Charlie Strong in Uphill Battle at Texas

The University of Texas hired Louisville coach Charlie Strong on Jan. 5 to replace the outgoing Mack Brown. Strong was formally introduced as the 29th head coach at Texas the following day and is the first African-American coach in the program history. There is no doubt that Strong can lead the Longhorns back to national prominence and in line for another national championship. His 37-15 record in four seasons at Louisville including a victory in the 2013 Allstate Sugar Bowl over Florida is more than enough proof that he is the man for the job.

The hiring of Strong by athletic director Steve Patterson has received mixed reactions among the Longhorn faithful. While some agree that Strong was a great hire to move the football program forward, others such as long-time booster Red McCombs say otherwise. The co-founder of Clear Channel Communications said in a radio interview Monday with 1250 ESPN in San Antonio that the hiring process was "a bit sideways" and the hiring of Strong by Texas was a "kick in the face." He later went on to say that Strong would make a great position coach, maybe even a coordinator. It is comments like these by McCombs and other boosters like him at Texas is the battle Charlie Strong will be up against as he takes over the football program. 

There will be immense pressure on him to win early and often to prove the naysayers wrong. Strong and his staff will have the daunting task of recruiting in a state that is brimming over the top with four and five star talent with other in-state schools like Baylor and Texas A&M and out of state schools such as Oklahoma State and Missouri. Moreover, Strong is the best coach by Patterson's standards to resurrect a football program that has fallen out of the national limelight since reaching the 2009 BCS National Championship Game vs Alabama. 

If Strong turned around a dormant and unknown football program in Louisville into 2013 Sugar Bowl Champs and a potential No. 1 pick in Teddy Bridgewater then he can do the same at Texas. McCombs and the other high-dollar boosters must give him a chance to succeed in Austin. However, let's hope that the marriage of Strong and the University of Texas doesn't end in the same manner as Mississippi State and Sylvester Croom.

Semester in Review

The Fall 2013 semester was one of many challenges and new experiences. The Seminar in Strategic PR class was by far one of the interesting classes because I was able to learn about the intricacies of public relations from a planning perspective. I also had the opportunity to soak up knowledge from PR guru @samjb and from other industry leaders.

Furthermore, I learned how to do a communications plan for non-profits and other companies and from my classmates in their various presentations this semester. My only complaint was if we had the chance to visit a PR firm in person just to see what they do on a daily basis outside of our shadowing assignment. I think public relations could be something I could look into as my future career field once I graduate in May.

Why I'm Thankful

I thought about writing about something in public relations but since Thanksgiving is tomorrow I decided to dedicate this post on why I’m thankful.

Well, for starters, I’m thankful that my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ died on the cross for my sins and have given me a second chance on this side of Heaven. I have been through a lot in my 26 years so far ranging from death in the family to my battle with depression. He really has come through for me in my time of need. I’m grateful that He has provided for me in all areas of my life and gave me the opportunity to pursue graduate school at the University of North Texas.

I have learned so much in my year and a half of study at the Frank W. & Sue Mayborn School of Journalism. I have gotten better in my writing and also have picked up certain skill sets like SPSS or writing a communications plan that will help me in my future endeavors after graduation. I’m thankful for the fellow classmates and professors who have imparted their journalistic teachings on me and shared their life experiences so that we can be ready to take on the real world. You know who you are. Finally, I’m thankful that this semester is almost over and I will be five months away from my second degree. Happy Holidays!

50 Novembers

This month marked the 50^th anniversary of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.  President Kennedy fell victim to an assassin’s bullet while en route to a luncheon in Dallas, Texas on Nov. 22, 1963. I decided to finally visit the Sixth Floor Museum downtown to see what it was all about. The moment I began the tour I was mind blown. It was so surreal to be in the same building where Lee Harvey Oswald committed the heinous act. It was like going back in time. I was fascinated to know more about JFK and also about the social and political climate of Dallas around that time. I purchased the newspaper that ran the day following the assassination as a keepsake of history.

In addition, I also had the chance to listen to Hugh Aynesworth give his account to what happened the day JFK was shot and killed. The documentary that played before he spoke was mind-boggling. I didn’t know JFK was headed to a luncheon at the Trade Mart in the design district of Dallas until I watched the film. Although I wasn’t born in 1963, it was nice to relive that moment in time and learn about Dallas in a different light and see how much the city has changed since that infamous day. Unfortunately, I couldn’t attend the memorial ceremony due to prior engagements but I do believe that Dallas has erased its image as being the so-called “City of Hate.”

Public Relations Clients to Avoid in Business

A moment in time happens in the public relations industry where a new client becomes the opposite of what the firm expected---those days where the agency acquires a client’s business and those days when they part ways with said client. The honeymoon with the new client comes and goes in the blink of an eye and before you know it you’re in for the long haul.

Most lessons in life we learn through trial by fire. Making mistakes is essential self-growth and to discover our strengths and weaknesses. We try our hardest to learn from these mistakes but sometimes it’s not always the case. The following are types of public relations clients you should stay away from when doing business:

1.     The know-it-all client who learned how to do PR while at a Paula Deen cooking seminar. They assume that they can do your job better than you can but doesn’t know the difference between a story written by a reporter and a press release. In the illustrious words of NFL pro Chad Johnson, “Child, please!”

2.     The client who has an initial budget that is well below the firm’s normal retainer for the month. He/she promises more money for the job in two months time. Those two months come and go then another two months pass you by…You see where I’m going with this?

3.     Le pire de tout (Worst of all in French): A client who hires you to do a campaign and suddenly decides to take a vacation with Casper the Friendly Ghost. He/she doesn’t check-in weekly for progress reports but has the audacity to get into a shouting match with you because they were excluded from a story. They soon learn that karma is very real.

When a PR client rejects a proposal

When a public relations client scraps a proposal or simply drags their feet to respond in a timely fashion, it can be quite frustrating. The nemesis in these unfortunate events is acting on impulse to move past the feeling of rejection. Never mind the fact that you and your team slaved over the presentation for the last five days with little sleep and cups upon cups of Maxwell House.  The bags under your eyes are now suitcases.

When a client says “No,” it’s could be a cry for help. It’s possible that a “no” means they don’t understand the best way to approach their problem or they are afraid of revealing otherwise unknown issues that is hindering their business outcome. The solution is to ask questions such as “What about the proposal doesn’t suit your needs?” or  “Are there any outside individuals we can partner with to modify the approach?” These questions and the subsequent follow-ups should turn that “No” into a “Yes” and will have you sleeping like a baby.