First in-state FBS school to win national honor

LAFAYETTE – The Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns Sports Information Office was recognized by the Football Writers Association of America with its annual "Super 11" award as one of the best in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision during the 2015 season.

The award is the first for Louisiana, which was joined by Clemson (ACC), Houston (American), Kansas State (Big 12), Indiana (Big 10), Mississippi State (SEC), Northern Illinois (MAC), Pittsburgh (ACC), USC (Pac-12), Utah State (Mountain West) and Western Kentucky (Conference USA).

Louisiana, which became the first in-state FBS school to win the award, joined previous Sun Belt recipients Troy (2010), Western Kentucky (2011) and South Alabama (2013) in earning the national award.

Matt Sullivan, who joined the department in 2013 and is completing his second year as sports information director, manages the Louisiana Sports Information Office and is part of a staff that includes assistants Jeff Schneider and Matt Hebert, sports information assistant Kim Lakner, photographer Brad Kemp and several student assistants and interns.

"To be recognized alongside some of the outstanding athletic media relations departments and communication professionals in the country is a tremendous honor for both our athletic department and our University," Sullivan said. "Our staff does a tremendous job behind the scenes in helping promote our athletic programs and student-athletes while assisting the media in their coverage of Ragin’ Cajuns athletics. Special thanks goes out to our football press box staff, our athletics and University administrations, our coaches, student-athletes and support staff for their contributions to our success."

Since the FWAA’s inception in 1941, one of the organization’s primary tasks has been to provide better working conditions for writers across the nation. Over the years, the FWAA has awarded press box commendations to deserving schools, as well as conduct ratings of sports information departments.

"We look at this as one of the most important things that we do as an organization, honoring the very best SID staffs in the nation." said Tim Griffin, the FWAA’s 2010 President and the Super 11 Committee chairman. "There are many great SID staffs around the country who are willing to work hard to help all media members. These 11 departments we are honoring are consistently exemplary above and beyond the call of duty. We hope this award will help to showcase them."

52523 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 also considered those departments that went the extra mile in servicing the media.

The Super 11 Committee received input from other FWAA members and others who covered college football during a period from Feb. 1, 2015 through Jan. 31, 2016.

"The FWAA takes seriously the relationships between reporters and sports information officials, and these 11 SIDs stand out because of their hard work and professionalism," said 2016 FWAA President Mark Anderson. "The fight for increased access is critical to our FWAA members, so it’s especially important to recognize the work by these SIDs who represent their schools and help reporters do their jobs. They are the best of the best and set a high standard for others to achieve."

In January 2009, the FWAA formed the first Super 11 Committee. The concept has been supported and endorsed by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA), many of whom are members of the FWAA.

The Football Writers Association of America, a non-profit organization founded in 1941, consists of more than 1,300 men and women across North America who cover college football for a living. The membership includes journalists, broadcasters and publicists, as well as key executives in all the areas that involve the game. The FWAA works to govern areas that include game-day operations, major awards, a national poll and its annual All-America team.