Building On The Ongoing Dump Dorrell Billboard Discussion

by Nestor on Oct 12, 2007 3:04 PM PDT in Football

Pretty clear there is a lot of interest in the billboard idea the folks at DumpDorrel.com have been kicking around this week. One of our reader was so inspired that he sent in the following mock:

He also wrote us this note to go with his mock:

Just a visual of how something might look. Forget all the personal attack concerns. Identify the issue, identify the purpose, identify the cause, and identify the call to action....that's what billboards do.

And I could not agree with him more. Obviously whoever is putting this together has to be cognizant about copyright issues. However, after they are addressed, I do believe the billboard has to go after the ultimate issue which in mind is Karl Dorrell, who has been nothing short of a miserable failure as the head coach of a proud UCLA football program. The purpose/cause of this campaign is the removal of Dorrell to save our football program.

So in that sense I strongly agree with the reader that this billboard has to be specifically targeted towards Dorrell and expose his total failure as the leader of a program at a school, which demands excellence in everything else it associates itself with.

Again I urge the focal point of the message (for the purpose of this specific billboard) should be not how the UCLA football program is underachieving, but how Karl Dorrell has been a total failure as the head coach of a proud football program and has been exposed as an incompetent leader in an institution that stands for excellence.

Anyways those are my 2 cents. Please continue the discussion and let folks know whether you would be interested in chipping in. I will personally throw in $100 to the cause.

GO BRUINS.

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Comments

Two things

I don't like the idea of putting the coach's face on the billboard. That is too much of a personal attack I think. The average fan will suddenly feel sorry for a guy who has his picture planted in the middle of Westwood for all to ridicule.

Secondly, that official UCLA Bruins logo kind of made me queasy to see up there. If I was driving by and I saw that personal attack ad with the official UCLA logo on it, I would suddenly wonder why my beloved university is endorsing a personal attack on one of its own employees? I wouldn't think right away that its a third-party paid-for sign. This would not be good for the school in general.

by Steven on Oct 12, 2007 3:26 PM PDT reply actions

Logo

Agree that UCLA logo shouldn't be on it. That's a no no for copyright issues. However, this billboad needs to be hardhitting and to the point and has to come afte the main issue, who in this case in Karl Dorrell. We can't be afraid to play hardball and ignore the main issue. We didn't get to this point by playing softball.

by Nestor on Oct 12, 2007 3:34 PM PDT up reply actions

Aargh

My bad for the sad typos.

by Nestor on Oct 12, 2007 3:41 PM PDT up reply actions

Ditto

Logo needs to go.

I agree--posting Dorrell's picture might generate some sympathy but there is no getting around the message: The Coach of the team is the problem and he needs to go.

by Barnes2JJ on Oct 12, 2007 3:44 PM PDT up reply actions

Needs work

Nice first try, but right, we can't have the official UCLA logo on there. It's copyrighted. It would be easy for the university to order it taken down based on that.

I may work with the Waves, but I'm still a Bruin!

by BlueWave on Oct 12, 2007 3:37 PM PDT reply actions

More thoughts

It would be better if it says:

Commitment to...MEDIOCRITY? The questions mark at the end is needed, or else it would read like we are endorsing mediocrity.

We could avoid mentioning KD by name, just by some witty short ditty like:

Status Quo
Has Got To Go

by bluegold on Oct 12, 2007 3:43 PM PDT reply actions

Change

I would move the "Commitment to Mediocrity" to below whatever is put where the picture of KD is. Right now it looks like DD has the commitment to mediocrity. Adding the question mark is a good idea.

by artybruin on Oct 13, 2007 9:15 AM PDT up reply actions

Still more

I work in the media biz and have designed a few of these billboards, and the message really needs to be kept simple, and direct.

Something like this:

UCLA Bruins football

Demand Excellence Demand Change

DUMP KARL DORRELL

...the dumpdorrell.com logo can then be in the corner somewhere.

Blue background, gold letters, text only. Something simple, and something direct. And actually, the plainer looking it is, and the more basic it is, the more effective it will be. It will look like it was put up by a group with little money and few resources, but LOTS of determination.

by Class of 86 on Oct 12, 2007 3:54 PM PDT reply actions

Also ditch the "We're #4"

I agree that the message needs to be kept very simple and direct or else you risk losing your audience.

Also, the "We're #4" reference is very vague and requires too much thought for even the most avid Bruin fan. If it's supposed to reference the fact that we have averaged a #4 Pac-10 ranking during the KD era, then the appropriate phrase would be "We HAVE BEEN #4". "We're #4" says that we are CURRENTLY #4 in something, and we're not. Not in the nation, and not in the Pac-10...yet.

If the right message is there, I'll donate some cash for it.

by hspigskinfan on Oct 12, 2007 4:08 PM PDT up reply actions

you are reading it too literally

most people wont. We're #4 is a simple message, which obviously is a play on We're #1. That is what most people will understand it to be, a mockery of #1. People who know nothing of sports will instantly know what it refers to.

editor, DumpDorrell.com ... formerly posted as DumpDorrell

by BruinCore on Oct 12, 2007 11:24 PM PDT up reply actions

Keep. It. Simple.

No pictures. Light on text. Solid blue background. Its a billboard guys, the more crap that's on it, the less likely someone driving by it at 40 mph will even give it a second glance. It'll look like all the other jumbled, poorly designed billboards if there's too much on it. You've got about 2.4 seconds to get the message across.

Simple and direct is best. It will look the most professional and will be the most thought-provoking too.

by norcalbruin95 on Oct 12, 2007 7:48 PM PDT up reply actions

Agree.

Something like this would grab my attention:

UCLA FOOTBALL. COMMITMENT TO MEDIOCRITY.

DUMPDORRELL.COM

DEMAND CHANGE. DEMAND EXCELLENCE.

No logos. No pictures. Aim and direction is clear.

I also think that Morgan Center should be well aware of the pending purchase of a billboard. Who knows how close DG is to pulling the trigger right now....maybe this is the final straw? Should a change be made, our donations could then go to the athletic fund.

"If I don't do my job, I will get fired" -Karl Dorrell

by godblesstyus95 on Oct 13, 2007 7:13 AM PDT up reply actions

I second

this one

by bruinbunz on Oct 13, 2007 1:10 AM PDT up reply actions

that's pretty good

great start!! As someone has said, the logo would not be good nor the picture of Dorrell, but I like where this is going. Probably needs a little alterations but a great start.

editor, DumpDorrell.com ... formerly posted as DumpDorrell

by BruinCore on Oct 12, 2007 4:02 PM PDT reply actions

Folks, if I may...

"DUMPDORRELL.COM"

That may do it alone.

I'm being serious here.

We don't put the Logo on it, because we're not acting on behalf of the University.

We also should NOT put CTS's face on it, because we would then ostensibly be using his likeness for our own gain. If this guy has his own CKD Enterprises Corp. set up as the payee on his employment contract with the University, I'm willing to bet that his likeness is similarly protected, which means it may be off-limits.

Just some thoughts.

WHY NOT US? WHY NOT NOW?

by Meriones on Oct 12, 2007 4:05 PM PDT reply actions

I like this

but I would still add the Demand Excellence and Demand Change language. I would also drop the #4, as I mentioned before. Its meaning will be lost on 99% of the people who see the billboard, including me, unfortunately.

by Barnes2JJ on Oct 12, 2007 4:13 PM PDT up reply actions

Scores

I still back your idea of putting the scores of the horrendous defeats since 13-9. I think it would be extremely effective and there really can be no rebuttal to it.

by MbahABako on Oct 12, 2007 4:49 PM PDT up reply actions

Or just ask Guerrero

Why do you hate UCLA football so much?

by McNown to Farmer on Oct 13, 2007 8:28 AM PDT up reply actions

To clarify

I meant on the billboard ask Guerrero, "Why do you hate UCLA football so much." Then have DumpDorrell.com after that.

by McNown to Farmer on Oct 13, 2007 8:32 AM PDT up reply actions

How about...

...listing the dates and scores of the inexcusable losses (AZ, Utah, ND, the bowl games) followed by "Dump Dorrell"

by RedDoor on Oct 12, 2007 4:28 PM PDT reply actions

Just one thing to say...

Keep it simple! The more simple it is, the easier it will be for the reader to understand, and thus the more effective it will be. Personally, I think if you throw out KD's picture and the UCLA logos on the design above you've got yourself a winning billboard. Simple and to the point.

by OutOThsWrld on Oct 12, 2007 5:12 PM PDT reply actions

This is going to be amazing!

I will for sure donate to this cause and I can't wait for it to go up. I just wish I still lived in West LA to see it.

One suggestion though if it is possible, there is a billboard in westwood in between buck 50's and in n out. If we were some how able to get that spot, it would be great. Or better yet they paint movie posters on the side of that hospital on wilshire right as you get off the 405. THAT would be a perfect spot!

I know a couple of EX-donors who will help support it. Any guesses on why they dont donate anymore?

by hbruin84 on Oct 12, 2007 6:39 PM PDT reply actions

that building is expensive

I think I was quoted $20,000. Westwood and West LA are far more expensive than around USC, for obvious reasons. We want Wilshire, SaMo Blvd, Olympic, or Pico. All near Westwood.

editor, DumpDorrell.com ... formerly posted as DumpDorrell

by BruinCore on Oct 12, 2007 11:10 PM PDT up reply actions

Looks great

Few suggestions: get rid of the "We're #4" and the ucla logo and keep it simple. It may be nice to use a Bruin blue background with yellow lettering, but that may not show up that well.

Either that, or stick up a picture of Jessica Alba in a bikini saying "fire karl dorrell" and you'll definitely get people to slow down.

by sfatoo on Oct 12, 2007 6:57 PM PDT reply actions

Top/bottom should be flipped, at least.

Right now, it looks like DUMPDORRELL.COM has a commitment to mediocrity and is celebrating being #4, while Dorrell is demanding excellence and a change. Switch the DD logo and the UCLA identifiers (which will need to be changed anyway), at the very least. I prefer the basic-ness of Class of 86's idea, though - including the smaller DD logo and using Dorrell's first name. "Fire Karl Dorrell" is more obvious and direct, even if "Dump Dorrell" is better for a website name.

by jaffa on Oct 13, 2007 1:05 AM PDT reply actions

Example of Great Billboard - LSU fans

Here is the LSU example of a simple clear message that got a lot of media attention (local press and ESPN). It is easy to read and gets the point across. Putting up a ton of words, a lot scores, won't have the same kind of impact. It has to be simple. This billboard is near USC, a low rent district, so it was definitely cheaper than Westwood. But it was up for a month and reach it's intended audience.

FWIW, They raised over #11,000 in 10 days! They also ran a mobile billboard ad around ESPN headquarters for a full day and got mentioned on ESPN Radio. They took the leftover money and send it to Hurricane Relief organizations. All around great job.

editor, DumpDorrell.com ... formerly posted as DumpDorrell

by BruinCore on Oct 13, 2007 8:37 AM PDT reply actions

We will set up donation system after Cal

If and when we lose to Cal, we will put up the Paypal donation button immediately after. That gives us time to come up with some alternatives for everyone to vote on this coming week. There are some great ideas here, but we should focus on the easy and clear messages. More later ...

editor, DumpDorrell.com ... formerly posted as DumpDorrell

by BruinCore on Oct 13, 2007 8:54 AM PDT up reply actions

Then along those lines...

How about this?

DOESN'T WESTWOOD DESERVE A GOOD FOOTBALL COACH?

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
UTAH 44 UCLA 6 DUMPDORRELL.COM ND 20 UCLA 6

WHY NOT US? WHY NOT NOW?

by Meriones on Oct 13, 2007 9:05 AM PDT reply actions

Reasons:

Uses "Westwood" to avoid any copyright concerns regarding the use of "UCLA" or "Bruins" or any trademarks.
A VERY simple message, with minimal text. Inspired by the onepeat design, I figured a simple question would be more provocative. $C fans will say "NO!" and laugh. People who don't follow sports may think, "Don't they have one? Hmmm, maybe they don't." Dorrell supporters may not like the board, but might have to start wondering whether there are more people that are unhappy than they thought.
Although Bruin Core legitimately argued that too many scores can clutter a message, I include the Utah and ND scores because those are a) the most recent losses, and b) both were UPSETS.
Just by including the dumpdorrell.com site name, it serves 2 purposes: a) advertising the site, and b) stating the perceived goal, all in 15 characters.

Respectfully, "Commitment to mediocrity" is a nice Raider joke, but all that's needed is one message that hits the AD's office, alumns, fans, and the general L.A. sports and non-sports population all at once.

Borrowing from political ads, the best campaign messages are often the ones that are distilled, and often ones that make the viewer/ listener ask a question, but answer it themselves:

1964 -- LBJ against Goldwater, with the "Daisy" mushroom cloud ad: "Can we afford to take that chance?"

1984 -- Reagan against Mondale: "Are you better off now than you were four years ago?

1992 -- Clinton against Bush, Sr.: "It's the economy, stupid."

Just some thoughts.

WHY NOT US? WHY NOT NOW?

by Meriones on Oct 13, 2007 9:21 AM PDT up reply actions

just to point out

that you actually do use UCLA a couple of times in your ad, in the scores. Im sure an attorney can give a good answer to this. Obviously, the LSU folks figured it out ... they paid attorney fees and they used many trademarks (LSU, USC, Texas). We would do this through an attorney as well.

editor, DumpDorrell.com ... formerly posted as DumpDorrell

by BruinCore on Oct 13, 2007 10:12 AM PDT up reply actions

Fair point...

... which I hadn't realized. Thanks.

There may be some fair use argument for scores, but if worse comes to worst, one could simply remove the scores.

WHY NOT US? WHY NOT NOW?

by Meriones on Oct 13, 2007 11:22 AM PDT up reply actions

We can't get a billboard big enough

to list all the reasons why he needs to go. So we have leave some very valid reasons off.

I say no pictures, and the fewer the words the better. I think blue letters on a gold background will stand out better than vice versa, but I am no expert by any means.

And for what it's worth, I just watched Miami run 28 yards on a fake punt from their own 25 on 4th and 5. Would I trade our alleged coach for Miami's? This sort of real coaching is why getting this billboard moving, along with whatever else DD has up his sleeve.

And also FWIW, I think it's important that the actual dumping of CTS take place during the season. (Preferably during the day today.) the longer he sits in place, the more his apologists start grinding the excuses, and the more DG's cojones shrink to the size of orange seeds.

by Fox 71 on Oct 13, 2007 9:37 AM PDT up reply actions

i havent read through all the comments yet but..

the first thought that came into my head was that we use a field goal post as the background. its dorrells most defining aspect. im sure someone creative could do something nice with that idea

Go Bruins!

by bruinpower on Oct 13, 2007 10:06 AM PDT up reply actions