The Return of Access

3 comments so far January 9, 2008 by Darren K. Carlson

Yesterday, Tom Osborne made the local radio rounds, going on KFAB in Omaha and on 1620 AM, the ESPN radio affiliate in Omaha. He spoke candidly about recruiting, the state of the program, and Bo Pelini's contract. It was refreshing. Assistant coach Marvin Sanders has had similar long chats with the folks at 1620. I found myself stunned by the realization that NU's athletic department and football team have been lacking that kind of candor and openness. And, I'm hopeful that another big hallmark of this regime change is a return to access, and that makes a big difference.

Media Gateway
Much has been said about the metaphorical big red wall that Steve Pederson seemed to put around the NU program. Former players and coaches didn't feel welcome, there was a clear line of division. I believe the quasi police state that Pederson created with lack of authentic media access excluded fans in a much similar way.

By in large, fans relate to their team and program via the local media's access. The scribes and producers assigned to cover NU football are the objective voice (for the most part), and the lens threw which people view the outcomes and developments. Limiting, alienating and isolating those in the media doesn't help. Because when things go well, they aren't quick to sing your praises. And, when things go poorly, they are more than willing to throw you under the bus.

I am not saying that NU athletics needs to pander to the local papers, radio talk guys, or new media like BRN. But, you never heard Pederson on the radio unless it was on his own show hosted by the Husker Information Minister, Jim Rose. And, you were more apt to hear a Bill Callahan impersonator on 1620 than you were to ever hear an actual member of the staff.

Then, there are the reports that Pederson all but threatened people's jobs if they didn't toe the company line regarding the program's results and progress, that's unhealthy. And when local columnists like Tom Shatel think of access to the coach as very rare or nearly impossible, it hurts the ability to get authentic messages to fans. And, I don't think local radio man Kevin Kugler was too fond of Pederson and his choices. Despite his efforts to avoid the issue, it was still transparent on Kugler's show. And, we all know that talk radio is an 800 lb. gorilla when it comes to fan opinion shaping.

Evidence of the New Age
The indicators of a new age with more access under Osborne and Pelini are obvious. The radio interviews are one thing. And, In reading reports in the local papers, it appears to me that the amount of access has improved. That can only help draw fans back. I also get the impression that both Pelini and Osborne aren't going to try and dictate what can or cannot be said. It's not that they distain contrary opinions. Rather, they have the intestinal fortitude to know that "people are going to say what they are going to say."

And in contradiction to what preconceived notions about his age might imply, Osborne appears very web savvy. He monitors sites and what they are saying. I doubt he likes it, but you almost have to in the 24-7 news age. He knows it affects fans. And, it affects recruits. And, without knowing and confronting what is out there, information can take on a life of its own. I say it in my day job all the time - in the absence of good information, misinformation (even disinformation) abounds. In other words, the best way to stem demand for negative or false message is to abundantly supply good (authentic, true) messages.

And, pardon me for a second. But, please don't kill the online medium. It is just one tool. It's positives and negatives always boil down to application and use, like all tools. Though, it might be the most powerful tool. It lets everyone in, and is always on. You can close practice, but you can't close mouths or take away people's keyboards. I am optimistic about the new administration and coaching staff's willingness to go with the swift moving current of total access, rather than trying to swim against it.

» Enjoy this article?
Send it to your friend or get Husker news by email!

NextPrevious