Question:

The Highlanders on the front page of ESPN's Women's Basketball page.

"After our women's basketball team defeated UCSB in the championship game today, and earned a trip to the big dance, I was extremely surprised to
see our team on the front page of ESPN.com's Women's Basketball section.
How drastically can this exposure help our recruiting, not only for the women, but also on the men's side? And how can this help our university as a whole? Thanks."

Tyler Jahnke

Stan's Response

I apologize for the lateness of this response. I just got back from the Final Four in Atlanta. I know you understand. I appreciate the fact that you took the time to send this email of inquiry to me.

First and foremost, this level of exposure . . . the NCAA Tournament!!... is extremely positive and helpful to our institution because the people watching or reading ESPN (Sports Center, blogs, and ESPN The Magazine, etc.) increases exponentially during March Madness. To have ESPN articles about UCR or to see UCR scores on the "crawl" on Sports Center is positive publicity that you simply cannot buy. Students, alumni, faculty, parents, staff, and recruits all react when we have the Highlanders succeeding at that level of competition.

There is no question that the Men's Basketball program can profit from that level of exposure as well. Young recruits want to be with successful programs and ESPN visibility is closely tied to successful athletics. I do believe that student recruitment can be enhanced through this level of athletics success as well. Tyler, thanks again for sending your email. I hope you will come up and introduce yourself when you are at one of our events and I am there too. All the very best.

i"Take Pride in R-side!"

Stan