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Illinois Runs Disastrous Penn St. Promo

14 Comments

Some PR guy might have just lost his job.

Illinois sent an e-blast to promote its game next Thursday against Penn State with a Valentine’s Day theme (below).

Illinois, who is coming off a 20-point victory over Purdue, should have considered recent events before choosing this image for a Valentine promo. In the picture, Illinois head coach John Groce hugs his shirtless son, and the words “No matter who’s your Valentine Surprise Them With Tickets To The Game,” run at the top of the promo.

Penn State has been devastated by the sexual assault of children by former defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky and the coverup that ensued.

We’re sure this was just a mistake by Illinois but next time, the PR department should run something like this by a couple people before sending it out.

12:56 PM on 2/14/2013
  • http://www.facebook.com/douglas.helkowski Douglas Helkowski

    give me a break people. you are obviously looking for something to start a problem with..typical…

  • Paul M. Banks
  • Terry

    @Douglas…you nailed it!

  • http://www.facebook.com/craigbmchugh Craig McHugh

    That is a sick promo. The person should be fired!

  • Elston

    Lame reporting.

  • http://julianivey.com/ Julian Ivey

    Don’t think so. This is clearly in poor taste. You think the person who made this graphic is the one person on earth who doesn’t know about the Penn State scandal. It’s the topless little boy that sends it over the top.

    • KevOMG

      4/5 first comments disagree with the reporting. Keep trolling for more hits. That’s what media blogs do best.

      • http://julianivey.com/ Julian Ivey

        Yeah because Valentine’s day is usually about fathers and sons. Nope. It’s a man/woman holiday. I bet 5/5 American’s would agree with that.

  • mdcubfan

    You have to look for something that is not there. No need to fire any PR guy.

  • tdempsey

    Bad timing (being the game is against PSU) but how is anyone else, outside the Illini community, to know that this is the coach and his shirtless son? I’m not saying that this isn’t a great photo of a dad and son but did it need to be used for a PUBLIC promotion? The association for almost anything connected to PSU will be tainted for a while…

    • KW64

      It is for the Illini community. Who else buys Illini home game tickets?

  • http://www.facebook.com/kgpco Kevin Parker

    if you didn’t know that was the illini coach and his son this could easily be perceived in bad taste. first, it’s a game against psu, second, the boy is shirtless (why is the boy shirtless?)

  • gavinwca

    A half naked boy with a loving older coach , I get the message .

  • dixhandley

    Isn’t this the coach of Illinois and his son???!!!

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