Waiting....

(Photo from syracuse.com)

It's been a rough week at work so I'm just getting my dose of Orange for this week. I came across a story which was featured in the Marcus Sales story by Donnie Webb. Webb reports that both the Kansas Jayhawks and Virginia Tech Hokies football teams have gotten the first looks at the highly anticipated film "The Express" on Tues and Wed.

Webb explains further:

Syracuse University athletic department officials were caught off guard when news broke about the Jayhawks and Hokies getting first looks at the movie. One said that Universal Studios "would not agree to screen for our team until the week of the premiere," which is scheduled for the Landmark Theatre in Syracuse on Sept. 12. The plan is to show the film to the Syracuse football team possibly at Carousel Center on the same day but prior to the Landmark event.

So the Football team bearing the name and colors of Ernie Davis' alma mater has to wait until the week of the premiere before getting their first look at the film that SU fans alike have waited a lifetime for? Sounds to me like the AD officials didn't put up much of a damn fight for their boys in Orange. I normally keep it PG on this blog but seriously, what kind of sorry ass shit is that?

Webb quotes Dr Gross:

Daryl Gross said the movie studio is following a marketing strategy by showing it to select teams or markets in order to create word of mouth buzz. He said that Syracuse was still selected for the film's world premiere.

Let me translate. Dr Gross said that Universal Studios laced up a pair of steel toes boots and kicked the football team square in the cajones. Showing the film to 'select teams', one being Syracuse's former arch rival, will get people talking about the film since the trailers we've seen this summer are apparently just a figment of our imaginations. But not to worry, The World Premiere (if you can still even call it that) is still going to be held in Syracuse after everyone including Sasquatch himself has already seen it. Check that. Since ol' Sasquatch has been sighted in upstate NY he'll have to wait quietly with the rest of the football team.

Forgive me for the comparision but do you think it would have sat well with Notre Dame officials if everyone including USC got a first look at "Rudy" before the Irish football team? The answer? An emphatic "Fuck No"

The story continues:

"We want as many people as possible to see the film and see Ernie's inspirational story," said university spokesman Kevin Quinn. "Our team will be seeing the film very soon at a time that fits into their schedule. The fact is Syracuse, New York, is hosting the national Hollywood-level premiere, which will bring a massive concentration of national attention and excitement and spotlight (to) our current football team, former SU sports greats, the University and the entire community."

Sounds like Universal Studios wants as many people as possible to see the film and see Ernie's inspirational story before anyone who plays home games in the Carrier Dome. And what are SU's Athletic Deptartment officials doing about it?

Sugar Coat (v): To cause to seem more appealing or pleasant: a sentimental treatment that sugercoats a harsh reality.