Alabama Football: Next Win Against Clemson Via TikTok?
Published on February 10, 2021, at 6 p.m.
by Lawson Colgate.
We’ve been hearing the words “tick tock” for years now. From counting down the minutes on a clock to Ke$ha’s 2009 hit, TiK ToK, the phrase is something we are all familiar with to an extent.
In 2016, TikTok, an app allowing users to create short video clips with music, launched. Although the app is going on its five-year anniversary, it has become very popular among Gen Zers, those currently between the ages of 13 and 23, over the past few months. The COVID-19 pandemic led people to discover new pastimes to keep up with. For Gen Zers, simply reading a book or even scrolling through Instagram was not entertaining enough.
In the midst of the pandemic, Gen Zers weren’t the only ones trying to stay in the loop, or the only ones engaging in TikTok. Athletes joined in on the TikTok fun, too. There is no denying that athletes, college specifically, have a larger presence on social media than the average college student. College athletes can often be portrayed as the face of a university. Here at The University of Alabama, our football players in particular play a huge role in the university’s recognition and enrollment.
TikTok can be used for more than passing the time and laughing. Players have the power to gain fans via TikTok by establishing themselves on the platform. Being a Gen Zer myself, I am intrigued by the people I can relate to. Players on TikTok who post authentic content of their everyday lives and engage in TikTok trends, such as “most likely to” challenges, are more likely to appear on their target audiences’ “For You” pages.
Individual players aid in building a bigger fanbase for their teams. But, some teams have done this on their own. Although the Clemson football team is not 18-time national champions, they are at the top when it comes to TikTok rankings. Clemson football has taken hype videos to the next level, creating 15-to-60-second videos, ranging from recreating Drake’s “Laugh Now Cry Later” music video, highlighting postgame wins, participating in dance trends and more.
While Alabama football celebrates their 18th national championship win in an undefeated season, they have yet to make an appearance on TikTok. Starting the year as champs is a good reason for the team to expand their shared media presence. Sometimes, a Gen Zer’s interest in a team has more to do with the team’s presence on social media than their skill level.
