A 'Two Hot' Spicy Combo: University of Louisiana and Tabasco®

[rhineaux]

_ WHY?

This is something great! Why is there always negativity? Unbelievable! _

I’m not being negative just to be negative. When there is something positive going on at UL, I’m going to point it out. At the same time, when there is something negative going on at UL, I’m going to point it out. And just like all of you, I have no idea if this will be positive OR negative.

Like Turbine, I’m interested in learning more about the arrangement and what it entails. I didn’t say it was a bad idea. I just said that I’m a little worried about the “co-branding” and subsequent logos. It’s been some time since the school has gotten the branding and marketing thing right, so I’m a little skeptical.

To your other points, I don’t think it’s a good idea to start changing the name of Cajun Field, or changing the name of the official color, or anything. “Tradition” is a big deal for universities. It’s one of the main things that will tie a student/alumni to their school. Changing those sorts of things that are supposed to be permanent, and that actually have ties to the school’s roots, is a bad idea and unnecessary, especially when tied to corporate sponsorship that can come and go. And the tradition aspect also relates back to my point above and how drastically the school changed it’s branding ~10 years ago.

The other thing is that this is a Major University. Tabasco is a hot sauce. The way in which UL will/should/does market its product is A LOT different than the way the McIllhenny’s will/should/does market their product.

Like I said, I didn’t say that this is a bad idea…there’s no way to know whether it’s a good idea or bad idea until all of the details are known. If a MAJOR company like Tabasco wants to write UL a check in exchange for doing some major advertising at our events, or for the rights to setup and sell certain food products at games, or whatever, then great. I think that’s a great thing. But when the relationship goes further than that, to the point where logo’s and branding are involved, especially when the difference between these two products is this vast, I have some concerns.

If it makes you guys feel better, I do apologize for being the cloud that darkened this ray of sunshine and I hope to return tomorrow and find out that my concerns were unnecessary. :-)

[NOCajun]

_ People may be blowing this out of proportion, but Cajun Field at Tobasco Stadium does make sense. _

That's what I want to see!!

[Just1More]

I'm liking this a lot. Some were saying that Tabasco was too big for UL and they had no reason to advertise with us. The fit is just too good.

I really appreciate Spedale's Florist... but I sure would like to hear something like:

"That's another smokin hot eye watering fire breathing ass burning Cajun Tabasco first down!!!"

Of course... a shorter version could be utilized as well.

[NOCajun]

_ I’m not being negative just to be negative. When there is something positive going on at UL, I’m going to point it out. At the same time, when there is something negative going on at UL, I’m going to point it out. And just like all of you, I have no idea if this will be positive OR negative.

Like Turbine, I’m interested in learning more about the arrangement and what it entails. I didn’t say it was a bad idea. I just said that I’m a little worried about the “co-branding” and subsequent logos. It’s been some time since the school has gotten the branding and marketing thing right, so I’m a little skeptical.

To your other points, I don’t think it’s a good idea to start changing the name of Cajun Field, or changing the name of the official color, or anything. “Tradition” is a big deal for universities. It’s one of the main things that will tie a student/alumni to their school. Changing those sorts of things that are supposed to be permanent, and that actually have ties to the school’s roots, is a bad idea and unnecessary, especially when tied to corporate sponsorship that can come and go. And the tradition aspect also relates back to my point above and how drastically the school changed it’s branding ~10 years ago.

The other thing is that this is a Major University. Tabasco is a hot sauce. The way in which UL will/should/does market its product is A LOT different than the way the McIllhenny’s will/should/does market their product.

Like I said, I didn’t say that this is a bad idea…there’s no way to know whether it’s a good idea or bad idea until all of the details are known. If a MAJOR company like Tabasco wants to write UL a check in exchange for doing some major advertising at our events, or for the rights to setup and sell certain food products at games, or whatever, then great. I think that’s a great thing. But when the relationship goes further than that, to the point where logo’s and branding are involved, especially when the difference between these two products is this vast, I have some concerns.

If it makes you guys feel better, I do apologize for being the cloud that darkened this ray of sunshine and I hope to return tomorrow and find out that my concerns were unnecessary. :-) _

Rhineaux, I think everything you're saying is reasonable to a point. If the University and Tobasco were to share the "pepper" logo and it were to end up on our helmets and other unis, who knows what kind of major response we could get from that nation-wide, and that's just one example. With a little imagination in the shared marketing, the possibilities could be endless.

[NOCajun]

I really appreciate Spedale's Florist... but I sure would like to hear something like:

"That's another smokin hot eye watering fire breathing ass burning Cajun Tabasco first down!!!"

Of course... a shorter version could be utilized as well. _

LOL!!! That's awesome, though we might want to make it sound a little more "family-friendly"...

[CajunNation]

I'm all for the co-branding, logo development.

Tabasco's logos exude class, an ingredient that has been sorely missed in the logos of THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA.

[GeauxCajuns]

I think we need to simplify our logo to the interlocking UL, and use the term ragin cajuns when verbally referring to us along with louisiana, cajun field at tobasco stadium is good, the bottle is already tall and slender, put that on the elevator shaft at cajun field, dont put the logo anywhere on the turf though, keep that as is, i also think the outline of the state of LA would do us some real good like we did in the mid 90's

[Turbine]

_ How about Tabasco investing in a cooking school at UL as well...
UL's World renoun cooking school, offices in the Tobasco building.... _

I would be tickled Tabasco Red if this happened.

UL had a culinary school when it first opened and being based in Cajun Cooking Country should have one now.

[STEVEAUX UL 78]

Just so many things moving in the right direction....would believe this partnership is gonna be a real positive thing....probably some great ideas have gone into this!...you know even when my Tobasco ties are worn out, I can't get myself to throw'em away...just'a thought....

[HOUCajun]

It appears this affiliation is with the University, not necessarily with the athletic dept.
I don't know if that matters or not but it is likely not a Scott Farmer/Gerald Hebert driven program. Looking forward to seeing how it all plays out

[ULtimateCajun]

This is HUGE news for the University! But I like to put my shoes on before I run. My enthusiasm will be tempered until I the actually scope of how large or the direction of this partnership works. But this is a very good and logical step for both involved!


igeaux.mobi

[Rebel02]

People here complain when other people can't spell our name....perhaps some people should learn how to spell Tabasco.

I'm on the fence on this one. I'm not excited about it, but I'm not pessimistic about it. I'd like to see what this agreement entails before I make a decision whether this is a good or bad thing.