Colorado University Athletics
CU Sports Information Again Wins 'Super 11' Designation From FWAA
May 16, 2017 | Football, Neill Woelk
News: The University of Colorado's Sports Information Department is named a "Super 11" award winner for the fourth time in eight years and third time in the last four seasons. The designation is presented annually by the Football Writers Association of America to the best performing sports information departments in the Football Bowl Subdivision.
View: The only surprise would be if CU Sports Information Director Dave Plati's crew didn't make the final cut. Colorado has for years (actually decades) been considered as having one of the best press boxes and overall sports information departments in the nation. The FWAA's award is simply confirmation.
(This is, of course, where I must also offer full disclosure. After more than 30 years of working as one of the ink-stained wretches on the newspaper side of the equation, I now technically work for CU's Sports Information Department. But my job, particularly on game days, is still geared toward writing about the game while utilizing the same information and services required by every other journalist in the press box to successfully perform their duties.)
Colorado was one of five winners from this year to have previously won the award. Other multiple-year winners included USC, Nebraska, Clemson and Navy. First-time winners were Air Force, Arkansas State, Miami (Ohio), Oklahoma State, Tennessee and UTEP. The award dates back to the 2009 season.
In a press release announcing the winners, former FWAA president and head of the Super 11 committee Tim Griffin said, "Our organization believes this award is one of the most important tasks that we do each year. There are many outstanding SID staffs across the country. But these 11 departments we are honoring are consistently exemplary beyond expectations. We hope these awards help to showcase them."
According to the release, "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."
In those areas, Colorado has literally set the standard. Ask virtually any reporter, local or national, and they will tell you that CU has for years delivered in terms of access and information — and rapid delivery of both. In fact, Colorado has pioneered press box practices that have now become uniform in most FBS facilities.
"This is a team award, from the full-time staff to our student assistants and those dozen or so people who have worked game days, in many cases for decades," Plati said. "You need an organized, devoted team to earn this award, and the workload is essentially the same regardless if your team is winning or losing. And you need the cooperation from your coaches and players, and it's up to us to explain the importance of being available, win or lose. Through the years you have to adapt to the changing needs of the media, although I can honestly say I don't miss the ditto machine and leaving the press box with my hands stained in blue ink."
What Plati and his crew engineer on game days is an operation that makes it possible for journalists to produce their best possible work. The operation includes a long list of "little things" that add up to a solid game day experience for journalists — and that, in turn, results in the best possible experience for their readers and viewers.
The list includes:
Halftime quotes from the field. A Plati "original" for night games, it gives reporters a chance to report via social media what players and coaches were saying at the half when they are on deadline. This is where the student assistants shine. "One of my mentors, Tim Simmons (CU's SID from 1979-81) once told me, 'You're only as good as your student staff,'" Plati recalled.
Postgame notes and quotes. Understand, everyone provides these. But the breadth and width of CU's postgame notes and quotes package is almost legendary within the business, in particular those from the visiting locker room. While some press boxes provide a few sentences from the visiting head coach and a player or two, CU consistently provides in-depth quotes that often total seven or eight pages. All you have to know about the notes is that is Dave's job for the Rose Bowl and College Football Playoff title game; those are modeled after what he has done for CU since the 1980s.
Consistent, accurate in-house public address system. Again, a "little thing" that makes a major difference. CU brings in longtime Denver sportscaster Jim Conrad to provide the service. Conrad delivers a concise, accurate description of every play, assisted by Colorado's in-house statistics crew (also legendary in the business). Reporters don't have to guess yardage or who made the play. It is provided with the same professionalism and reliability of a veteran television crew.
Accurate, in-depth statistics and play-by-play, delivered quickly after the game. For reporters who are judged on accuracy by their readers, it is imperative that the information provided after a game not only be delivered quickly, but as soon as possible. Plati's press box is renowned for both.
There are, of course, other areas in which press boxes are judged that aren't technically included in the criteria but still produce a solid gameday experience. Parking, food (yes, reporters love their food and the CU press box delivers an excellent spread), reliable seating, room to work and good sight lines are all important.
It all adds up to a good working environment for journalists, which in turn produces the best possible product for their readers and viewers.
"Bottom line, all of us nationwide are hosting the media anywhere from eight to 10 hours on game days," Plati said. "It's up to us to provide the best possible experience for them, from all services provided to pre- and postgame meals that are more than three-day old sandwich and stale cookies. You especially want the visiting media to also have a good experience, which means a good national impression of Colorado.
"And granted, only 11 schools are honored with this award, but I guarantee you there's not a lot of difference among most of us. It's an honor to be recognized four times with the 'Super 11,' but it could easily be a 'Super 22, 33 or 44.'"
Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu
