It’s the middle of August in Florida, and that can only mean one thing. Well, perhaps two. Our eyes are often glued to hurricane tracking mechanisms on television and online, and there are only 16 days remaining until the college football season begins. 

This afternoon, I had the opportunity to nosh with a good friend of mine, who I know primarily because of our mutual love for college football. Our significant others both attended Orlando’s hometown university, UCF, but I must admit, she does a much better job cheering on the black and gold than I do. I bleed orange and blue at heart. I’m a Florida Gator, and I’m proud to admit that I’m as obnoxious about it as the next Gator fan. 

During lunch, my friend broke some amazing news to me. In true football fan fashion, her boyfriend was scouring the UCF message boards last night, and discovered that Bud Light has found yet another way to attract football fans to their beer. As if the taste wasn’t enough, Bud Light is now marketing team-colored beer cans just in time for the 2009-2010 football season. 

I’ve always admired the creativity and genius behind many breweries’ advertising efforts. I’m sure that I’m not alone when Clydesdales and frogs are the first things that come to my mind when I reminisce about old Super Bowl commercials. In fact, just in doing research for this blog (mostly to ensure that the brilliant minds at Bud Light did not overlook that almighty orange and blue can), I got to spend some time perusing Bud Light’s web site. The creativity and fun just oozes from the site. 

We could all take a lesson from Budweiser in learning what our customers really want, and what truly pushes them from casual observer to devout fan. I intend to ponder how this lesson could apply to my life while drinking a nice, cold Bud Light in an orange and blue can… which I’m sure tastes better than it would in any other can.