The Mississippi State football team following their "big upset win" against LSU released a video on their social media platforms in which coach Mike Leach "urges for fans to hop on the team's bandwagon," according to Chris Bengel of CBSSPORTS.com. In the tweet along with the video, the program also "posted a link to an actual bandwagon application." In addition to requiring "fans' personal information," the application "also asks questions like 'Do you have any experience cheering for the Bulldogs' and 'Reason for transfer'" (CBSSPORTS.com, 9/28). In Mississippi, Ben Portnoy wrote the idea that "started as a joke in a text chain" between MSU Senior Legal Administrator & Dir of Licensing Duski Hale, Associate AD/Creative Strategy Daniel Watkins and Deputy AD/External Affairs Leah Beasley has since "morphed into the latest viral sensation featuring MSU's affable head football coach." While the video was "shot in the weeks prior" to the '20 season, last Saturday's road win over LSU "afforded the perfect time to debut the 50-second video." Watkins, who oversees the bulk of MSU's graphic designers, videographers and photographers, "built a landing page that was incorporated into the social media posts with a link conveniently titled hailst.at/Bandwagon." Those that "completed the seven-question survey were then sent a free block MSU logo decal." Since Leach's arrival in Starkville, the MSU marketing department has "spent countless hours scheming new and improved content ideas for the head coach" (Columbus COMMERCIAL DISPATCH, 10/1).
