Colorado University Athletics
CU Sports Information Again Earns 'Super 11' Honor From National Writers
May 14, 2018 | Football, General, Neill Woelk
BOULDER — Colorado's Sports Information Department has once again been recognized as one of the best in the nation, earning "Super 11" designation by the Football Writers Association of America for the fifth time since 2009 and the fourth time in the last five years.
The FWAA announced its annual awards Monday for the 2017 football season.
"This is one of the most important honors that the FWAA as an organization awards," said Tim Griffin, the Big 12 editor for Cox Media Group and the FWAA's longtime chairman of the Super 11 committee. "There are many strong sports information departments around the nation. We are grateful for all of them. But this award is meant to honor the best of the best. It's for those SIDs who provide strong media services and go the extra mile to provide help above and beyond the call of duty."
CU's designation puts the school in a select group. Fellow Pac-12 member USC won its eighth Super 11 award, Georgia was recognized a sixth time and Clemson joined Colorado in picking up its fifth award. Houston won for the third time; Oklahoma, Wyoming, Miami of Ohio, Rice and South Alabama each won for a second time; and Ohio State was the lone first-time winner in the awards selection process that dates back to the 2009 season.
Criteria employed in determining the winners not only included how press boxes and media operations were operated, but also the quality and timeliness of information provided. Also judged was the amount of information presented and appropriately updated on websites, and personal responsiveness to media inquiries as well as the accessibility of a program's players, coaches and assistant coaches. The ratings considered those departments that went the extra mile in servicing the media.
Colorado Associate AD/Sports Information Director David Plati, long recognized as one of the nation's premier SIDs, called the award the "ultimate team" honor.
"It's always a privilege to be recognized because it's honoring the work of so many people, from the coaches and the student-athletes cooperating with media interview requests to everyone involved on game days in the press box operation going the extra mile," Plati said. "Don't discount how important the role of the student assistants is on game day, either. We're not honored without their hard work. This is the ultimate 'team award for our profession and I am once again very proud that the University of Colorado has been honored."
The Super 11 Committee received input from other FWAA members and others who covered college football during the 2017 season.
"We believe we have a great mix of schools here," said FWAA Executive Director Steve Richardson. "Some schools which have been consistently good over the years, others who have had some history of being at the top and one new school. And there are several others who are on the cusp and could be in the Super 11 in future years."
2017 recipients — Clemson, Colorado, Georgia, Houston, Miami (Ohio), Ohio State, Oklahoma, Rice, South Alabama, USC and Wyoming
2016 recipients — Air Force, Arkansas State, Clemson, Colorado, Miami (Ohio), Navy, Nebraska, Oklahoma State, Southern California, Tennessee and UTEP.
2015 recipients — Clemson, Houston, Kansas State, Louisiana, Indiana, Mississippi State, Northern Illinois, Pittsburgh, Southern California (USC), Utah State and Western Kentucky.
2014 recipients — Auburn, Bowling Green, Colorado, East Carolina, Iowa State, Nebraska, Pittsburgh, Rice, Rutgers, UNLV and Southern California (USC).
2013 recipients — Colorado, Duke, Fresno State, Georgia, Middle Tennessee, Nebraska, Ole Miss, SMU, South Alabama, Southern California (USC) and Texas Tech.
2012 recipients — Baylor, Bowling Green, Cincinnati, Georgia, Houston, Minnesota, Nebraska, Oregon State, Vanderbilt, Virginia and Wyoming.
2011 recipients — Auburn, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Michigan State, Northern Illinois, Oklahoma, San Diego State, Southern California (USC), Syracuse, Utah State and Western Kentucky.
2010 recipients — Clemson, Colorado, Georgia, Kentucky, Navy, Northwestern, Rutgers, Southern California (USC), Troy, Tulsa, and Utah.
2009 recipients — Buffalo, Clemson, East Carolina, Georgia, Nebraska, Pittsburgh, Rutgers, San Jose State, Southern California (USC), Texas and Utah.
