The Curse Of The Branding Committee Continues

MGW · July 28, 2007

lol, I told you it was a 1990's Stebo rant.

I miss the 90's. Except for Vanilla Ice and Sigma Nus.

My suggestion to immediately and dramatically spike exes enrollment: waive all fees for new or returning members and give current members an additional year free. Consider it an investment where you get everyone, existing and new members, a free year and then provide networking and other alumni organizational offerings and expect a considerable return on your loss of short term revenue.

DallasGreen · July 28, 2007

lol, I told you it was a 1990's Stebo rant. It just pissed me off. I am still kind of pissed about it. Then I see Drex post that we have 5000 members. Well, that is just horse hockey. We have over 100,000 alumni in the DFW area and we only have 5,000 members? And of those 5,000 - only about 300 are active alumni? 300? Jeez. It doesn't do us any good to claim that we have 100K alumni in the Dallas/Ft Worth area if only 300 of them care. I would guess that SMU has about 10K alumni in the DFW area (just a complete guess) and that at least 25% of them are active in some way (go to games, join the alumni association, etc...). If we had a 25% involvement - we would have 25K at football games and then another 5K students. We wouldn't have any problem selling out games and building new stadiums. The truth is - we have a bunch of people that have gotten sick of the process and the BS and moved on.
Ok - end of rant - back to non-judgemental, calm - year 2004 and forward Stebo.

What's important is that you be one of the 300. 5K students out of 35K enrolled--it looks like the problem begins early--if you don't have involved students how can you expect involved alums? At least I'm still trying and am not ready to run up the white flag--now if that hated enemy to the snobish south puts a licking on us in Big D--then some panic is in order. Frankly I don't give a damn if the team plays in their underwear and if all the fans gear is hand made by them---the important thing is to WIn now that we have a team that will play for four quarters!!

FirefightnRick · July 28, 2007

In short: That means the NT Exes can use it, it IS licensed for the NT Exes and probably NT as a whole...but the admin doesn't want that mark used to represent the school. Don't ask me why, I don't know, they probably don't even know

Just as long as you admit, it's there.

And this "Book" your talking about? When a licensed CLC manufacturer recieves their approved marks for the schools they applied for, they recieve them digitally and in print form in the mail as well. The last ones I recieved were on three pages I believe, all giving great detail about how the colors of each are broke down. It wasn't a book. It was very simple, cut and dry.

Right now, as far as any XYZ manufacturer who holds a CLC license for The University of North Texas knows, it should be able to produce the "NT Exes" logo on a hat/shirt with the word "Exes" on it and there should be zero problem with their request. The royalty goes to the NT Exes, so why in the world would the Exes not want to take advantage of that, MAKING MONEY by someone selling their product? Right? In fact, I've suggested to one manufacturer to go ahead and attempt this very thing. Put out the "NT" hat with the word "Exes" on it and do not place any other university logos on the hat, anywhere. And see what happens. This should suffice the university's wishes and not confuse their marks with the Exes. If it's denied, then read Stebo's rant for the explanation.

Rick

Edited July 28, 2007 by FirefightnRick

DallasGreen · July 28, 2007

Soundest post I've seen on this and I'll put my money on your being able to produce all you want if it's done this way.

NM Green · July 28, 2007

I like that one poster's idea of taking the XM approach - give it free and get them hooked. The only thing the Exes need to do is make sure all of their ducks are in a row and that they have plenty of bang for the 1 freebie year. There are so many alum waiting to be tapped that with the right leadership this organization could become the force it has the potential to be.

GMG

FirefightnRick · July 28, 2007

This color of green is why I will not purchase any merchandise that doesn't have the "older" shade or "darker" shade of green. Currently Voertman's has been told by their supplier that if they sell any of the "older" color, they will not be allowed to sell ANY merchandise. They have one pullover shirt that they claim is a "darker kelley green" but I swear it is the older color they are just trying to sell them out - I will be buying one today, as this color is getting harder to find. The UNT Booksore in the Union somehow has managed to keep a significant amount of the "darker" shade color/merchandise in their store and as for North Texas Book & Supply, their manager told me they can't GIVE the new color away - that virtually no one wants to buy it.
CHANGE IT NOW ADMINISTRATION
"

1999, you have been fairly consistent with your criticism of the new green(where were you when I needed you in '95?). But I'm curious as to what your considering the ugly green because I too do not like the "toothpaste" green. I liked the Hunter Green, but I also liked the Kelly too but I'm thinking we have a different idea of what is "Kelly", or sometimes referred to as "Emerald" Green?

The Kelly that is the new(old) official color is the actual, true Kelly that NT has used for many years(other than the Fry years which was an "apple" green). In the photo above are samples of Green that has been used over the years. The 80's era jersey and helmet were consistent in what I call the correct Kelly or Emerald green, and I have reason to believe this is what our current uni's will look like. I should have included a Hunter green sample in that photo, but if I had, due to the fact that the sun wasn't out when I took that photo, it would look nearly black against these other samples.

The "Property Of..." Kelly T shirt is one I bought earlier in the year at a "Footlocker", and it is very consistent with the true Kelly.

The "Sink Navy shirt is not correct, and neither is the FREEBEE UNT T shirt on the right correct either. Both of those were due to what I like to call "Take it or Leave it" orders. You take what your supplier has available, or you don't get your shirt printed at all. I have spoken with the purchase ordering manager for the NT Bookstore and they were not happy at all with what their suppliers had to offer during the spring of '05 after the new branding marks came out. I called two of my old suppliers, Gildan, Jerzees, same thing. Toothepast green or hunter green, "Take it or leave it". I think when university officials called to order the freebees they gave out at the unveiling, and later in the fall, they said, "we need these 5,000 T's in a Kelly Green", or "We need these 5,000 T's in your lighter shade of green in your sample page online. Is that Kelly?", to which the suppliers immediately replied, more than likely..."Well of course it is". They weren't going to turn down an order of that size, right? And it's this mishap that the university was forced with back in April of '05 when the URCM unveiled their independent project. But I wonder, if "Footlocker" can get it right, why can't we? Since that time the two bookstores went through this "Take it or leave it" period as well. When the FREEBEES were handed out to students by the university and RHA departments, same thing. Last year in '06 prior to the SMU game we saw the same thing. Thousands of students were given out T's to wear to the game and it was similar to the "Sink Navy" shirt. Not quite "toothpaste", not quite Kelly, but more of a mellon green. They were bright, especially when the sun was setting on the student section that evening, but they were not correct. And so it is, that since so much of these incorrect colors have been used, walking around from being given out or sold, that many believe those are the new colors, and that simply is not true.

My whole point to this is, the hats above that Stebo is speaking of:

.......are not the correct university Kelly green and I'm certain ANYONE, from Debrah Liliart of the URCM dept on down will tell you outright that this is so. In fact, the green trim on the hat above is even off from the usual "toothpaste" that we have seen the past two years. I don't know what the hell you would call that color, "sea foam green?", but rest assured I notified my contact at TOW that they missed the mark by a long ass ways. And I also believe that everyone guarding the gate at the university are well aware of the different discrepancies also and will get it corrected...at least I hope so?

As for the Hunter green, I really like it, however it looked black at night when the players sweat. In the sunlight, it was great. But I was at NT when we were still using Kelly, and I saw that color beat several of our State opponents during that time(Tech, Texas, Rice, TCU, SMU) and it looked great to me. Back then we only accented it with "White". I had alway's thought "Black" would look just as good for both the green and white. I suppose I'm hoping the new..."Old" color grows on the new generation.

Rick

Edited July 28, 2007 by FirefightnRick

GoMeanGreen1999 · July 28, 2007

weird...the North Texas Bookstore has been close for months...

Interesting. I think maybe you might go up there more - I bought a shirt a month ago from there, and my wife was just in there yesturday doing some shopping.

GoMeanGreen1999 · July 28, 2007

1999, you have been fairly consistent with your criticism of the new green(where were you when I needed you in '95?). But I'm curious as to what your considering the ugly green because I too do not like the "toothpaste" green. I liked the Hunter Green, but I also liked the Kelly too but I'm thinking we have a different idea of what is "Kelly", or sometimes referred to as "Emerald" Green?
The Kelly that is the new(old) official color is the actual, true Kelly that NT has used for many years(other than the Fry years which was an "apple" green). In the photo above are samples of Green that has been used over the years. The 80's era jersey and helmet were consistent in what I call the correct Kelly or Emerald green, and I have reason to believe this is what our current uni's will look like. I should have included a Hunter green sample in that photo, but if I had, due to the fact that the sun wasn't out when I took that photo, it would look nearly black against these other samples.
The "Property Of..." Kelly T shirt is one I bought earlier in the year at a "Footlocker", and it is very consistent with the true Kelly.
The "Sink Navy shirt is not correct, and neither is the FREEBEE UNT T shirt on the right correct either. Both of those were due to what I like to call "Take it or Leave it" orders. You take what your supplier has available, or you don't get your shirt printed at all. I have spoken with the purchase ordering manager for the NT Bookstore and they were not happy at all with what their suppliers had to offer during the spring of '05 after the new branding marks came out. I called two of my old suppliers, Gildan, Jerzees, same thing. Toothepast green or hunter green, "Take it or leave it". I think when university officials called to order the freebees they gave out at the unveiling, and later in the fall, they said, "we need these 5,000 T's in a Kelly Green", or "We need these 5,000 T's in your lighter shade of green in your sample page online. Is that Kelly?", to which the suppliers immediately replied, more than likely..."Well of course it is". They weren't going to turn down an order of that size, right? And it's this mishap that the university was forced with back in April of '05 when the URCM unveiled their independent project. But I wonder, if "Footlocker" can get it right, why can't we? Since that time the two bookstores went through this "Take it or leave it" period as well. When the FREEBEES were handed out to students by the university and RHA departments, same thing. Last year in '06 prior to the SMU game we saw the same thing. Thousands of students were given out T's to wear to the game and it was similar to the "Sink Navy" shirt. Not quite "toothpaste", not quite Kelly, but more of a mellon green. They were bright, especially when the sun was setting on the student section that evening, but they were not correct. And so it is, that since so much of these incorrect colors have been used, walking around from being given out or sold, that many believe those are the new colors, and that simply is not true.
My whole point to this is, the hats above that Stebo is speaking of:
.......are not the correct university Kelly green and I'm certain ANYONE, from Debrah Liliart of the URCM dept on down will tell you outright that this is so. In fact, the green trim on the hat above is even off from the usual "toothpaste" that we have seen the past two years. I don't know what the hell you would call that color, "sea foam green?", but rest assured I notified my contact at TOW that they missed the mark by a long ass ways. And I also believe that everyone guarding the gate at the university are well aware of the different discrepancies also and will get it corrected...at least I hope so?
As for the Hunter green, I really like it, however it looked black at night when the players sweat. In the sunlight, it was great. But I was at NT when we were still using Kelly, and I saw that color beat several of our State opponents during that time(Tech, Texas, Rice, TCU, SMU) and it looked great to me. Back then we only accented it with "White". I had alway's thought "Black" would look just as good for both the green and white. I suppose I'm hoping the new..."Old" color grows on the new generation.
Rick

Rick,

I see what you are asking I think - what shade of green am I for? Well in that photo of the different shirts, I would say the color that is most what I think of when I think of us is the shirt that says "Property of North Texas". I just bought a "golf" pullover over at Voertman's about an hour ago and this is the color of it. I call that a "Forrest" green, but that may in fact be the true "kelly" green for all I know. What I do know is that when I was in there, they told me that the shirts of green that they had, where in fact the "new" or "right" color of "Kelly" green - Fine, but my wife pointed out to the manager, as did a couple shopping for their daughter at the same time, that there were four shades of green in that store.

I really first and foremost would like for us to pick something and stay with it. Not make changes every 5 years. I am with Stebo in that this committee was stupid because at the end of the day, it is Alumni and fans that will be buying most of the merchandise. JUST PICK A COLOR OF GREEN AND STICK WITH IT! My concern is that we are going to end up with the color of green that is on those hats, because most of the merchandise that I saw in Voertmans was virtually the same shade as is on that hat, and that color is awful.

I can't handle, and WILL NOT BUY that toothpaste green. In fact, I may just make my own UNT shirts if a few years if that is all I can buy.

Edited July 28, 2007 by GoMeanGreen1999

chrisfisher · July 28, 2007

Interesting. I think maybe you might go up there more - I bought a shirt a month ago from there, and my wife was just in there yesturday doing some shopping.

I think you referring to what we call the Union Book Store? We refer to the North Texas Book Store as the one in the same shopping center as Panchos Mexican Buffet and Central Grill on Ave C (across from Sack-N-Save), which closed. It think that is where the confusion came in...

Edited July 28, 2007 by chrisfisher

GoMeanGreen1999 · July 28, 2007

I think you referring to what we call the Union Book Store? We refer to the North Texas Book Store as the one in the same shopping center as Panchos Mexican Buffet and Central Grill on Ave C (across from Sack-N-Save), which closed. It think that is where the confusion came in...

Okay, that makes sense. It was probably 6 - 8 months ago that I was in that place. I didn't realize they had closed....

gksmith · July 29, 2007

What disturbs me is that you can go to any store and find UT, aTm, Notre Dame, North Carolina, Florida, Ohio State, et al CRAP to buy. Not just t-shirts but ANYTHING. And not just major stores but convenience stores too. I remember a few Christmas’s ago I was at the Frisco Mall and there was a kiosk selling college and NFL logo wooden footballs. Very professional. Nice trinket to put on a mantle or display somewhere. No North Texas available. “Can’t get the license to produce it.”

Then the branding committee starts up and they spend a lot of money for a logo, emblem, and all the stuff that goes with it. ok.

They spend all that money on branding and DON’T USE IT! There is still a very limited range of items you can buy(shirts, the car decals, hats are about all I have seen) and only a slightly larger number of stores where to buy it (I got my polo shirt from Sam’s Warehouse in Lewisville and I see more NT baseball caps at Lids).

It would be hard to convince me that the local stores of national chains (Sears, JC Penneys, Wal-Mart, Dillard’s, etc.) do not want to carry UNT branded merchandise. I like Voertman’s but that can not be the ONLY place in the world to get merchandise.

rcade · July 29, 2007

Not really a fan of the Exes logo (with or without the word Exes) - seems like I'm in the minority. Maybe if you remove the star. It has too much going on for my eyes.

The appeal's lost on me, too. But I'm burnt out on the fashion aspect of college football. Unless it raises money for the school -- the way British soccer teams make money by changing their uniforms all the time -- it seems like a waste of time.

GreenTiger_OriginalAcct · July 29, 2007

I mean come on man, they dropped the ball. It is time to scrap the crap that everyone hates. THREATEN TO KICK THE EXES OUT OF THEIR LITTLE HUT IF THEY DON"T GIVE UP THE LOGO - and move on.

Well, somebody needs to actually show up at that office first and do some work before they can kick them out.

FirefightnRick · July 30, 2007

No North Texas available. “Can’t get the license to produce it.”

Anyone who tells you that, and they are selling CLC licensed products, either has NO CLUE what they are talking about mostly due to the fact that they are merely an hourly empoyee hired to open up, work the register and close for the day, or they are a really poor business owner.

Anyone who qualifies under CLC terms, gains a licensing contract from them and is currently selling NCAA team merchandise can apply and produce approved North Texas merchandise.

Remember, most stores and retailers are just that, retailers only. They order merchandise from suppliers/manufacturers. The suppliers/manufacturers are the license holders, not Habib's Sports Kiosk World.

It boils down to a couple of things if XYZ metroplex retailer offers college gear for everyone else but North Texas. Laziness or ignorance of the retailer, or laziness of our licensing agreement...ie CLC.

Rick