On Saturday, February 1, 2025, the BYU Alumni Association hosted a tailgate at the BYU men’s basketball game at the University of Central Florida. This was the first Alumni tailgate at an away venue for men’s basketball. The Alumni Association invited BYU Continuing Education to participate in this first of its kind experience. The Alumni Association expressed their appreciation for our willingness to support their effort and work together to reach more BYU alumni and friends.
Dean Richard Houseman, Associate Dean Carolyn Andrews, and Associate Dean Darin Oviatt represented BYU Continuing Education at this pilot event. By all accounts, it was a success. Hundreds of BYU supporters attended the tailgate and lined up to receive information and giveaways promoting our offerings. We captured their contact information to add them to our outreach and awareness communications. The premium offering at this tailgate was a printed replica BYU jersey featuring “BYU Continuing Education” on the front opposite the Big XII logo, on the back in place of the player’s name, and a QR code linking to our website.
Our efforts to align with and support the larger university have resulted in increased opportunities for us to work with campus, increased awareness of our programs, and the appreciation of university administration.
UCF’s coverage of the game started at the BYU tailgate. The video they posted online includes a shot of the BYU Continuing Education Booth. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jT-buoBQ55o&feature=youtu.be)
On the ESPN+ broadcast of the game, the announcers mentioned the size of the BYU tailgate and the number of BYU fans in the UCF arena multiple times. Watching the game, you could see BYU fans wearing the Continuing Education jerseys throughout the arena. (https://www.instagram.com/reel/DFjLgCyu5Vz/?igsh=ZG5oeXdnbWNmcmc4)
After the game, fans waited outside the arena for autographs. Many of the autographs were on the Continuing Education jerseys. The Men’s Basketball X and Instagram coverage shows footage of the team greeting fans with our jerseys. (https://x.com/BYUMBB/status/1885849622330912814?s=19 and https://www.instagram.com/byumbb/)
