BATON ROUGE — For the fifth time in the last six years and fourth straight year, the LSU softball media guide earned a national award, finishing third out of 54 entries, as announced by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).
Last season, the softball guide finished fifth, a year after earning its highest national ranking, second, in 2005. The 2004 media guide finished third nationally, while the 2002 guide ranked seventh.
The 104-page guide was written, compiled and edited by Associate Sports Information Director Melissa Foley with design and layout by publications graphic design coordinator Peter Hoang with assistance from publications director Jason Feirman. Staff photographer Steve Franz provided the pictures for the guide.
The guide is a complete source of up-to-date information on the 2007 team, as well as archived information and records from the 11 years of softball at LSU. The cover, a tribute to the Tigers’ distinguished softball history, featured a photo of the current team along with a scrapbook of articles from the original LSU softball teams of the late 1970’s and early 1980’s, with a uniform, old catcher’s mask and used bat.
Finishing second in District 6, LSU was the highest ranked Southeastern Conference school to finish nationally in the contest. Tennessee placed first in District 4 and seventh nationally. The Nebraska softball guide was named the best in the nation, followed by Southern Miss, LSU, Texas A&M, Nevada, Oklahoma and Tennessee. Texas was selected the best cover nationally.
Media guides are a source of information for media outlets and fellow sports information/media relations offices, as well as a valuable recruiting tool for coaches. The judging is based on eight categories including team information, season in review, program history, general information, conference information, graphics and design and editorial. The guides are critiqued by three pre-selected judges from outside organizations.
The guide, along with those of all 20 varsity sports at LSU, can be seen at LSUsports.net. The awards will be presented at the CoSIDA annual convention in San Diego. CoSIDA is an organization that is designed to help Sports Information Directors at all levels. The purpose of the organization is to empower its members in their roles as sports information professionals.
Softball Media Guides / Division A (54 entries)
1. Nebraska (Matt Smith, Megan McLaughlin)
2. Southern Mississippi (Mallory Haynes, Mike Montoro, Southern Miss Athletic Media Relations Office)
3. LSU (Melissa Foley, Peter Hoang, Jason Feirman)
4. Texas A&M (Nicole Janecka, Cyndi Mousner)
5. Nevada (Aaron DeWall, Kristen Saibini)
6. Oklahoma (Jessica Summers, Debbie Copp, Scott Matthews)
7. Tennessee (Brian Davis, Debby Jennings, Eric Trainer)
Best Cover: Texas (Spencer Kitley, Mary Elliott, Steve Willgren)
District 1 (5 entries)
1. Massachusetts (Seth Gerard, John Schafhauser)
2. US Military Academy (Danah Allen, Ryan Yanoshak, Mady Salvani)
District 2 (9 entries)
1. Maryland (Maryland Media Relations, Patrick Fischer, Ben Dooling)
2. Penn State (Stephanie Petulla, Brian Siegrist)
District 3 (6 entries)
1. South Florida (Rachel Constantine, Karloz Tellez)
2. Virginia (Bill Hurd, Lainie Guiddy)
District 4 (9 entries)
1. Tennessee (Brian Davis, Debby Jennings, Eric Trainer)
2. Auburn (Hank Hager)
District 5 (6 entries)
1. Southern Illinois (Matt Crouch)
2. Notre Dame (Joe Prisco, Cynthia Lemcke)
District 6 (8 entries)
1. Southern Mississippi (Mallory Haynes, Mike Montoro, Southern Miss Athletic Media Relations Office)
2. LSU (Melissa Foley, Peter Hoang, Jason Feirman)
District 7 (5 entries)
1. Nebraska (Matt Smith, Megan McLaughlin)
2. Wichita State (Mike Ross, Allyson Hills, WSU Media Relations)
District 8 (6 entries ? one disqualified)
1. Nevada (Aaron DeWall, Kristen Saibini)
2. UCLA (Amy Hughes)