People ask me what PingWi-Fi.com is all about. Well, I guess we’re about breaking all the rules. EVERYONE says that rule #Uno of blogging is to stay concentrated on one area of interest. LOL. Can’t do it. Too much tickles our fancy.
I mean … Wi-Fi is our holy grail. Literally, when people ask me “What is PingWi-Fi?,” this is the elevator spiel: “We are a travel blog using Wi-Fi as the common denominator because it is everywhere. And because you can say only so much about Wi-Fi, we mix in pop culture: technology, music, film, sports … even peace rallies.” Yep. That what I say.
Distress
Well … next week we head to a rally. But I don’t know how peaceful it will be.
The pingmobile is headed north to the rally in Lubbock, Texas … home of the Texas Tech Red Raiders … the place where many first shunned Buddy Holly then built a statue to praise him. The place that rode the Mike Leach pirate ship to #2 in the land, and then abruptly shut off the booty train … firing the winningest and highest paid coach in the school’s history, with little explanation (as a $800K bonus payout approached).
Team Leach Represents
Certainly, we’ll check out Wi-Fi hotspots around The Hub of The South Plains, and we’ll try our hand at streaming video, Wi-Fi permitting. We will even attend a Red Raider roundball game. (One of my high school basketball teammates has a son playing for Texas Tech … Guns UP!)
But, this will be our focus:
The justification for firing Coach Leach? — a famous parent complained about questionable treatment of a doubtful starter with a less than serious injury.
What a “nothing burger” supersized to a colossal, family-style, all-you-can-eat buffet of bad, bad publicity for Texas Tech University and everything for which it stands.
San Antonio Mural Salutes Lubbock Son
Leach was first suspended and then fired! Yet, his Red Raiders held on to win the Valero Alamo Bowl (a record-setting ESPN broadcast) with Interim Head Coach Ruffin McNeill at the helm.
Sheffield, Hero Of The Alamo
Meanwhile … the pirate horde got itself all organized, yo.
One of the most instantaneous political action groups ever raised the pirate flag on Facebook — “Team Leach.” Fueled by social media buzz, funny-as-hell t-shirts, and good old popular support for a great cause — the group on Facebook swelled to 59,000 members. Note: the university states the capacity of AT&T Jones Stadium in Lubbock will be right at 53,700 for the 2010 season, after a $25 million dollar expansion.
Pirate horde in the house, on Facebook:
ARRRRRGH! They even have billboards:
Ahoy! Ads Off The Starboard Bow:
So, big question: Will any of the 59,000 Facebook followers put their butts in the 53,700 seats any longer … unless something changes in the Texas Tech administration?
The Colors
Well … you can tell by their passion Team Leach loves the school … they love the Texas Tech Red Raiders … and they really, really love the ousted Coach Mike Leach. They will be heard … and unless the administration has one significant smoking pirate pistol, somebody’s got some ‘splaining to do!
Pirate Par-Tay
Coach Leach and the Texas Tech powers that be will have their day in court. Team Leach vows to make lots of noise (soundbytes too) at their rally on Jan. 14. And it remains to be seen how all of this fiasco will affect Texas Tech, the students, the team AND the Lubbock economy.
To focus on the economics behind the Xs and Os, PingWi-Fi.com distributed a query to PR professionals around the world, using PRNewswire’s ProfNet service. Responses are trickling in.
More on the final results later. But first … below, are excerpts from a letter, sent to PingWi-Fi.com from one “Goin’ Fan From Raiderland”:
“I am not a Lubbock business owner. However, I am a Texas Tech alum and a loyal, 30-year fan. I would like to share my perspective on economic impact of the Tech/Leach issue.
For each of the past 10-years, we traveled over 400-miles, one-way, once or twice a year to attend TTU home games. I sometimes travel to bowl games. I meet friends and family at both. Our extended contingent ranges in size from 8-30 for the events we attend. Some drive while others fly; we tailgate, dine in Lubbock, buy fan gear, stay in hotels, visit the university and the Frazier… and yes may hit a bar or two. (EDITOR’S NOTE — “Par-tay pirates in the house!”) These weekends usually cost from $600-$1,000 including game tickets for 3 of us. In 2008 I spent more than $2,000 in total attending TTU football games.
My family and I will be taking an extended break from these annual events. From my group, I know there will be at least eight less season ticket holders in 2010.
I was a fan through very bad years. My current disgust with the AD, Administration and Regents is something I never imagined. I wrote Chancellor Hance last February complaining about the negotiation, public display of dysfunctional behavior, irrational threats of firing and general tone which AD Myers has taken with Coach Leach. I warned that it was going to cost the University severely some time. I am shocked it happened in the same year.
” … The success that Coach Leach brought delivered immeasurable benefit to the city, university, stadium, etc. For the first time in my long history, the students and alumni have been finally been engaged this past decade. The actions over the past two weeks have greatly harmed recruiting, the program and have all but guaranteed our return to the cellar of the conference. I my recent e-mail to Chancellor Hance I stated that paying for the program and stadium will be a challenge with half-full stands next year.
“So, you inquire about the economic impact of the fiasco….you have my take on what I will NOT be spending. Multiply that by the factor you choose – 20-40% of the traveling fan-base….and you do the math. Being Lubbock, 90% of game attendees are traveling supporters. The impact on the Lubbock economy and Athletic Dept revenues will be significant.
“Congratulations to Gerald Myers …”
(* This letter was signed, but we ran it anonymously in lieu of verification at the time of this post..)
Know what I sayin?
