

I think you had a brilliant idea when you mentioned establishing a primer of sorts for communications which could then be distributed to all the teams and leagues. So many of the communications people are new to the game, new to the job or have so many other duties. They're constantly having to reinvent the wheel. The primer would give them a basic set of guidelines to follow for the position as well as giving management consistent criteria on which to judge their performance. At a league level, their communications person would then be easily able to identify and assist teams that are falling below standards. Not a bad idea at all.

[Caballo Diablo]

On subject, I agree with Jerry's overall point about the importance of press releases. In addition to spurring local media coverage, they're great team and league website content and are also carried by sites such as this one. Issuing periodic releases is and should be one of the foremost methods teams and leagues use to communicate with their customers.
Last season the TurfCats put out more press releases than any team, in any league. You need to constantly throw them out hoping the local media will pick up on a few of them. The Austin media has never cared about any 50 yard league, they wouldn't even cover the "5th Major League" when they had a team here.

All the press releases got the Austin GM was criticized and smacked by posters and the SIFL league office.

Go ahead Dan, tell us how wrong he was again because we've forgot.

[preeths]

I'm not going to speak for Dan, but maybe that's where the primer would come in handy. It's not just about the volume of releases, something I believe the TurfCats did well last year and which earned them some local coverage they otherwise would not have received. It's also about the contents of said releases, the "do's" and "don'ts" of press releases if you will.

[daytonadan]

All right, Steve, I'll have a professional discussion with you. Let me know if you think I'm throwing anyone under the bus.

The former Austin GM ran a first-class operation when it came to media relations and running one of the best web sites in indoor football and arena2. I would bet your house that I would get everything I needed on game night from Austin.

However, there were serious concerns:

A) A majority of those releases focused on promoting the general manager as much or even more than the organization. The most blatant offense was a post-game release in which he quoted himself rather than the head coach or the players who actually played the game.

B) In some of that well-produced content, there would occassionaly be deragatory comments about the operations and conduct of other teams that said other teams felt crossed the line of competition and professionalism. In the immortals words of Peter Griffin, "that grinded everyone's gears" and did not contribute to a cohesive league-wide communication effort.

C) And while the general manager was sending out the releases mentioned in item A, there were serious concern about the Turfcats' game-day logistics, especially in the matter of visiting team logistics and field conditions. Most notable was that dasher pad advertising from where the Turfcats purchased the field system still contained advertising for organizations in that previous market.

These issues have been discussed with all parties involved and given the current circumstances of those involved, shouldn't need further elaboration unless those who want to elaborate for the simple sake of continued elaboration wish to further elaborate.

Thank you for your support. I'm gonna go make waffles!

[Caballo Diablo]

Thanks Dan, I agree with pretty much all of that. The "most notable" Dasher ad's is funny though. Most teams would love for that to be their most notable game day logisitcs problem. Heck, some SIFL teams didn't even have dasher pads or turf. A couple didn't even have suitable venues.

I'm telling, lay off the waffles. Dr's orders.

[daytonadan]

Actually, the dasher pad thing was MY thing.

There were some minor safety issues and visiting team amenities issues that occurred as well.

And those teams you mention no longer exist. But you are correct -- no excuses.

I'm done with waffles for a while. Might fire up the grill.

[Caballo Diablo]

I'm done with waffles for a while. Might fire up the grill.
Doc says the grilled veggies and turkey burgers are the way to go.

Actually, the dasher pad thing was MY thing.

Dang it, there's only 8 days until we use them for the first time this season. How can I cover them when they're stacked away in storage until the Rodeo leaves our venue.

I got it, I'll schedule a field trip for the kindergarten classes for the day after the Rodeo pulls out. Bring a couple cases of markers and tell the kids to go wild drawing on the walls.:infun: