The Power of Pre-Season Content: Why Storytelling Starts Before the First Whistle

Before the crowd pours into the stadium, before the first touchdown or tip-off, the real momentum begins with a story—one told through the lens, before the lights even come on.

@framedbycoop

At Missouri State University, this season isn’t just about a new conference—it’s about a new chapter. As we enter Conference USA and rebrand to “MO State,” we’re not just changing logos and uniforms—we’re building an identity. And preseason content is how we bring that identity to life.

Why Preseason Content Matters

Preseason videos set the tone for everything that follows. They’re more than hype—they’re brand anchors, shaping how alumni, recruits, students, and fans connect to our athletes and the university itself. This kind of content helps:

• Build recognition before the season begins

• Generate excitement among fans and the community

• Market MO State as an aspirational destination for future students and athletes

• Attract sponsors and deepen alumni engagement

• Create an emotional connection between the public and the teams they support

When done right, preseason content doesn’t just promote a game—it builds a movement.

Creating Our 2025 Game Plan

This year, the strategy for MO State Athletics is rooted in storytelling, consistency, and connection:

1. Cinematic Jumbotron Intros

Producing custom intro videos for every sport’s jumbotron experience—think slow motion, smoke, lights, full-throttle hype. These intros become more than just game openers—they set the emotional tone in-stadium and online. Bonus: they also generate hours of supplemental footage for teasers, social clips, and episodic content.

2. Drone + Renovation Footage

Spotlighting the incredible upgrades happening at the football stadium—from the fresh turf to the new infrastructure. Highlighting these improvements visually reminds fans and future recruits that MO State is evolving—and investing.

3. Player Interviews → Reel Gold

Filming 30-minute Q&A sessions with both standout returners and new faces across football and basketball. These long-form interviews will be broken into 60-second Instagram Reels and TikToks—bite-sized windows into personality, grit, and backstory that resonate with fans and build familiarity before the season starts.

4. “The Maroon Print” Docuseries

Shooting Legendary Coach Rich Johanningmeier for Maroon Print Episode

These episodes dive into the legacy and culture of our programs through intimate looks at coaches, current players, and alumni. This series isn’t about stats—it’s about identity.

5. Personality-Driven Content & Community Connections

Bring players into the community, quite literally. At the zoo—a key sponsor—we’re filming athletes interacting with animals. It’s lighthearted, unexpected, and exactly what builds relatability and humanizes our athletes. A video shoot at Bass Pro White River Conference Room natural forest wall, was a great backdrop for our football bears for some preseason hype.

Pre-Season Fog & Fire Shoot for Intro Video @framedbycoop

6. Behind-the-Scenes at Conference USA in Frisco, TX

We’re covering the preseason conference meeting with coaches and key players, capturing valuable content that shows MO State actively shaping the future of C-USA athletics.

How to Make Preseason Content Work for Any Program

Even if you're starting from scratch, here’s how to unlock the power of preseason content:

• Start Early, Finish Strategic: Don’t wait for the season to start. Capture preseason workouts, media day, and behind-the-scenes moments.

• Create Core Pillars: Plan content that hits these buckets—team hype, player identity, university pride, and fan engagement.

• Shoot for Reuse: One shoot should generate multiple deliverables—YouTube episodes, Reels, photos, and audio clips.

• Stay Consistent: Create a content calendar. When fans expect your weekly post, the algorithm follows.

Final Whistle: Branding Begins Before the Buzzer

If you want fans to show up, donors to write checks, and athletes to feel proud wearing the jersey—start the story before the scoreboard even lights up.

At MO State, we’re not just playing the game—we’re branding it, one frame at a time.

Regan Jones is the lead Athletics Videographer for Missouri State University, where she captures the energy and emotion of over 19 NCAA sports. As the founder of My Charmed Productions, she brings a cinematic edge to team branding, athlete storytelling, and sports media strategy. Her passion for the lens began in second grade with a camcorder and a cast of siblings, crafting music videos and backyard plays. By eighth grade, she was creating hype videos for the Greenwood Bulldogs Championship Football teams—and she hasn’t looked back since.