Pullman Regional Hospital is a sponsor of the Washington State football team, but coach Nick Rolovich's refusal to explain why he has not taken the COVID-19 vaccine makes the hospital's deal "more awkward in terms of public messaging," according to Brent Schrotenboer of USA TODAY. The hospital has its logo "all over the background behind the coach" during news conferences, meaning Pullman Regional has been seen on local news, YouTube and Twitter, "prominently displayed behind the only coach in major college football to say he won't get vaccinated." Brand experts "see it as a problem for the hospital." Despite not having a personal sponsorship with Rolovich, Boston Univ. PR expert Justin Joseph said that the "effect is the same" for Pullman Regional. Even though the hospital’s sponsorship is with WSU athletics, Rolovich is "sitting in front of hospital logos as the university’s most high-profile employee." Joseph said that the risk for the hospital is "being associated with a messenger perceived as not taking community health seriously" (USA TODAY, 9/16).
FANS GETTING FRUSTRATED: In Seattle, Scott Hanson in a front-page piece reports the silence from top WSU officials, including WSU AD Pat Chun and President Kirk Schulz, regarding Rolovich's stance "only adds to the frustration many WSU football fans have felt" since this became public this summer. Pac-12 Networks' Cindy Brunson, a WSU alum, said, "The fact that he is the highest-paid employee ($3.2 million per year) in the state of Washington at a university that has bent over backward to become a leader in the medical field is beyond my comprehension." Hanson notes the state of Washington has an Oct. 18 deadline "for state employees to be fully vaccinated," and Rolovich "has said several times that he would comply with the mandate, but that could mean he is seeking an exemption." Fans will likely learn next month "whether Rolovich has complied," but even then, it "will be just a yes or no answer from the university." In the meantime, WSU "continues to get bad publicity." Brunson: "It’s a slap in the face to every kid who attends classes that needs to be vaccinated and needs to wear a mask, and here is the football coach just saying ‘Nope, I am not going to do that.’ That violates my sense of right and wrong. That makes me close my checkbook (to WSU)" (SEATTLE TIMES, 9/16).
