In Denver, Heather Draper noted passengers at Denver Int’l Airport are “now being greeted on the passenger train” by messages from Broncos DE DeMarcus Ware and U.S. skier Lindsey Vonn promoting their sports. Ware’s "United in Orange" message will “play while the team is in the playoffs.” Meanwhile, Vonn's message “invites passengers to see ‘the best skiers in the world’” next month at the ‘15 Alpine World Ski Championship in Vail and Beaver Creek (BIZJOURNALS.com, 1/5).
BIRDS OF A FEATHER: In Portland, John Canzano writes many people wondered why the Univ. of Oregon “wouldn't have a single school color” in its uniform combination for the CFP National Championship game, but he is among those who “appreciate that Oregon is skipping the fashion show.” There is “nothing Oregon needs to do in the next week to prove itself any further except play excellent football.” Should UO win this game, those uniforms “will undoubtedly become a memorable, prized piece of program history, with children everywhere wanting to wear the whites” (Portland OREGONIAN, 1/7).
BACK TO THEIR ROOTS: In Des Moines, Donnelle Eller notes Iowa State Univ. and the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation this week announced a new partnership to “promote farming in Iowa.” It is “designed to better connect consumers with the people who grow their food and builds on an existing Farm Bureau program, called Farm Strong.” Farm Bureau officials “declined to say how much the group was investing in the effort.” ISU AD Jamie Pollard said the promotion will feature Iowa farmers as well as student-athletes who show the same "hard work, perseverance, determination, drive and dedication" (DES MOINES REGISTER, 1/6).
