Kentucky utilizing videos to keep fans (and recruits) involved

Kentucky athletics is really taking hold of the video sphere, posting new athlete-centered clips almost daily. We already saw the Max Smith helmet cam earlier this week, followed by Kyle Wiltjer’s directorial debut earlier today. And those are just two of the most recent and entertaining videos in a string of releases. With each new clip, Kentucky is making it clear that athlete accessibility and entertainment are becoming a priority. It’s a great development for fans who want to see more of their team, but it’s awfully good for recruits too.

Just look at this great glimpse into Photo Day 2012 posted on CoachCal.com and try to tell me it doesn’t paint a portrait of fun, professionalism, and a welcoming atmosphere.

Thanks to videos like that one, fans get to see the personalities and demeanor of the players they love while getting a look into places and events they’d otherwise never get to see otherwise. When fans are engaged and excited about their team, it’s good for the players and it’s good for the university. The simple fact that the Kentucky blogosphere goes into a frenzy with each new video, no matter how significant or enjoyable, showcases what one short minute can mean to a fanbase that adores its team.

But the videos go beyond that. They become a tool for recruitment as well. We often forget how daunting it is to take that first trek to college, even for a normal student. But then there are athletes who have more doubts, concern, pressures, and anxieties than the average student could ever imagine. Whether a star on the basketball court or an unheralded female cross country runner, a young person who is able to look into their future and see a welcoming atmosphere that supports its athletes is a person who wants to become a Kentucky Wildcat.

Coach Cal’s series of Meet the Wildcats clips is the epitome of caring and supportive video production. They tell the story of the person. They aren’t about the school, they aren’t pompous are full of circumstance. They focus on the individual and what’s important in their young lives. What could be more encouraging to an athlete than to know they’re going to be supported for who they are, not just how they perform.

It might just seem like a short video designed for a laugh, but I assure it’s much more than that. It’s an appeal to a fanbase and a generation of young athletes, and it’s sending a much bigger message than its 60 seconds might suggest.