Happy Thanksgiving Coug and Dawg Fans. I'm thankful for all of you (even the ones that wear purple and gold). I have a few days left in Movember and I'm less than $400 away from the $5000 fundraising goal I set. So let's have a little friendly competition.
For every dollar donated to my Movember campaign between now and tomorrow a point will be generated. The donor simply indicates which team to credit their points to by putting "Go Cougs" or "Go Dawgs" into their comment line. Double points will be awarded on gifts of $50 or more.
I'll even wear the school colors of the winning team to work for a day next week. How's that for incentive Husky fans? (I'm not worried. Cougs are a lot more generous!)
So let's get the Movember Apple Cup started right away. Click here to contributeand score some Movember Apple Cup points!
The Seattle Seahawks won Super Bowl XLVIII. In fact, their defense dominated Denver's number one ranked offense so soundly that most of the country called the game a yawner. Not so where I live. In the Northwest, the 12th Man knows how to yell, how to win, and how to celebrate. So how would a hyper-local insurance company find marketing opportunity in an event that is played on a global stage? With focus, passion, technology and social engagement.
Late last winter, while visiting with my son Ryan, I learned that my grandson Easton had been invited to be a member of a "select" little league baseball team. He could become a member of Utah's Herriman Mustangs - a hand picked team of nine-year-olds who showed enough potential to move to the next level of competition. Mustang coaches had noticed Easton on his prior season's team and felt that he would be a good addition to the team.
The first conversation was between the coach and Ryan. The next between Ryan and my daughter-in-law Rachel. It would be a bigger sports commitment than Easton or the family had been involved in before. A longer season, more practices, more tournaments, and more games. It would also be more of an investment with more travel, more equipment, and nicer uniforms. It was an opportunity that needed consideration on several levels. Ultimately the decision was to give Easton the option to decide. He considered the opportunity and chose to join the new team of boys - most of which he didn't know. From that day forward, Easton was all in. He listened intently to his coaches, asked for extra batting practice with his dad, and his appetite for a playing catch was never satisfied. It was obvious that Easton was going to do what it took to be a ballplayer. I didn't think that I could be any prouder of him, but I was wrong.
Yes it's early. The NFL season is only two weeks old and already there have been surprising upsets and unexpected performances. There are ten starting quarterbacks who have one year or less of NFL experience - the most since 1950. It's much too early to predict how each will turn out or how their respective teams will fare. But we can enjoy the moment.
In Seattle, there's a new starting quarterback too - just as everyone expected. Last years starter, Tavaris Jackson, is now in Buffalo and Matt Flynn, who the Seahawks signed in the off-season, is reportedly one of the league's most highly paid backups.
Butch brings crimson to Seattle and the place looks better already!
Seattle, The Emerald City Turns Crimson This Weekend
This spirited WSU Cougar video was prepared by alums, faculty and students on the WSU Vancouver campus. It was shown at the WSU Foundation Trustee luncheon yesterday and was played again (by popular demand) at the Foundation Gala last night. I was lucky to be in the front of the room and with my iPhone available to capture the second viewing.
The Cougs play the OSU Beavers in "The Seattle Game" at CenturyLink Field tonight. So... tonight's gonna be a good good night... Go Cougs!
This is the WSU commercial that ran regionally during the Super Bowl XLV. For more on this commercial and related Cougar Pride
The Fine Print
Rod Brooks (that's me) is VP & CMO of PEMCO Mutual Insurance Company and serves as Immediate Past Chair of the Board of Directors for the Word of Mouth Marketing Association (WOMMA). It's important to disclose both of those relationships and to be clear that this is my personal blog where I share thoughts and opinions that are solely my own.Contact me!
The Seattle Seahawks won Super Bowl XLVIII. In fact, their defense dominated Denver's number one ranked offense so soundly that most of the country called the game a yawner. Not so where I live. In the Northwest, the 12th Man knows how to yell, how to win, and how to celebrate. So how would a hyper-local insurance company find marketing opportunity in an event that is played on a global stage? With focus, passion, technology and social engagement.
Yes it's early. The NFL season is only two weeks old and already there have been surprising upsets and unexpected performances. There are
