What follows is a short course in fundamentals of marketing, influenced in part by Mark Twain.
You don’t have to be a great salesman to sell – if you have a good product, fair price, adequate advertising and ease of purchase.
Success starts with assuming the customer’s perspective. Does she want or need encyclopedias or this vinyl siding? If the answer is no and no, start over. Try magazines or vacuum cleaners or hot tubs.
For you, the potential fan, the University of Tennessee athletics department has planned a big weekend. Some events, softball and baseball games, are for sale. It is trying to give away the Orange and White football game.
Jeremy Pruitt has called, three times so far, for a full house at Neyland Stadium. That isn’t going to happen but you can help. Gates open at 4:30. Kickoff is set for 6. The coach says attendance will influence recruiting. He wants fans to feel obligated to help.
Pruitt took much the same approach last spring. Officials counted each fan twice to make him feel better. He did not buy the tabulations. He criticized absentees. Some countered with criticism. Produce a better team and enthusiasm will grow. Build it and we will come.
Case in point: The last time we saw the Volunteers, they delivered a dismal performance, seventh loss of the season. Vanderbilt cuffed them about the head and ears, knocked them down and ran over and around. Those keeping score said it was three in a row for the Commodores. That is bad news of historical proportion.
Obviously, reconstruction is incomplete.
Pruitt responded by spending a few more million for coaching changes. He and helpers went from sea to shining sea in search of better talent. We can assume this team is some better. There is no proof. There are new players of promise but little solid information.
Advertising is weak. For some strange reason, Pruitt severely restricts media viewing of spring practice. Pruitt rarely permits players to speak. Assistant coaches might tell you how much their groups have improved but Pruitt limits their appearances.
But, now that rehearsals are almost over, the head coach wants you to create and pump up your own excitement. Athletics director Phillip Fulmer would like for you to stay excited, make a sizable donation and purchase season tickets. Alas, he has not yet increased the width of seats.
The price is right for the scrimmage. I assume it will be controlled. Surely the coach won’t allow Jarrett Guarantano to get sacked.
It is rumored that the quarterback is more confident, more in command of the offense. We hear he likes offensive coordinator Jim Chaney’s style. Chaney likes Jarrett’s arm strength. You can evaluate accuracy if you see it.
Guarantano said Chaney and his concepts are fun. Chaney said he thinks Jarrett is going to have a good season and “he is fun to be around.”
Where I am from, winning is fun.
Guarantano has some interesting targets to throw toward. Chaney may transform best running back Ty Chandler into a receiver from time to time. Ty had a strange 2018, 19 pass receptions for 183 yards and three touchdowns in four games and not one catch in the final four.
Do not expect the offensive line to be the strength of this team. There is returning experience but it was bad experience, among the worst in college football last season.
That said, the offense may appear to be ahead of the defense. The defensive front will be mostly new. Linebacking remains unsettled. Future stars are in the secondary. See for yourself.
The Friday part of the big weekend starts at 11 a.m. with the free Tennessee Relays. Vol women will face Vandy in free tennis at 4 and Mississippi State in softball at 6. Georgia-UT baseball begins at 6:30.
The Saturday agenda is more track beginning at 11, softball at 1 and baseball at 3 (Pruitt will throw out the first pitch). Volunteer Village will open at 3. It will feature music, face painting, photo opportunities with Smokey and the Spirit Squad, food vendors, giveaways, autographs from famous Vols for Life and “other activities.”
I don’t know what that could be.
Football is the command performance. Chevrolet dealers will find a way to give away a truck. Parking is free. In no uncertain terms, Pruitt says be there, fill the place.
Incidentally, Lincoln Riley’s plea for Oklahoma’s spring game is for only 80,000.
Marvin West welcomes reader remarks or questions. His address is marvinwest75@gmail.com.