The Oregon Ducks are never one to shy away from making a big splash.
They did so already earlier this year by bringing a giant inflatable mascot to Indianapolis as a way of announcing their presence at Big Ten Media Days last month. Oregon also turned some heads a couple of weeks ago with the release of “That Team Out West,” a Hard Knocks-style documentary series diving into the 2024 fall camp.
But if you want to look at one of the biggest statements the Ducks have made in the marketing world, you’d have to travel back to August 15, 2023. That’s the day that Oregon’s “Bodacious” billboard went up in New York City, officially launching the Heisman Trophy campaign for quarterback Bo Nix.
On Friday morning, I woke up and looked at my calendar. August 16.
Prime marketing season is here.
[lawrence-related id=64261]
I’m not sure what the Ducks plan to do ahead of the 2024 season in order to make a giant statement, but I would be shocked if the answer was “nothing.” They already captured the conversation with the big Duck in Indy, but something tells me that’s not the end of it. As new members of the Big Ten Conference, now playing on the biggest stage in program history, it feels appropriate for Oregon to go all-out ahead of this season.
Will it be a billboard? Probably not. I get a feeling that the Ducks aren’t going to go back to that well. While the New York and Dallas “Bodacious” signs were massive successes, what makes Oregon so great and innovative is their persistence on pushing forward, and not repeating old tricks.
I’m not sure what the Ducks plan to roll out over the next week or two leading up to the 2024 season, and I’m not sure where they do it.
[lawrence-related id=64219]
If I had to guess, it would be something regarding new quarterback Dillon Gabriel, who is currently among the favorites to win the Heisman Trophy this year. But this is Oregon, they may roll out a campaign for Tez Johnson or Evan Stewart to win the Biletnikoff Award instead.
In reality, they’re probably planning a promotion that we could never see coming in a million years. Lord knows that most of us weren’t expecting a 151-foot Nix to set up shop in NYC a year ago.
Ultimately, I have no idea what the Ducks are planning. But I have a feeling they’re going to do something, and it’s going to be big.
I could be wrong. But I woke up on Friday and realized that it was prime marketing season. Keep your head on a swivel.
[lawrence-auto-related count=3]