Branding

[HeaterCuse22]

So why did Miller Lite return to its famous logo/can style?

The decision was not a quality of product decision.

It was a pure packaging decision - an appeal to the traditional and phenomenal early success of the product.

Sure a packaging decision that may result in an uptick in purchase, but at the end of the day its still crap.

We can put throwbacks on the players, but if we don't win it will still be crap.

Not arguing really as I do believe we have history, its just that when history becomes ancient it doesn't really matter.

 

[OrangePA]

We need to worry less about marketing and the glory years which few care about at this point and try to join the current landscape by building a winner. The continuing to harp on nonsense while we go 3-9 and suck beyond belief is mind blowing to me

Understood.

But it really misses the point of the Miller Lite example.

The marketing/packaging and the success of the product do often go hand in hand.

If marketing/uniforms didn't matter, then Green Bay would junk the 1960 uniforms.

The Yankees would junk the pinstripes. Alabama would junk the Joe Namath/Bear Bryant look.

The NY Jets would not have returned to their Super Bowl look, the NY Giants would not have returned to their 1950s and early 1960s glory years look and BYU would not have returned to its NC look.

It may be counter intuitive, but there is a relationship.

In my opinion of course.

 

[OrangePA]

I think it was a great move by Miller Lite to go back to the traditional can. I've even tipped back a few of them here and there since the move, made it my new lite beer of choice at a sporting event.

Washington Capitals are another great example of going back to their past with a re-branding that worked out very well.

Maybe one day, Syracuse will re-brand itself as orange.

True.

The return to the traditional look of Miller Lite made the product more appealing.

It shouldn't have any impact, but it does.

 

[OrangePA]

Sure a packaging decision that may result in an uptick in purchase, but at the end of the day its still crap.

We can put throwbacks on the players, but if we don't win it will still be crap.

Not arguing really as I do believe we have history, its just that when history becomes ancient it doesn't really matter.

I can't argue with you that the on field performance will ultimately decide everything.

You play the game to win.

But part of what makes the college football experience fun and attractive is the packaging - the traditional packaging - the gold helmets of ND - the winged helmets of Michigan - the numbers on the helmets of Alabama - the packaging matters.

And if, say Michigan were to junk the winged helmets, the success of the program would be impacted - in my opinion.

 

[Millhouse]

I think it was a great move by Miller Lite to go back to the traditional can. I've even tipped back a few of them here and there since the move, made it my new lite beer of choice at a sporting event.

Washington Capitals are another great example of going back to their past with a re-branding that worked out very well.

Maybe one day, Syracuse will re-brand itself as orange.

I agree with you and opa. just having fun with miller lite.

if they want to sell alternate jerseys, fine. but don't make every week an alternate.

the best college teams are recognizable most weeks. be like them.

they retired hasek's number yesterday and it sucks to see that stupid black and red mad cow in the highlights. when syracuse is good again, i want them to look like syracuse.

 

[HeaterCuse22]

I can't argue with you that the on field performance will ultimately decide everything.

You play the game to win.

But part of what makes the college football experience fun and attractive is the packaging - the traditional packaging - the gold helmets of ND - the winged helmets of Michigan - the numbers on the helmets of Alabama - the packaging matters.

And if, say Michigan were to junk the winged helmets, the success of the program would be impacted - in my opinion.

To some. Personally I could care less. I want my product to be good. I'm not going to drink a nasty beer because the can reminds me of my youth. In the old days people drank well packaged powdered milk.

I do like the passion. I do like the old jerseys. I like some portions of the new ones. There will be more change eventually and we can do all of these conversations again. I just hope what's inside the box gets better quickly.

 

[OrangeFoo]

Once again a poster who feels that Syracuse University tradition and history are "meaningless."

This is such a bullsh!t accusation to make. Just because someone doesn't care about the uniform colors doesn't mean that they don't care about tradition and history. The school once had pink as a part of the school colors... should the uniform have pink in it to reflect that? Did you happen to notice that ND recently shifted to mustard yellow pants from their traditional gold? I think they are hideous and don't match the helmets but I don't think anyone thinks the ND brand is suffering as a result.

I agree that the current uniforms are hideous but I don't particularly care about going back to the old uniforms either and I have been watching Syracuse football for 3 decades now and I'm still here after the GROB years solely because of that tradition of excellence so don't tell me I don't care about tradition. I just want the team to hire a coach who knows what the fcuk he is doing on game day and starts winning. The obsession with uniforms on this board is insane. Uniforms are just a part of the tradition but without good players and coaches there is no tradition. Let's start with those first then worry about uniforms.

 

[Chip]

I agree with you and opa. just having fun with miller lite.

if they want to sell alternate jerseys, fine. but don't make every week an alternate.

the best college teams are recognizable most weeks. be like them.

they retired hasek's number yesterday and it sucks to see that stupid black and red mad cow in the highlights. when syracuse is good again, i want them to look like syracuse.

The Miller Lite blue/gold can reminds me of the worst of my 20s. I don't think I could drink from that ever again. Throw it in the old white can, and down the hatch. I don't typically go so all in on marketing, but that one worked.

 

[xc84]

Once again a poster who feels that Syracuse University tradition and history are "meaningless."

There is much more to "tradition" than uniforms.

 

[TheCusian]

There is much more to "tradition" than uniforms.

Yep. And the problem occurs when winning and the old look went hand in hand and we had a losing season with the new look. It makes people think there is more of a relationship than actually exists.

I said it earlier and I'll say it again: I'm no fan of the new look - but if we wore it on our way to a NC, I could get used to it real quick. And so would everyone on this board.

Win 1st, worry about branding second.

 

[JackBauer44]

One of my trivia questions I pose people in bars (and win free beers with), is what beer was behind the famous bitter beer commercials. The answer would be none other than Keystone Light.

That's just one of the tricks up my sleeve to get free beer at a bar!

 

[TheCusian]

We need to worry less about marketing and the glory years which few care about at this point and try to join the current landscape by building a winner. The continuing to harp on nonsense while we go 3-9 and suck beyond belief is mind blowing to me

It's a proxy for not liking the direction of the program.

 

[Millhouse]

It's a proxy for not liking the direction of the program.

no it's not

 

[TheCusian]

no it's not

Insightful. Dig your research.

 

[Millhouse]

Insightful. Dig your research.

where's your research, mind reader?

disliking the uniforms is a proxy for disliking the uniforms.

i mentioned that I didn't like the sabres uniforms when they were in the cup finals. i was very happy with the direction of that team.

 

[elimunelson]

OPA is 100% right. You have to be short sighted to not see the benefit in having a consistent marketing approach to the uniforms.

The Islanders figured it out, the Oilers figured it out and the Orangemen will figure it out. Sometimes it takes a long time. I'm hoping next year we see those iconclastic uniforms from the 80s/90s with the numbers on the side of the pants, the simple helmet, etc. That's Syracuse football.

 

[xc84]

Yep. And the problem occurs when winning and the old look went hand in hand and we had a losing season with the new look. It makes people think there is more of a relationship than actually exists.

I said it earlier and I'll say it again: I'm no fan of the new look - but if we wore it on our way to a NC, I could get used to it real quick. And so would everyone on this board.

Win 1st, worry about branding second.

... I agree that the uniforms may grow on people if we win in them but even if not, if we take care of the winning part, I will be a heck of a lot more tolerant of complaints about uniforms and what shade of green the dome carpet should be. Right now, I cringe at uniform comments when we have real problems just winning.

 

[xc84]

OPA is 100% right. You have to be short sighted to not see the benefit in having a consistent marketing approach to the uniforms.

The Islanders figured it out, the Oilers figured it out and the Orangemen will figure it out. Sometimes it takes a long time. I'm hoping next year we see those iconclastic uniforms from the 80s/90s with the numbers on the side of the pants, the simple helmet, etc. That's Syracuse football.

Few people seem to yearn for the uniforms of the Frank Maloney era. Wonder why.

 

[Full_Rebar]

It's funny how on one hand SU wants to shove the tradition of 44 and players from the 50s and 60s and not recent alums to the forefront, but changes uniforms because it's what kids want.

If we are trying to appeal to a younger crowd, you would think there would be more emphasis on the more recent NFL success stories (outside of the display inside the football facility)...but it's Gross and so it's not surprising that it's a good idea that isn't fully developed.

 

[TheCusian]

where's your research, mind reader? disliking the uniforms is a proxy for disliking the uniforms. i mentioned that I didn't like the sabres uniforms when they were in the cup finals. i was very happy with the direction of that team.

It's common sense and branding 101. Good product is more important than its packaging. Bad branding of a bad product is a disaster.

Let's say your favorite car company that used to be a giant in the industry decides to rebrand their mediocre to poor line-up of cars. It coincides with a recall on its most iconic car. It gets national attention. What do you do? Just fix the problem? You change both - even if the new brand is solid work. It's been soiled.

The customer sees the brand as a part of the issue - regardless of its quality on merit.

Reverse the example. What if you turn out the best line-up you've had in 20 years along with your new brand? Win. Major win. Even if the branding is meh.

 

[OrangePA]

There is much more to "tradition" than uniforms.

You mean like the SU TD Cannon or the SU TD Bell or the Saltine Warrior or the name "Orangemen" or the reference "Bill Orange" or the Saltine Warrior Fight Song or the bestowing of the No. 44 on the next great running back?

Since we have junked nearly every Syracuse University Football Tradition, restoring the traditional uniform - the orange pants/orange helmets and blue/white jerseys isn't I think asking all that much.

 

[OrangePA]

It's common sense and branding 101. Good product is more important than its packaging. Bad branding of a bad product is a disaster.

Let's say your favorite car company that used to be a giant in the industry decides to rebrand their mediocre to poor line-up of cars. It coincides with a recall on its most iconic car. It gets national attention. What do you do? Just fix the problem? You change both - even if the new brand is solid work. It's been soiled.

The customer sees the brand as a part of the issue - regardless of its quality on merit.

Reverse the example. What if you turn out the best line-up you've had in 20 years along with your new brand? Win. Major win. Even if the branding is meh.

So, Miller Lite was a good product?

 

[TheCusian]

So, Miller Lite was a good product?

No - opposite problem. Bad product trying to recapture its glory solely through branding. Problem is that it tastes like piss and the landscape has changed since it was relevant.

 

[OrangePA]

This is such a bullsh!t accusation to make. Just because someone doesn't care about the uniform colors doesn't mean that they don't care about tradition and history. The school once had pink as a part of the school colors... should the uniform have pink in it to reflect that? Did you happen to notice that ND recently shifted to mustard yellow pants from their traditional gold? I think they are hideous and don't match the helmets but I don't think anyone thinks the ND brand is suffering as a result.

I agree that the current uniforms are hideous but I don't particularly care about going back to the old uniforms either and I have been watching Syracuse football for 3 decades now and I'm still here after the GROB years solely because of that tradition of excellence so don't tell me I don't care about tradition. I just want the team to hire a coach who knows what the fcuk he is doing on game day and starts winning. The obsession with uniforms on this board is insane. Uniforms are just a part of the tradition but without good players and coaches there is no tradition. Let's start with those first then worry about uniforms.

It appears that you mis-read the post.

The post mentioned that the commenting poster has made it clear in the past that he finds the Syracuse University Football History and Tradition as he put it "meaningless"

I am pleased to hear, however, that you agreed that last year's uniforms were "hideous." You're right.

And nobody from what I can recall has every described the Coach Mac uniforms as "hideous" or in any way unattractive. Just the opposite.

And I am glad that you agree that uniforms are part of the school's tradition.

Oh and by the way, the 2014 ND pants are in fact the traditional color - the program has returned to the Ara Parseghian look.

 

[OrangePA]

No - opposite problem. Bad product trying to recapture its glory solely through branding. Problem is that it tastes like piss and the landscape has changed since it was relevant.

That may be true.

But apparently the packaging strategy has worked.