You know you’ve made it big when you get a cameo on South Park. And from the looks of this screenshot from last night’s season premiere, the Penn football team helmet has done just that! In a scene that spoofs ESPN’s Pardon the Interruption, the Penn name is displayed proudly next to an ESPN Etch-a-Sketch and behind that dude’s shoulder. We assume that first letter is a P, at least. Hollywood, here we come!
Surprise! Our very own Quaker was invited to College Gameday announcer Lee Corso’s birthday party — or at least the scripted version filmed for this Gameday promo. Also on the invite list? Mascots representing a smattering of college football’s most significant programs: Florida’s Albert Gator, Ohio State’s Brutus Buckeye and Texas Tech’s Raider Red, among others. Though we love the Quaker, and can’t wait for the season opener against Lafayette come Saturday, it seems odd that Penn Football was included in this rather exclusive fiesta. Perhaps this is the first time that being mistaken for Penn State has ever worked in our favor?
Last week, ESPN and the Wharton Interactive Media Initiative went public with their relationship. Cute! According to this press release, a new partnership between the two “will provide ESPN with access to WIMI’s expert team of academics and help pursue data-driven solutions to digital and integrated media challenges.”
Oh, duh, of course. WIMI Students will benefit, too, from gaining access to “real-world scenarios presented by ESPN.”
The question is, how will we - the ones who were not in on this Wharton-ESPN friendship bracelet swap – benefit? Is it possible that the Worldwide Leader in Sports can help us become the Worldwide Leader in Nonstop Fun Times? You bet! Sure, there are many ways we could take advantage of the network and its resources, but the most productive thing to do would be to have ESPN loan us some of their on-air personalities.