The Minnesota Golden Gophers football program has integrated virtual reality into its recruiting strategy through a partnership with Houston-based digital marketing agency FusionSports.
Minnesota is now among a handful of schools, like Oklahoma State, that have publicly shared its use of virtual reality technology for recruiting.
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Golden Gophers head coach Tracy Claeys said in a statement he wanted recruits to “understand what a day in the life of a Golden Gopher would be like,” and so, leveraging the technology was a logical next step.
With Claeys’ over-arching vision in mind, FusionSports used custom-built drones, skydiving cameramen, remote-controlled cars and other camera technology to capture footage of practice, workouts, campus life and the team’s home opener against Oregon State. The end goal was to provide an immersive virtual reality experience for players and persuade student-athletes to visit campus on an official visit.
“Recruits could understand how amazing their athletic and collegiate experience could be by choosing UM,” Claeys said of the 360-degree view. “Virtual reality is the only way to do that efficiently.”
The virtual reality footage — which recruits will be able to view via Google Cardboard or other hardware like the Oculus Rift and Samsung Gear VR — will be featured in a custom-designed mobile app set to debut later this fall.
“Filming the Gophers was not only exciting for us, but also for the players, fans, and even Goldy Gopher,” FusionSports CEO and founder Ashley DeWalt said in a statement. “With this VR app, I have no doubt recruits nationally will see the football program in a whole new light.”