BATON ROUGE — LSU’s women’s basketball media guide was judged the “Best in the Nation” by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA), it was announced by the organization on Monday.
The 176-page media guide was written and edited by Brian Miller, Associate Sports Information Director, and designed by LSU Athletics publications coordinator Jason Feirman and assistant publications coordinator Marco Piedy with the photography by staff photographer Steve Franz. The guide is a complete source of up-to-date information on the 2002-03 team, as well as archived information and records through the 27 years of women’s basketball at LSU.
“It starts with Brian. It was his first year with us, but he has a good background having been with some high profile programs before so he had a good idea of what we needed and wanted in our media guide,” said Lady Tigers head coach Sue Gunter. “You have to give credit to Jason and Steve and all of folks in sports information. The entire media guide was very innovative and more importantly very informative and that is the whole point.”
Media guides are a source of information to media outlets and fellow sports information/media relations offices, as well as a valuable recruiting tool for coaches.
Over the past 10 years, the women’s basketball media guide has expanded from 60 pages to its present total of 176. During that time, Gunter has guided the Lady Tigers to six NCAA Tournament appearances, including two Elite 8 appearances and four Sweet 16 berths.
The guide, along with those of all 20-varsity sports at LSU, can be viewed online at www.LSUsports.net.
The judging is based on eight categories, including team information, season in review, history, graphics and design, general information, conference information and editorial, and is voted on by three pre-selected judges from outside organizations.
LSU, one of 112 entries this year, was followed by Tennessee, Marquette, Florida, Arkansas, Texas and Vanderbilt in the voting in the annual contest. Penn State’s media guide was given the award for best cover.
The first-place finish by the 2002-03 media guide marks the best by a women’s basketball media guide at LSU. In 2001-02 the women’s book placed second in the nation by CoSIDA.