This past week has really featured a lot of discussion related to the sports community, particularly in crisis communications. One of these events hit home to me here at the University of Louisville while the other was another example of a university and athletic program trying to cover up a coach’s behavior towards their players.
Let’s start with Rutgers, who has faced a backlash over the actions and behavior displayed by their basketball coach, Mike Rice. Videos of Rice surfaced to both traditional media and online outlets showing the coach to be physically and emotionally abusive towards his players during practice. Not only are you able to see what Rice is doing, but also what he is saying to the players.
The crisis communications standpoint at first was going to be supporting the coach, but it was just announced that Rutgers has fired Rice due to the backlash (especially on Twitter where many people, including Lebron James, weighed on the issue) the situation has caused the university and athletic program.
Now, let’s go to the University of Louisville case. What happened to point guard Kevin Ware was gruesome – he broke his leg during the game against Duke that made an impact not only in the basketball arena, but all over social media. Well wishes, thoughts and prayers, organically created hashtags (#WinforWare and #prayforware) were started, and pictures and updates started to surface surrounding the UofL player via social media.
However, the university and athletic program were able to not only control the situation, but they were transparent and up front with the information and were able to share these insights with fans, the media, and others in real time. People all over the world – including celebrities to sports figures – sent out their prayers and thoughts to Kevin Ware. UofL Athletics also created a place where people could get updates and send their well wishes to Ware via social media as well.
With this crisis, it could have gone in so many different ways. As a result, this situation really brought forward what it really means to be a Louisville Cardinal – Louisville First, Cardinals Forever.
One picture in particular was used to capture this essence and got its place on the front cover of Sports Illustrated – we say that pictures mean a thousand words – and this is exactly what happened here. One action, one photo caused the world to take a moment to fully understand that the Men’s Basketball team was not only talented, they were a family.
What are some lessons we can take away from this case? With Louisville – the players showed character and heard during one of the most gruesome injuries of the tournament, and were able to connect together as a family to support each other to win the game for Kevin. We can also learn from the athletic department about how to integrate these practices in real time and get everyone who is part of the Louisville community on board.
From my own perspective being at the University of Louisville, you feel the connection among all members of the university here with this situation. It’s the first thing students are talking about in class and as well as faculty meetings. It is one case that people discuss immediately when you are asked about this outside the university. With this in mind, the battle for Kevin Ware is still present for his recovery – and I wish him a speedy and healthy one.
I will be on The Crisis Show tonight to talk about both of these cases not only from a social media and crisis standpoint, but also from a former student athlete perspective as well.
Hope you all are having a great day!
Best Wishes,
Karen
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