Mountain West Conference Best Practices: New Mexico & The Pit

This blog is all about inspiration. Today we start with 3 days elevating best practices from the squads that make up the MWC. You can tune in on this blog, or you can follow along on Facebook (linked here) or on Twitter -- I'm @pawlow34.

What makes something a best practice? This isn't about the most intricate experience. It's about looking at the world from your consumer's point of view and delivering something that hits it right smack on the head. In the case of colleges, I'm treating the primary consumer as that prospective student athlete.

Let's go...

Hit the New Mexico Athletics page and dive into "Be a Lobo." (Love the aspirational flare of that copy!) As you'll note in the image below, you are one click away from the recruiting home of your choice (every sport) once you hit the New Mexico site. Solid. Let's click in...


As you can see below, clicking in takes us here, to a deep video wall, set up for easy exploring. The themes are extremely diverse, but I'm drawn to one in the lower left hand corner of the site around the Lobos' legendary gymnasium: The Pit.

Maybe I'm drawn in because of legend, or maybe it's because I did actually play there (albeit not against the Lobos). But it is a special place with an electric vibe.

Let's check it out...

As you'll note in the screen captures below (I was unable to embed the video or give you a direct link to click into), the Lobos give you a movie trailer for "The Pit." At any time in the video, you can click to share this via Facebook, Twitter, or Email.

The video begins with a storied, empty gym.

And then shows you a view of the team taking the court.


(Of course, with the frenzy that ensues)

This gym features commentary from Coach Alford, current players, and even opposing players. It's one that makes you feel the special vibe that exists in such a storied space.

How could this be better? I'd love to see this one serve as a launching place for deeper emotional connections. Have every Lobos player and coach give their favorite thing about playing there. (Even if it is only text). Include comments from opposing coaches. And then take that experience and elevate it from the video wall to a more prominent home (such as when you initially click on "Be a Lobo."

Tune in tomorrow as we share more inspiration from the MWC! And, don't forget, you can follow along on Facebook (here) or on Twitter: I'm @pawlow34.

Andy