Media Attention (split thread)

[Sudden Impact]

Not sure if has been mentioned but ESPN Headquarters is in Bristol, CT.
When UCONN got good they immediately started getting more of the Storyline in Women's Basketball.

 

[savannahfan]

They did, but ESPN's reach and control of college sports is leaps and bounds beyond anything it was 30 years ago. Before, they were reporting sports (often with a humorous savvy), and working as a scrappy media startup to grow their network. Now, they more or less own college sports as an entertainment brand, so they're much more invested in hyping it, pushing it, and getting people to pay for access to it.

Even if Tennessee got attention (which it did), the pervasive marketing of new media, social media, and influencers didn't exist back then. It was ESPN, ESPN2, and eventually ESPNU. That was it. Now, ESPN is like marketing on steroids. They've closed their grip on college football, which makes them the king. I wish I could share what it was like to not have ESPN calling the shots, I really do. I know it's all about the money, but back then at least it was much more about the games and much less about ESPN itself. I miss those days.

My sentiments exactly. However I do like the ability to see so many more games than I use to. (just like the "lessor" games covered last night).. Even the bully ESPN does not cover ever "layer of games" but they force other networks like Fox and others to cover the smaller football venues. (not to mention the conference networks covering their teams who would hardly ever make TV) Many of these play the game for "the love of the game". Really enjoy those games.

 

[glv98]

One thing for sure, the rest of the WBB world was sick, sick, sick of St. Pat and the Rockstar Lady Vols back in the day. Peak was the year the LVs had a red carpet movie premiere at the Bijou in Knoxville. Plus SI cover, plus Pat's book, etc, etc. Everything ya'll say now about UConn/ESPN could be direct quotes fm the Boneyard about us back then. Depends on whose ox is gored.

The Meek teams got a huge percentage of whatever coverage was out there. Everyone else hated it, lol, espec guys like Landers, Chancellor, etc. Geno seemed to warm to the challenge though. Back then, the LV/UConn games were nationally televised and widely covered events.

 

[ru4real-really?]

If I remember Nancy, am I old?

I'd tell you but you probably should write it down!

 

[HuntlandVolinColo]

uconn was always the media favorite because espn is based in Bristol, Conn.

 

[MAD]

I’m embarrassed to say that I found out we had won our first National Championship when I walked past a newspaper stand on the way into a breakfast place on Kingston Pike. I had watched several of the Final 4 appearances by UT before that year and was bummed I had missed it. They really didn’t get the media attention they deserved, not even in Knoxville back then.

 

[turbovol]

I think it's fair to say that if UT had maintained its level of excellence, or something even close to it, and not fallen off as dramatically as we did during
the 10+ years when UConn started to dominate women's basketball, there wouldn't be this thread. The problem has been us--not ESPN. Let's be honest here, gang.