SOAR Blog

In a landslide victory Saturday, NCAA Division I coaches overwhelmingly voted to ban the use of text messages in recruiting athletes.

Designed to rein-in overzealous coaching staffs in their use of new technology to recruit potential student-athletes, the ban passed by margin of more than 3-1, with more than 78 percent of the votes being cast in favor of the ban.

According to the official NCAA News announcement about the new ban, Kerry Kenny (the vice chair of the Division I Student-Athlete Advisory Committee), urged coaches to vote against text-message contact of potential recruits claiming that “text messaging between prospective student-athletes and coaches was intrusive, unprofessional and expensive.”  

The vote was held at the annual convention of the National Collegiate Athletic Association, conducted this year in Nashville, Tenn. from January 10-14.

Given how many teenagers have cell phones today and how pervasive text messaging is in their lives, this sounds like a no brainer idea to me.

Good job, coaches.

Rivalry week is over, and what a fun week it was.

The Brigham Young University Cougars defeated the University of Utah Runnin’ Utes 17-10 on a last-minute, come-from-behind, touchdown-scoring drive late in the fourth quarter of what had primarily been a defensive struggle.

Much has been written about the game itself, so as I write this post Sunday afternoon (11/25/07) I will not elaborate here about the ins and outs of the contest. (Those interested in additional info should check out the sports sections in the Salt Lake Tribune, Deseret Morning News or the Provo, Utah-based Daily Herald.)

The win elevates BYU to a season record of 9-2, with eight straight wins and a likely move upward within the national polls of two to four spots from their current consensus ranking of 23 in the nation in both the USA Today and Associated Press polls.

While driving back home to Sandy from Provo and listening to “the most interactive and uncensored post-game BYU talk show” 1280 the Zone, I was shocked by some of the comments from Cougar fans who felt that BYU wasn’t getting the national respect or attention it deserved. Some felt that BYU and the rest of the teams in the Mountain West Conference were being unfairly slighted. Continue Reading »

I admit it…I’m a Red Sox fan. I was glued to the Series, to my wife’s chagrin. And I enjoyed watching the Sox not only get back to the Fall Classic, but winning it for the second time in four years. However, in the midst of the whole enjoyable experience, I found myself wanting the Rockies to win at least a game. The feeling was borne of nothing but the desire to see the Sox continue to play. The thing that is sad is to see the season come to an end. Even though they hoist the Commissioner’s Trophy, they have to pack up their things and hibernate for the winter. It’s a bittersweet experience, from this fan’s perspective. Granted, I wouldn’t want it to end any other way. But at the same time, it’s hard to see it end.

Regardless, congratulations to the World Champions! Well done! Let’s do it again next year!

When one of the top 5-A football teams in the state (Jordan H.S.) loses 22-6 to a 3-7 team (Hunter H.S.), you know it’s got to be playoff time in Utah.

Yup, the 5-A football playoffs are here once again. And having a son on the Alta H.S. Hawks squad makes this season even sweeter and more exciting.

In spite of a lackadaisical start to the game that saw the first quarter end in a 0-0 tie, the now 10-1 Hawks took control the rest of the way en route to a 56-10 dismantling of the Kearns Cougars (now 5-6) in the first round of the 5-A playoffs.

Led by its senior offensive trio of RB Sausan Shakerin (seven carries for 110 yards and three TDs, two on the ground and one by air), QB Ryan Rosenvall (9-9 passing for 192 yards and four TD passes), and TE Brady Hunt (four catches for 121 yards and two TDs) and anchored by Alta’s stunning defense, the Hawks easily handled the Cougars. In fact, Kearns’ only touchdown came late in the game with the bulk of the Hawk defenders coming from its Junior Varsity squad.

Next up for the Hawks, the 6-4 Timpanogos Timberwolves, with start time slated for 7 p.m. this coming Friday, 11/2/07 at Alta’s home field in Sandy.

Is this the last time we’ll see Lloyd Carr on the University of Michigan’s sidelines? If it is it doesn’t seem like the fans will be too upset. At this rate Michigan should get comfortable out behind the wood shed! First Appalachian state thumps ‘em and then Oregon takes them to town, will the Irish prevail to make it a hat trick at Michigan’s expense?

I don’t think the issue here is losing. Lots of good teams and coaches lose, it happens week in and week out! (My alma mater, BYU, lost earlier today.) I think what makes Michigan’s losses significant is the margin of defeat coupled with the hype around the Big Blue and the poor level of play. Execution is key, and although blame falls on the players’ shoulders, the coaches are there to instill discipline and teach and practice execution.

The commentators on ABC today remarked that the defensive coordinator threatened his defense that if they didn’t perform they’d find themselves on the bench — well, after today it would seem that most of the defense should be sitting on the bench, think the coach will follow through?

As with all money making ventures, key stakeholders (boosters, alum and university officials) want to see results, Carr certainly isn’t making a case for himself with these two recent debacles, it’ll be interesting how things shake out in Ann Arbor. Is it too late to schedule a local high school team for a win?

With all that said, maybe the real question here deals with rankings. Last year’s national champion Gators put a hurtin’ on Ohio State, did the final score and outcome reflect an accurate prediction based on the rankings going in? So with that I add yet another item for the NCAA to come up with, along with a better championship structure, find a way to more accurately rank teams.

Nike, the $15 billion dollar shoe and sports apparel leader, tore up its contract with beleaguered pro football player Michael Vick yesterday after details of his plea deal with federal prosecutors came to light. (NOTE: Vick’s official website has been overwhelmed by Internet traffic and as of the date of this writing its “Bandwidth Limit Exceeded.”)

The terse, 33-word statement was direct and to the point, stating that Nike considers “any cruelty to animals inhumane, abhorrent and unacceptable” (bolding added by author).

The official definitions of each word? Here’s what Dictionary.com says:

• Inhumane - “not humane; lacking humanity, kindness, compassion, etc.”
• Abhorrent - “causing repugnance; detestable; loathsome: an abhorrent deed.”
• Unacceptable - “used of persons or their behavior; “impossible behavior”; “insufferable insolence” [syn: impossible] ” [NOTE: This was the 3rd definition listed.]

OUCH! OUCH! OUCH!

In Nike’s 2003 Annual Report, Phil Knight’s letter to shareholders (Nike’s then chairman/president/CEO), included Vick in a short list of seven athletes he singled out as those with promise “to reach new levels of human potential,” to which he added it was “(Nike’s) job to help them get there.”

Those listed with Vick in Knight’s letter? In order, they are

• LeBron James;
• Carmelo Anthony;
• Lleyton Hewitt;
• Roger Federer;
• Tiffeny Milbrett;
• The aforementioned Mr. Vick; and
• Paula Radcliffe.

Apparently great company to be in (at the time). I wonder how those six other athletes feel about their association with Vick now?

Are you as excited as I am for football season?

No time of the year is more exciting to me than the period of time between the end of August to the end of December. Most people would call it Fall, but it’s more than that. It’s football season.

I grew up playing and watching football. Now I mostly watch, but I play too…Fantasy style. In high school, I played tight end for our team, which was pretty good. And in college, I played intramural at BYU. Our team was awesome! Over two years, we went 22-0, winning the championship both years.

And now it’s that time of the year again. We’ve got football in the air, even in the office. Poppa P’s son plays tight end for a local high school, so it’s fun to talk football with Poppa P. We’ve even brought a football into the office to toss around on occasion–I think it helps get the juices flowing.

I’ve also got my fantasy league draft this weekend, which I’m really excited about. I just love the game, the ins and outs of what makes certain plays work. I owe that to my high school football coach. He had a mind for the game unlike any other I’ve ever known. He understood how it worked and instilled a love for the game in most everyone he coached.

So, here’s to Friday night lights, Saturday morning hype and continuing to live the dream. And here’s a little clip to get you exctied…one of my personal favorites.

Okay, this is part two of my morning-long visit to the Outdoor Retailer Summer Market 2007 show in downtown Salt Lake City.

Again, there were tons of exhibitors so this is by no means conclusive, but it certainly shows the extent of the show and the fact that there were exhibitors there representing all kinds of stuff. Here’s the second half of what I saw while strolling along.

GoPro HERO camera. You’ve probably seen all those homemade stunt and extreme sports videos on the Internet or in your e-mail, well these guys are facilitating these videos. The HERO cam is currently available with wrist attachments and will be available later this year with attachments for your head — or helmet. In this picture, Neil Dana, was kind enough to model the upcoming head and helmet mounts for the HERO camera.

This really is a cool concept and can provide almost an hour of TV quality recording on a 2GB memory card.

Next up is another ‘green’ product. the SOLIO hybrid solar charger is a must-have for anyone who hikes and has a bad sense of direction or is being led by the Cheshire Cat. This gadget uses solar panels to recharge various portable consumer electronics, from iPods to cell phones and maybe more. Their current, classic, model is already on the market but they will soon be launching the H1000 that appears to be more rugged and durable and has a carabiner clip to hook to your belt, backpack, etc.

(Photo Credit: Atomic MPC)
Suzanne informed me that not only is the SOLIO a green way to recharge your devices in the wild, but it is also made of very green materials.

In the world of the incredibly-shrinking gadget, Industrial Revolution’s grilliput was definitely cool. Ever thought that a portable BBQ didn’t have to be the size of your kitchen sink? Well these guys’ grill fits into your pocket, practically.

Another cool gadget from Industrial Revolution was the Spork. Now this is different from the cafeteria creation of a spoon with fork prongs on the end. This spork may in fact be a true spork. And I thought it was a nice touch to put the serrated edge on the fork, who couldn’t use that already?

And last, but not least, some of my fellow statesmen, Adventure Trading Inc., from Washington State were selling Hacky Sacks and other Guatemalan imports. If you thought the Hacky Sack craze was over, you’re dead wrong. General Manager Luke Lawson told me he braces every year for the drop off in popularity and every year it doesn’t come; I guess there’s just something catchy about a little woven bag with beads in it you bounce off your foot.

Their display was, by far the catchiest most creative one I saw while walking around, wall-o-Hacky-Sack!

Well, that’s it for Outdoor Retailer Summer Market 2007. There were definitely some cool products and exhibits for vendors, media and other attendees to peruse. I can’t close without mentioning the schwag we got, I’ll simply list them.

Keep2go (product), Hi-Tec (shoulder bag), Eagle (poster & badge holder), Patagonia (stickers), Crazy Creek (stickers), scarpa (stickers), H2O Guides (cool stickers)

At Poppa P’s invitation I headed downtown to check out the Outdoor Retailer summer market show at the Salt Palace in Salt Lake City. It’s obvious but this is definitely a place for all things sports, outdoor, athletics, recreation and travel. I got there early and there were still tons of people.

My goal in going to Outdoor Retailer was to check out cool new gear, snap some photos and pick up some schwag! Well I have to say that I accomplished all of my goals and want to run down some of the unique, cool gear I saw. I’m sure there were tons of cool things that I missed because I only spent about two hours at the show, so if I don’t mention your products I am in no way saying your products aren’t cool, I just didn’t get over to check them out. So here’s my list of cool gadgets from this summer’s Outdoor Retailer in Salt Lake City.

Swiss Army’s “World’s Largest Pocket Knife,” according to Guinness Book of World Records.

After drooling over this pocket knife that isn’t really a “pocket” knife — unless you’re Paul Bunyan, the company rep proceeded to show me some of Swiss Army’s newest knife designs including the Ranger series they are promoting; nice looking knife, a bit of a move away from the traditional Swiss Army design, but still a very nice looking knife. (The Swiss Army logo is the release button of the locking blade, how cool is that?)

After looking at the Swiss Army knives, I came across Zing and their ZeeBeez toy. This is cool and although it took a couple tries to get the hang of how it worked, the guys at Zing sent me off with a ZeeBeez. Zing is a toy company with some cool, catchy little toys. Needless to say their toys would keep me occupied for a little while.

Being the owner of several iPods and one who gets a kick out the third-party iPod accessory industry Pelican and h2o Audio both have cool, rugged outdoor-proof iPod cases. Although I have to admit h2o Audio’s is cooler because it’s actually waterproof down to ten feet, and at Outdoor Retailer they announced the first waterproof iPod case for the 2nd generation iPod Shuffle. Ron told me he would hook me up and I think it’ll be cool to go swimming and listen to toons — oh yeah, h2o Audio also sells waterproof earphones (I didn’t get a picture of them).

The iS2 comes with an arm band which Ron didn’t mind modeling for me even with his colleagues razzin’ him.

Pelican’s iPod case. Although it isn’t waterproof, it sure looks rugged and I was told it could withstand upwards of 200+ pounds of pressure, yeah, that’s pretty rugged if you ask me! And just like the iS2 it has a built in water-tight headphone jack. The Pelican is a one-size-fits-all iPod case.

Well I think I’ve put enough stuff into this one post for now. I have more pictures that I’ll put into part two of this post later today or tomorrow.

SOAR is looking for a new account coordinator! See below for a full job description.

SOAR Communications a Utah-based, full-service marketing communications agency focused on the sports, outdoor, athletics, recreation and sporting goods industries is looking for a recreational/outdoor enthusiast who also has the skills to be an awesome account coordinator.

The job entails writing PR releases, coordinating marketing projects and helping to service clients. You must have a degree in Public Relations, Communications or Marketing with at least one to two years experience in marketing.

Send your resume, a few writing samples, and a brief explanation of what makes you a recreational/outdoor enthusiast. Attention: Chip Smith, csmith@soarcomm.com

Hours: Full-Time
This job is salaried.