Mark: Only B1G-er to Make CBSSports.com All-America Team; Plus NU Marketing

‘Tis the season for college football awards and while Northwestern players were greeted by Grinch-like status among B1G media and coaching staffs, the folks better known as the SEC cheerleaders have graced their All-America team with our very own Venric Mark. CBSSports.com released its All-America team today and Mark was named first team as a punt returner, the ONLY Big Ten player to make first team anything. I don’t think I can remember any list in my lifetime where this has happened, but you’ll likely correct me. Click HERE to do what CBS intended to do and spike traffic by using the oldest PR trick in the book. Or, you can just look below.

Here is the complete list:

Congratulations to Venric, perhaps the most underrated RB in the country this season, especially when you consider our reliance on him in our gameplans, his size and the level of rush defenses we faced. The dual nature of him as a RB and return man are just one of the reasons, if he can stay healthy, he’ll enter the pantheon of all-time favorite players among NU fans. He’ll get a lot more love on Wednesday in the LTP Northwestern Awards.

Marketing Love In Chicago

The folks at the Gator Bowl are getting a quick taste of the Northwestern marketing team and the true partnership that our bowl partners get. The full page back of the Chicago Trib Sports, as well as the full page inside page of the Chicago Sun-Times, both sport the following ad today:

Destination Jacksonville

Thanks to all the folks from Jacksonville who have reached out with the offer to provide LTP readers with “guides” on what to do, where to go and how best to enjoy the ‘Cats trip to the Gator Bowl. We’ll be cranking out content on this as well as feature a Bowl Central widget where you can direct fans to buy tickets, order hotels and the like. For those, like me, that were looking to stay beach side at the famous Amelia Island resort, know that it is closed until March! We’ll also be hosting Northwestern’s Matt Herek, who wants to hear from you to help shape some events, particularly for younger alums for the festivities in J-Ville.

As you can imagine – www.NUSports.com – has a home page takeover with the travel info, including host hotel, the Hyatt Regency Waterfront. The Gator Bowl site is very good and has the host of affiliated bowl hotels as well as travel guides and everything under the January sun which you can find here at www.gatorbowl.com .