After Texas Christian University (TCU) trounced the North Carolina Tarheels, 48-14, on prime-time national television Labor Day evening, spoiling the much-hyped college debut of six-time Super Bowl champion head coach Bill Belichick, Sam Lazarus was on the TCU team bus, scrolling through bookmarked tweets. In the weeks leading up to the game Lazarus, director of creative media for the TCU football team, took note of the one-sided coverage: Belichick was portrayed as the likely savior of North Carolina football, while TCU-which reached the National Championship game following the 2022 season-was an afterthought.”The good, and bad, of working in social media is that I’m on social media a lot,” says Lazarus, who runs the @TCUFootball account on X. “So I keep receipts.”
At 12:18 a.m. ET Tuesday, Lazarus quote-tweeted, via @TCUFootball, a Monday morning X post from the sports website Deadspin saying, “Babe wake up, Bill Belichick coaches college football today.” lazarus added: “Babe go back to sleep.” Two minutes later, Lazarus sent out an August 24 tweet from the North Carolina football account promoting an upcoming Hulu documentary on the team. “When does episode one come out?” he wrote.
Table of Contents
When TCU Football took aim at Bill belichick following the New England Patriots’ loss to the Horned Frogs’ former team,the University of Michigan,it wasn’t a spur-of-the-moment decision. The pointed social media posts – including a video package splicing together media clips praising Belichick and celebrating TCU’s win – were the work of 32-year-old sam Lazarus, TCU’s Director of digital Strategy.
Lazarus’s post accompanying the video, which punctured “Belichick’s unearned college football aura,” garnered meaningful attention. Even sports media personality Pat McAfee acknowledged the savvy social media play on his ESPN and YouTube program, offering a simple, “Good work.”
The success of the campaign might lead some to assume a Gen-Z intern was behind it. “most people assume that a Gen-Z intern is running social media,” Lazarus admits.”‘Give the intern a raise’ is the common expression when something does well on social media.” However, Lazarus emphasizes that social media management at major organizations and sports teams is often handled by experienced professionals, sometimes entire teams.
Despite not being a “wiseass” as a child – perhaps possessing only a “dry sense of humor” – Lazarus has proven adept at leveraging social media to create a viral moment for TCU Football.
TCU Football Coach Sonny Dykes Dodges Questions About Ireland Game, Fuels USC Speculation
TCU Horned Frogs head football coach Sonny dykes deflected questions regarding his team’s upcoming game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in Ireland, leading to speculation about his future and a potential move to the University of Southern California (USC). The evasive responses, even echoed by the team’s social media staff, have intensified rumors that Dykes is being considered for the vacant head coaching position at USC.
Dykes’ Non-Answer and Rising USC Rumors
During a recent interview, Dykes responded to a question about TCU’s chances in the Ireland game wiht a classic coach’s deflection: “I’m just focused on the next game, really.” https://www.on3.com/news/sonny-dykes-usc-coach-rumors-tcu-ireland-game-notre-dame/ This response, frequently enough referred to as “coachspeak,” instantly sparked further discussion about his potential departure.
The observation that even the TCU social media team adopted similar phrasing further fueled the speculation. Reports indicate Dykes is scheduled to travel to USC tomorrow, adding weight to the possibility of negotiations.https://www.on3.com/news/sonny-dykes-usc-coach-rumors-tcu-ireland-game-notre-dame/
The USC Coaching Vacancy
The USC trojans are currently seeking a new head coach after firing Lincoln Riley in late november 2023. https://www.tcuhornfrogs.com/sports/football/roster/coaches/sonny-dykes his offensive prowess and recruiting abilities make him an attractive option for USC, a program with significant resources and a history of football excellence.
Key Takeaways
Sonny Dykes avoided directly addressing questions about TCU’s upcoming game in ireland.
His responses, and those of the TCU social media team, have fueled speculation about a potential move to USC. Dykes is scheduled to travel to USC,increasing the likelihood of discussions regarding the head coaching position.
USC is seeking a new head coach after firing Lincoln Riley.
* Dykes’ success at TCU makes him a strong candidate for the USC job.
The situation remains fluid, and an official announcement regarding dykes’ future is expected soon. The coming days will be crucial as USC and dykes potentially negotiate a deal that could reshape the landscape of college football.