Current Recruiting Effect of "The Express"

[BKCuse]

I caught the last hour of The Express on TNT and got to thinking about the longterm impact that film has on our recruiting.

It was released in '08 and I remember being frustrated we didn't capitalize with a substantially better class the following year. It was prob unrealistic to think it would pay immediate dividends but now, 8 years later, I think we're in perfect position to see a real impact.

According to my math the kids in the '17 class were 8 or 9 years old when The Express was in theaters, and prob bet 9-11 when it made its way down the various TV tiers (HBO,TNT, Free TV)

The Express was rated PG so it was right in the wheel house of these pre-teen football fans who, unlike the class of '08 kids, were able to grow up watching this film and become real fan-boys of what, to them, would be an all-time "Classic"'film they grew up watching.

We seem to have heard recruits mention The Express more frequently the last couple cycles so hopefully this theory is paying off.

The moment in the film that really stuck out to me (from a recruiting point of view) was when Floyd Little is in awe of Ernie Davis as he extends his hand to meet. I can only imagine these recruits flashing back to that moment as they meet Floyd themselves, especially the RB's.

Here's to hoping we land some Express generation recruits this year and beyond.

 

[IthacaMatt]

We seem to have heard recruits mention The Express more frequently the last couple cycles so hopefully this theory is paying off.

What I hope they are doing is showing it to recruits at some point on their visits. That's probably the best use of it, IMO.

 

[SU68]

If SU has/can get the rights to print DVD's of The Express, they should send a copy to each 4* and 5* (and high 3s) in the country. Mass printing and mailing wouldn't cost much more than the mailings they currently make.

 

[UnknownOrange]

It plays non-stop in the football wing on the video screen behind Ernie's Heisman FYI

 

[OttoinGrotto]

Yeah, I wonder sometime if we're leveraging all we could that we have a legitimate film about an amazing part of our history. It's a unique advantage. Plus, it's a pretty good movie. Plus, Cheddar Bob is in it.

 

[UnknownOrange]

Also Omar Miller (8 mile crew) -- and FWIW the Melo Center plays the most recent win, the national championship, and the 6OT game on a nonstop loop

 

[tipphill]

at this point not a recruiting advantage but certainly a life experience one.portrays the courage of an individual whether football or not.

 

[DomeStranger]

Weird that almost every interview with HCDB states him being a fan of movies. Unless I missed it I'm surprised no one has asked him his take on it.

 

[TheCusian]

at this point not a recruiting advantage but certainly a life experience one.portrays the courage of an individual whether football or not.

Recruits from the past three years have referenced the movie.

 

[Chip]

The lesson is obviously don't release a movie when Greg Robinson is head coach.

(and Penn State is about to beat you by 100 the day after the premier).

 

[SWC75]

The lesson is obviously don't release a movie when Greg Robinson is head coach.

(and Penn State is about to beat you by 100 the day after the premier).

I remember being very frustrated that we has one of our crappiest teams that year and that the program was at such a low ebb. if the film had come out a decade earlier it might have had a bigger immediate impact.

 

[donniesyracuse]

This is irrelevant because I am sure there are some recruiting benefits to the film, but I still believe it was an embarrassment and insult to Davis' legacy. He deserved far better.

 

[Bayside44]

This is irrelevant because I am sure there are some recruiting benefits to the film, but I still believe it was an embarrassment and insult to Davis' legacy. He deserved far better.

The ESPN Sportscentury on Ernie Davis is what should be in the recruit gift bag. That movie was meh.

 

[FrancoPizza]

The Express is an example of a great concept executed poorly. Put 80's Spielberg behind that film and you'd have a winner.

 

[TheCusian]

The ESPN Sportscentury on Ernie Davis is what should be in the recruit gift bag. That movie was meh.

For fans maybe. For the recruits who fell in love with ED through the Express - a documentary would be unlikely to be watched at all.

 

[Bayside44]

For fans maybe. For the recruits who fell in love with ED through the Express - a documentary would be unlikely to be watched at all.

Did you watch it? I admit I can watch a documentary on just about anything but my UNC wife was weeping watching that one.

 

[TheCusian]

Did you watch it? I admit I can watch a documentary on just about anything but my UNC wife was weeping watching that one.

I have not. But I've worked with teenagers one upon a job ago. Documentary = sleep for most kids under 17.

Even if it's fantastic, unfortunately.

I'll have to look it up.

 

[tipphill]

The Express is an example of a great concept executed poorly. Put 80's Spielberg behind that film and you'd have a winner.

su should have "contributed"to the film.they missed an opportunity to make it "big screen" and reap the benefits. the chancellor and coyle would not make that mistake.--dinos challenge will be something along the lines of "44 " and looking(broadly that is) the game has changed

 

[cuse309]

The Express is an example of a great concept executed poorly. Put 80's Spielberg behind that film and you'd have a winner.

Right, which also describes George McDonalds offense. See...it did have an impact.

 

[Scooch]

su should have "contributed"to the film.they missed an opportunity to make it "big screen" and reap the benefits. the chancellor and coyle would not make that mistake.--dinos challenge will be something along the lines of "44 " and looking(broadly that is) the game has changed

Huh? SU was involved and they had the premiere on campus. If there was one thing Hollywood Doc Gross was good at it was working the movie angle.

The movie itself was a nice bit of forgettable entertainment. Could've been much better but they weren't aiming for that.

 

[OrangeJohn]

I can tell you from personal experience that the movie works. I had never seen or heard of this movie but it just happened to come on as I was completing my application for Syracuse's MBA program. A few days after I submitted my essays, etc. the first call I received was from UNC instead of Syracuse. UNC was asking me which semester I wanted to start, which was weird since I hadn't even applied to UNC but they ended up receiving my online application somehow. They asked me if I was interested in their MBA program and a big reason I stuck with Syracuse is because the movie had already gotten me fired about going to SU.

 

[donniesyracuse]

The film probably turns off anyone that is smart enough to realize Davis' family probably didn't watch the cotton bowl on their porch in Elmira.:rolling:

 

[TheCusian]

The film probably turns off anyone that is smart enough to realize Davis' family probably didn't watch the cotton bowl on their porch in Elmira.:rolling:

That's the kind of detail that gets you cranky?

 

[donniesyracuse]

That's the kind of detail that gets you cranky?

yeah, that one is pretty embarrassing; maybe borderline racist.

 

[CuseOnly]

Huh? SU was involved and they had the premiere on campus. If there was one thing Hollywood Doc Gross was good at it was working the movie angle.

The movie itself was a nice bit of forgettable entertainment. Could've been much better but they weren't aiming for that.

The premiere of the movie was not on campus, it was at the Landmark Theatre in downtown Syracuse.