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Campaign
highlights Irvin’s statistics The TCU women’s basketball team has proved their worth this season by winning 20 games, holding first place in the Conference USA standings and becoming the first Lady Frogs squad in school history to be ranked in the national Top 25 poll. Besides the team’s recognition, individuals are also gaining national notoriety. Freshman forward Sandora Irvin is the centerpiece of a marketing campaign for national Freshman of the Year and for a spot on the freshman All-America team. These national awards will be announced at the end of the season in March. The Athletics Department and the women’s basketball team have been sending out postcards to all media outlets in the nation that vote for national player honors since January. The postcards encompass Irvin’s updated statistics and accolades from the current season. Drew Harris, associate director of athletics media relations, said the entire promotion has cost less than a $1,000. Harris said TCU looked at how other schools promoted their players for various honors, to help them decide what to do with the promotion of Irvin. “She has great scoring and rebounding numbers, as well as blocked shots,” Harris said. “As the season progressed we decided she had a great shot at some of these types of awards.” The campaign also encompasses exposure from the Internet. Irvin’s pictures and statistics are displayed on a link from the Athletics Department official Web site (www.gofrogs.com). Starting in 24 of 25 games for the Frogs, Irvin has racked up impressive numbers, especially for a first-year player out of high school. When Irvin chose to attend TCU, she became the first high school All-American to play basketball for the Frogs. The campaign effort is similar to the “L.T. for Heisman” campaign that made its way through the Metroplex and across the nation in 2000. This time, however, the budget is smaller with the primary Irvin propaganda being postcards with up-to-date statistics. Harris said statistics play a big part of Irvin’s cause. According to the NCAA Web site, she is ranked No.1 among freshman in blocked shots (2.9 bpg), and third among freshman in rebounding (9.2 rpg). Head coach Jeff Mittie said Irvin has several factors going for her in the race to become a freshman All-American candidate. “She’s still one of the top freshmen in the country, and the statistics bear that,” Mittie said. “She’s on a team that is recognized. All of these things are factors.” With the impressive statistics, along with being a premier player on a ranked team, Irvin seems to fulfill the requirements for freshman player of the year, Mittie said. Sam
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TCU Daily Skiff © 2002 |
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