The UO Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) hosted a chapter meeting that featured guest speaker Mark Helfrich, head coach of the University of Oregon’s football team, on Wednesday, April 6th. The event was free and open to the public.
Helfrich spoke about public relations, and how important handling the media properly is for himself and his high-profile team.
“This,” Helfrich said while raising up his mobile phone, “is a very powerful device.”
Understanding that most college students are devoutly attached to their social media pages, he said that he simply advises his players to be smart about what they post.
“If you aren’t willing to say it in a press conference, don’t say it [on social media],” he said about posting content after a win or a loss.
Helfrich revealed some of the “P”s that he tells his student athletes to obey when they are being interviewed: “Have a plan,” he said. “Be positive, be personable, be prompt, and think proactively.” According to Helfrich, there are many more guidelines.
The Ducks’ head coach was specifically asked about how he assisted former Oregon quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Mariota in handling the immense amount of media coverage that he received during his time at Oregon.
Helfrich elaborated on Mariota, saying that he is such a pleaser that he would have responded to every interview request. The Oregon team had to limit the media’s access to Mariota, who at one point was juggling twenty course credits, an internship and extra biology labs along with the hype and pressure of the College Football National Championship game.
“He did a fabulous job [handling the media], like he does with everything,” said Helfrich.
Helfrich went on to share that his student athletes who go on to have professional careers in the NFL often return to UO to visit and give advice to younger players.
Being a native Oregonian, Helfrich touched on how influential Oregon sports teams were to him while he was growing up. Now, he said that he wants his team to be made up of individuals who are respectable, and inspire the next generation.
“There is some kid who will have one interaction with [a UO football player] and that will be his impression of Oregon football forever,” he explained.
The PRSSA meeting lasted an hour, and the majority of the event consisted of a question and answer segment with those in attendance. Helfrich was extremely gracious with his time, and remained in Allen Hall after the meeting to meet with whoever chose to approach him.
For more information about the UO PRSSA, visit here.