Media Attention
During the 2010 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament opening rounds, Butler requested to have Blue II attended the games. NCAA rules prohibit live animals during tournament games, and so Blue was not allowed to attend. However, when Butler made an unexpected run to the Final Four, Blue II was granted a special exemption and allowed to attend the festivities in Indianapolis. He quickly drew national media attention, appearing on national TV morning shows and newspapers across the country. An Associated Press story said "Forget Coach K, Magic or Sparty. The guy everyone wanted to see before Saturday's Final Four had four legs and fur." Yahoo! Sports named Butler Blue II as the best mascot of the tournament, saying he "couldn’t have been a bigger hit." "It used to be... we could just slip in and out of places... we usually get mobbed," remarked Kaltenmark.
After the season ended, Blue II's newfound fame continued, with appearances requested all around Central Indiana. He made an appearance at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway during Indianapolis 500 practice by special request of driver James Hinchcliffe and was called "one of the biggest celebrities in Indianapolis" by one source.
That interest was renewed when Butler returned to the tournament in 2011. NCAA regulations again sidelined Blue, leading to a "Free Butler Blue" Twitter campaign. Despite being left home, Blue II garnered plenty of media attention. "We wanted to be... with the team,” remarked Kaltenmark. "But at the same time, we were getting a ton more exposure staying home... (Coach) Brad Stevens... doesn’t want the spotlight – he’d rather it be on Blue. So if we can serve that role and be a distraction for everyone else, all the better."
When the team made another surprise run to the Final Four in Houston, Blue got his exemption. To get to Houston, Blue had to board a plane for only the second time in his life. Southwest Airlines allowed Blue to join Kaltenmark in the main cabin of the plane, rather than relegating him to the cargo hold. Once in Houston, Blue II's media attention reached new heights.
Blue II was profiled by ESPN, who called him "the star of the Butler Bulldogs," The Washington Post who said he was had "taken Houston by storm," and many others. The Star-Ledger called him a "four legged rock star." He appeared on the CBS Early Show and pregame show before Butler's games. The InterContinental hotel he stayed at even named a martini after Blue, with the proceeds going to charity.
During the 2012–13 season a road tour was organized to introduce Blue II to the Atlantic 10 conference. The tour drew local media attention throughout, and attracted national recognition when Blue II and Blue III had a "summit" with Georgetown's live bulldog mascots Jack and Jack Jr. The tour allowed Blue II to take part in the pregame ceremonies of several away games in addition to his normal appearances at all home games.
Butler has created a Blue II merchandise line which is sold on campus and online. An official Fathead has also been created.
Read more about this topic: Butler Blue II
Famous quotes containing the words media and/or attention:
“The media no longer ask those who know something ... to share that knowledge with the public. Instead they ask those who know nothing to represent the ignorance of the public and, in so doing, to legitimate it.”
—Serge Daney (1944–1992)
“I decided that if the shaking of her breasts could be stopped,
some of the fragments of the afternoon might be collected, and
I concentrated my attention with careful subtlety to this end.”
—T.S. (Thomas Stearns)