In class we have talked about how YouTube is an extremely effective tool for self expression and also can be an avenue for an artist to gain attention or get noticed. YouTube has blossomed into one of the top sites on the internet because of its free nature and different videos on all subjects. It just so happens that the idea of gaining attention as an artist can work the same way for an athlete. Playing football at Lawrence, you compete in the Midwest Conference which includes teams from Wisconsin, Illinois, and Iowa. We go up against some of the very best in Division 3 football in our own conference.
Alex Tanney, a quarterback from Monmouth College, is one of the very best in the conference and the nation. He is regarded as a NFL draft prospect because of his big arm and great accuracy. It was due to YouTube that his popularity spread to the national scene. He made a video that included him making all kinds of different throws that seemed impossible. Whether he was throwing over the scoreboard at their stadium or out of his apartment, the throws were magnificent. His talent did not go unnoticed; ESPN caught wind of the video on YouTube and did different specials on him. However, being discovered by ESPN could make some players’ careers, he was not done. The History Channel saw the epic video and decided to a segment on one of their new shows which features individuals who have supernatural talents. This video truly took Tanney and Monmouth College to national prominence.
The result of this video is not just increased popularity, but it also served as a springboard to Tanney gaining more attention from the NFL. His choice to make what seemed to be an innocent video could serve his checkbook large dividends down the road. As we talked in class about YouTube serving as an audition for artists, the same goes for athletes. This is especially true for Division 3 athletes, who are seldom talked about with Division 1 programs dominating the news.
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