Hey All.

I know you're all anxious to see some game previews and predictions heading into Thursday/Week 1. I'm working on them and you'll see them added throughout the next couple of days. One of the benefits of the new "Blog" format is that we'll be able to post/update on our own, greatly reducing the turnaround time for content going onto the site after the writing has been completed. It will allow us to spend less time on production, and you folks out there doing the reading should see more posts more often...as well as a chance to interact and get specific questions answered, etc. I'm looking forward to another great year of action in the GLIAC, and can't thank you folks enough for having let me be a part of you cheering on your favorite GLIAC team over the last four seasons.

In addition to game previews, we'll still be doing the recaps of games. The nice thing about the blogs is that I'll be able to put the recaps up much quicker, and then turn the focus of the rest of the posts of the week to previewing the coming weekend's games. Should be good stuff! Of course, we'll still have the player interviews, and I'm hoping I can help answer more league-specific questions this year. Things like playoff potential, league expansion, etc have been popular topics for years and I'll be happy to do what I can to get you folks the kind of insight you crave. Just send me an e-mail at [email protected], PM me via the Message Board at Tony Nicolette, or post a reply out here on the blog page.

One of the topics that was a hot one a couple of weeks ago was related to the GLIAC changing how it holds its Media Day. As many of you have seen, there is no longer a "formal" Media Day. Rather, the league posts a great deal of content on its site (www.gliac.org) and makes it available to fans across the country. If you haven't had a chance to visit and see what the coaches have to say heading into this year, be sure and check it out here:

2011 GLIAC Football Media Day

I posted my thoughts on the issue on the Message Board prior to our Blog set-up being completed. For those who don't have a message board membership, below is a copy/reprise of what I put in that post. Enjoy, and keep stopping back throughout the week to see more insight on this weekend's kickoff to the season.



Originally Posted on the D2Football.com Message Board on August 16, 2011 -

"I wanted to share a thought or two on this discussion I've seen swirling about the GLIAC Media Day...or as some have stated, a "lack thereof".

I do understand the point that some are trying to make regarding how a Media Day can help the league. I also understand the perception that Media Days are/should be "protocol" for any/all leagues to hold and that the GLIAC is missing the boat as a result of not having one. While I see those points, I would ask those posters who suggested them to consider the following:

- The GLIAC Media Day used to happen during the first week of August. It was a luncheon that was held after coach's and AD meetings that morning, and the Head Coach, SID, and typically AD from each school all attended. I did not once witness any players there. Some have intimated that the opportunity to "market" the players is important, but that was simply not a component of the event. The program was usually a meet/greet period, a luncheon, a brief address by league officials, speeches from each head coach, and an open time for interviews with the coaches. I suppose other leagues around the country may include players, but I have not found that to be commonplace in D2, D1, or otherwise. That typically happens at the team's OWN Media Day.

- Media Day was usually held somewhere near the league's HQ in Bay City, and most of the media markets where teams reside were represented. However, there was seldom (at least not that I noticed...having attended several of them) a significant "cross-pollination" of markets. In other words, people from the Findlay paper weren't interviewing coaches/staff from Marquette or Saginaw, and the folks from Big Rapids weren't seeking insight from the Ashland contingent. I'm not saying it never happened, but about the only instances I saw of it were the Detroit Free Press interviewing the coaches at Saginaw Valley, Grand Valley, or Hillsdale when they were coming off successful seasons and were ranked highly in the preseason league poll. The DFP often reports on "Michigan schools of interest" in addition to its coverage of Wayne State, so I would imagine that was the intent. I have to believe there was some of that going on with the Ohio papers as well, but again, I did not perceive that to be pervasive. In addition, there were a limited number of TV crews present. Grand Rapids usually had one station there (but not always), as did Saginaw (primarily because it was close). Detroit stations being there happened but not every year, and I don't recall seeing any Ohio stations there (although they could have been). My point is that that not all media attended the event, but those that did traveled extensive distances in some cases, and for the most part interviewed their own teams from their own markets and called it good. Much of that already happens as a component of their current coverage, and is handled again at each team's own Media Day. Some out here have suggested that each team needs as much "exposure" as it can get, but my experience did not show that many clubs were getting extensive exposure from outlets that were outside of their own markets. If they are getting that already, why incur the expense of an event that requires them all to travel (and incur more expenses) to generate the same thing?

- As I mentioned, Media Day was typically a luncheon and was probably not inexpensive. I suppose the cost of lunch could have been foregone, but the cost of the room would have still been necessary and probably created an "in for a penny, in for a pound" scenario. In most instances the league got one of its sponsors/partners to pay for the event, but given the continuous constriction of budgets for leagues and sponsors AS WELL AS the members of the media (attendance levels of the event did wane a bit in 2009) the route they are taking now definitely cuts down on costs.

- The current format of having each of the coach interviews posted on the site offers insight and fan interaction that was not available with the Media Day. The coaches speeches during Media Day varied in length, theme, and content, and were not made available to the general public. I would submit that while the way they do it today might be subject to some "continuous improvement" in terms of format, production style, etc, it offers MORE FANS from MORE MARKETS a direct view and insight to the other teams of the league that they would not otherwise have, and certainly were not getting from the former Media Day.

- Some have posted that it's "sad" that the GLIAC doesn't have a Media Day. I suppose that's a viewpoint, but realistically this isn't the Big Ten where Media Day is broadcast on TV and is attended by hundreds. I mean, there were occasionally TV interviews/pieces done, but it's been my experience those are more a result of each team's own Media Day. So what is the net result of the old Media Day? Well, it was mostly each paper posting the Preseason Coach's Poll and a few thoughts from the local coach of interest. Once that poll gets posted on gliac.org, those interviews will likely still happen and roughly the same articles will get printed. How is that entirely different?

With all of that said, I'm not saying that how the league is pursuing this is right or wrong. I attended several Media Day events and thought they were enjoyable, but I will submit that for less money the league and its members are actually getting more exposure in more markets with the current format they are using. As for the timing of the Media Day page going live, it is due to be up by August 18 or 19. It was posted on the 18th last year, so it's not any later in 2011 than it was in 2010.

I'll leave you all with a final thought...someone out here in another thread posted something along the lines that the league doesn't do anything without member approval. This is ABSOLUTELY TRUE. "The league" is not some nebulous entity that acts capriciously on its whims. It does all of its actions at the request/direction of its membership, MEDIA DAY INCLUDED. If the league's members authorized this, the extensive criticism of the change and the notion that they are somehow being shortchanged must not be the overwhelming sentiments in their eyes."