The Big 12 is looking for alternative ways to attract new college football fans while keeping current fans engaged with their favorite teams. Over the past few days, athletic directors and coaches have been discussing additional sources of content with television partners at conference meetings this week in Scottsdale, including the idea of putting microphones on the coaches.
A number of schools already do this type of thing in-house. If you’ve been to a college football game recently, you’ve most likely seen behind-the-scenes video played on the Jumbotron. Things like a coach leading his team out of the tunnel or star athletes having a conversation on the sidelines are commonplace in these games.
Over the past decade, there has been a battle between television networks on how to increase viewership. A number of ideas have been discussed with ESPN and FOX recently, according to reports. The Big 12’s thought process is centered on giving fans more access on game days, which would include in-game interviews with players and coaches or possibly even umpires to be listened to by microphone.
We’ve seen how great some of these interactions are with ESPN broadcasting the XFL.
The XFL currently allows its television partners access to the locker rooms, along with the players, during games. This move by the Big 12 would be a big step forward in changing the way games are broadcast.
We’ve seen an uptick in the last few years of social media teams in schools to give fans a deeper look at what’s going on behind the scenes. Whether it’s player interviews or social media clips of control student-athletes, schools are doing everything they can to increase their social media presence.
Along with TV networks, this can be another way for schools to increase fan engagement. If you have a social media account, you’ve most likely seen some type of behind-the-scenes content from your favorite team.
Now, with the NIL a major factor in college athletics, giving players another outlet to promote their likeness could be a win-win for both parties. If schools want to get players to give them more access to their personal lives, then partnering with a network like ESPN or FOX is the way to go. Not only will this increase their value, but schools will be able to produce better content for fans.
It’s a win for all involved.
Houston coach Dana Holgerson was asked about the suggestions, and he pointed out that everything is already being documented on tape recorders.
“Fox and ESPN are really encouraging this. It’s just going to advertise our kids and teams more,” Holgerson noted. “Because of cell phones and cameras, everything I say and do is recorded. All I know is visible. I might as well go ahead and hug him.”
Along with the Mexico games, the Big 12 has to try and keep up
While the SEC and Big Ten continue to grow, the Big 12 is trying to be different. It’s the perfect way for Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark to establish his conference as the new way of thinking. One of those ideas for a different way to play basketball and soccer games in Mexico, which reportedly starts in 2024.
The Big 12 will obviously have a hard time putting up huge numbers when it comes to viewership when Texas and Oklahoma leave for the SEC. So to make up for the loss, the conference decided to change the way games are televised. Putting a live mic on a football coach is spicy enough to get viewers to watch a game between Houston and West Virginia that might not carry much late-season weight.
Coaches will heed these ideas, especially if it means paying more attention to their program. I’m guessing West Virginia’s Neil Brown won’t have a problem with TV crews in the locker room for his pregame or postgame speech. These trainers know how to work the camera, while some of them are so hardcore that they wouldn’t bother with a camera at all.
After all, if the Big 12 wants to stay in the same zip code as the SEC and Big Ten moving into the future, taking fans behind the scenes could be a great way to entice college football fans to not change the channel.