Front Porch Marketing
The Interscholastic Athletic and Oratorical Association of Southwest Louisiana was SLII ingenuity through and through.
The I.A.O.A.S.L. was a stroke of genius by President Edwin L. Stephens of UL (then SLII). The Association was designed as a recruiting tool, a marketing tool. He knew a natural interest in athletics would expose the high schools of Southwestern Louisiana (and their students) to the opportunities of higher education at SLII.
Through Athletics the kids of Louisiana would know about SLII. It worked, from Lafourche and Terrebone parishes to the east, from Rapides, and Avoyelles to the north, and from Calcasieu, and Cameron Parishes to the west. Students from all over Southwestern Louisiana would soon make SLII/SLI their choice for higher education. It worked so well students soon were coming from all over the state.
In just a few years after opening its doors UL had students attending from every parish in the State of Louisiana, and even from day one has had out of state students. Interest in athletics was a huge pat of this.
The map below shows the area of Louisiana Southwestern Louisiana Industrial Institute marketed heavily right from the start.
Even before SLII opened its doors for the first time on Sept. 18, 1901, Athletics and Academia were given equal billing. E.L. Stephens knew that Athletics was the best advertising a school could buy.
Since the outset in 1901 Southwestern worked hard to create an atmosphere where learning and fun coexisted. The Interscholastic and Oratorical Association of Southwest Louisiana was only one endeavor in this regard.
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Originally Posted by Turbine
