What Kind Of Car Would Best Represent Mountaineer Football?

by JP Fanshawe on Nov 23, 2009 4:38 PM EST Comment 27 comments

I recently read an interesting article at Pittsburgh Live regarding the Pittsburgh Penguins' attempt to harness the energy around the team right now and turn it into an iconic brand.

The following quote got me thinking:

Actually, nothing was ordinary about a process that had Pittsburgh fans comparing the Penguins, Steelers and the Pirates in terms of ... cars.

"That was my favorite question: What kind of car is (the team)?" Morehouse said about hundreds of questions posed by Stellus Consulting, the Minnesota company hired to help the Penguins brand its National Hockey League franchise.

Interviews revealed consumers likened the team to a Jaguar -- sleek, fast and exotic. The Steelers were a Hummer -- tough, rugged and dominating.

"As odd as it may sound, your brand has nothing to do with your players, your ownership or your arena," said Corky Hall, Stellus CEO. "It's only about the consumers' perception of everything and the other choices they have."

So, what kind of car would you say the Mountianeer football program is now? What kind of car was it under Rodriguez? Under Nehlen? And how about basketball? Baseball? Informative what your gut reactions are, isn't it?

And that last part intrigues me, also. If your brand has nothing to do with your players, your ownership (in this case, the coaches and administration, I guess) or your arena, and is only about "consumers' perception of everything," how do we, as consumers view this brand? Nothing changes my positive feeling when I see the Flying WV, so kudos to whoever designed one of the great logos in sports. But that is just me. Even without winning, I feel positive about the school and its teams, and I would guess that is because of effective branding.

Perhaps, this is why so many teams frequently change their helmets, (ahem...this week's opponent for one...), because the branding has led to negative feelings for the program. But notice that none of the great programs ever change their helmets.

A friend of mine and I talked this out and here is what we came up with:

Football Under Nehlen: F-150.

Football Under Rod: Ferrari

Football Under Stew: Lincoln Towne Car

Basketball: Jag

Baseball: Chevy Nova

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Baseball: Ford Pinto

but the other look good

"From time to time gunfighters get shot."-Mike Tomlin the third greatest Steelers coach

by WVPiratesfan on Nov 23, 2009 4:55 PM EST reply actions

Hmm

I agree for Nehlen.

Rod I would have to say maybe a Mitsubishi 3000GT. It was fast, but not as fancy as the top sports cars. And now it’s out of production.

Stew…maybe a Mustang? Not as fast or expensive as the 3000GT, but more of a classic, blue-collar look. Not the best, but not the worst.

by Country Roads on Nov 23, 2009 4:57 PM EST reply actions

Great calls...

…we went with the Ferrari because of its extreme price!

Now is the time boys to make a big noise.
No matter what the people say,
For there is naught to fear, the gang's all here,
So hail West Virginia, hail.

by JP Fanshawe on Nov 23, 2009 4:58 PM EST up reply actions

JP, good job. I think all your choices were good. Lincoln town car was also my fist thought with stew (but mostly because that’s what old people drive).

by The 25314 on Nov 23, 2009 5:05 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

the flying wv

Here’s an article on the origin

http://www.wtrf.com/story.cfm?func=viewstory&storyid=4362

by psyche on Nov 23, 2009 4:58 PM EST reply actions

Great Article...

…like I have always said. Nehlen laid the groundwork for the whole program! They sure got their money’s worth…200 bucks. That’s just amazing.

Now is the time boys to make a big noise.
No matter what the people say,
For there is naught to fear, the gang's all here,
So hail West Virginia, hail.

by JP Fanshawe on Nov 23, 2009 5:02 PM EST up reply actions

Stew = PT cruiser. Some people love them, but straight people know they suck. (honorable mention to 2002 Buick lasabre and 1993 chevy astro)

Rod = 2009 chevy silverado, extended cab, and tricked out with lift kit, running lights and camo covered seats. A very basic automobe but popular, attractive, and gets the job done.

Nehelen = a 1984 ford pickup. Steady and dependable but not high end. Perfect for the early 80’s, outdated by the late 90’s but somewhat hip again now (ie stew putting “the gang back together”)

Huggs = cadalac escalade. Self explanatory

catlett = 1989 crown Victoria. It had it’s time, but not for long

beilein = prius. Goofy, offbeat, but successful

baseball = whatever only white people drive….

by The 25314 on Nov 23, 2009 5:01 PM EST via mobile reply actions

Great Calls, Too

Perfect calls on Nehlen, Beilein and Van Zant!

Now is the time boys to make a big noise.
No matter what the people say,
For there is naught to fear, the gang's all here,
So hail West Virginia, hail.

by JP Fanshawe on Nov 23, 2009 5:27 PM EST up reply actions

Love the Thread!

Good job with all the calls

On a related note, would Wandstadt be a creepy van with no windows- the Ford abductor?

by WVUSouth on Nov 23, 2009 5:47 PM EST reply actions

Freakin' Hilarious...

…you rock, man.

Now is the time boys to make a big noise.
No matter what the people say,
For there is naught to fear, the gang's all here,
So hail West Virginia, hail.

by JP Fanshawe on Nov 23, 2009 5:55 PM EST up reply actions

Great post

Leave no doubt tonight! Leave no doubt tonight! No doubt! They shouldn't of played the Old Gold'n Blue.

by 5th Year Senior on Nov 23, 2009 6:31 PM EST reply actions

Cars

Nehlen: ’88 F-150 (for sure)
Rodriguez: Porsche/Ferrari
Stewart: ’95 Mercury Sable

Baseball: You mean to tell me WVU still has a baseball program?? Ramsberg’s assistant is coaching the team? No wonder I’ve never heard about them…..Let me guess, he STILL only recruits DELMARVA peninsula and eastern PA and completely ignores WV’s best players?

As for the automobiles……It may be important for us to determine which “vehicle” correlates to each coach. My question to you guys…….Which “vehicle” looks best to an 18 year old high school senior?

by WVUColumbus on Nov 23, 2009 7:22 PM EST reply actions

Baseball

I agree that the baseball program has sorely underachieved under Van Zant. They have had talent, as evinced by the number of draft picks over the years, but to have never made the NCAA tournament? That just doesn’t cut it, in my book.

As for WV’s best players—-Jedd Gyorko (little bro of Scott Gyorko) of University HS was (if I remember correctly) a freshman AA and possibly rookie of the year in the BE. He’ll get drafted someday. Why he went to WVU, I’ll never know. But Van Zant at least kept him in state.

by Country Roads on Nov 24, 2009 9:11 AM EST up reply actions

If this were asked in Michigan

RR would be a Chevy Monza…launched in 1990, recalled in 1991

KEN

by KENH on Nov 23, 2009 8:25 PM EST reply actions

Stewart

The car today is a Chevy Malibu. One passanger thinks they’re in a Yugo, while the other argues that they’re in a BMW. The driver thinks the car is the best put together car of all time, facing the toughest road he’s ever seen. He also has forgotten to release the emergency brake and the car is traveling 45 on the interstate. When the car reaches the McDonald drive-through the driver whispers into the speaker, “Ask me if I want a Big Mac. Big Mac.” The car’s oil has never been changed even though the driver has stockpiled over 400 gallons of car oil in his garage and tells everyone in town about his oil. The Malibu originally came with a white JATO rocket strapped to the top, which the driver constantly talked about activating, but could never figure out the manual. There’s talk that the driver needs his license revoked because he can’t drive, but the DMV is too busy trying to hassle the driver’s neighbor who is building a garage for his B-2 Stealth Bomber.

by The Double U on Nov 23, 2009 9:16 PM EST reply actions

That Was Funny As Shit....

….but all the effort in Nanciness…! I am still chuckling, though….you should think of comedy writing….call up 30 Rock.

Now is the time boys to make a big noise.
No matter what the people say,
For there is naught to fear, the gang's all here,
So hail West Virginia, hail.

by JP Fanshawe on Nov 23, 2009 9:47 PM EST up reply actions

Ask Me If I Want A Big Mac?

BIG MAC!

Did you come up with that or is it from something? That cracks me up! I am appropriating….

Now is the time boys to make a big noise.
No matter what the people say,
For there is naught to fear, the gang's all here,
So hail West Virginia, hail.

by JP Fanshawe on Nov 23, 2009 10:03 PM EST up reply actions

The Double U

Excellent summary of the situation…

by BlackJeebus on Nov 24, 2009 11:37 AM EST up reply actions

Mac Attack

Is it just coincidence that the Big Mac was founded in Pittsburgh?

by NJ WVU 98 in MD on Nov 25, 2009 2:09 PM EST up reply actions

Which Vehicle Looks Best to a High School Senior

Evidently it’s the black dodge charger – since that’s what all our players seem to drive.

by Simple Jack on Nov 23, 2009 9:22 PM EST reply actions

Cuz Dat Shit....

is muscular….

Now is the time boys to make a big noise.
No matter what the people say,
For there is naught to fear, the gang's all here,
So hail West Virginia, hail.

by JP Fanshawe on Nov 23, 2009 10:03 PM EST up reply actions

Current Football program:

Jeep Wrangler – Specs read great, looks bad ass, and when working can roll over anything; but breaks down way more than it should.

by dogeered on Nov 24, 2009 9:20 AM EST reply actions

Accurate.

by Country Roads on Nov 24, 2009 9:59 AM EST up reply actions

Actually,

“when working can roll over anything”————I’m guessing the Wrangler you’re referring to is up on cinder blocks in SW West Virginia??? (ie. always broken down?)

by WVUColumbus on Nov 25, 2009 10:20 PM EST up reply actions

Great we are comparing Mountaineer football to cars now, lovelyyyyy, I am sure this is what they are doing on the Alabama and Florida websites. Next we will be comparing Mountaineer football to ice cream flavors…Bill Stewart is mint chocolate because…. UGGGGGG JFCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC!!!!!!!!!!!

by EatSchmittPitt35 on Nov 24, 2009 12:23 PM EST reply actions

Someone say something?

Now is the time boys to make a big noise.
No matter what the people say,
For there is naught to fear, the gang's all here,
So hail West Virginia, hail.

by JP Fanshawe on Nov 24, 2009 1:52 PM EST up reply actions