Educating Woody

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Perspective:

Educating Woody

It was a pretty good week for Cobber sports. The Lady Cobbers went to 11-2 and are ranked second in the country. The men's basketball team split two games on the road. The wrestlers did well again. And nice stories continued to be written about Concordia athletes and teams.

But I had to try to explain to Woody what it is we do here in the Sports Information Office. Woody is a student who wants to work in our office and learn the ropes. I tried to share with him my vast four months of experience, but our first conversation was a little rough.

"So, like, what's involved in this SID racket anyway?" I immediately sensed his respect for our professionalism.

Our role, I offered, is to help the press do stories about our fine student athletes and teams. "I get it. We're in charge of hype. Ticket sales. Right?"

Well, not really. Ticket sales are not a big item here. Students and faculty get into our games free and just about everyone else we know has a pass of some kind.

"Oh, OK, I get it. It's more like PR for the college in general. Excellence through hard work and Christian living. Right? I can give that rap. I had a work- study job in admissions last year. But they said I lacked sincerity. They said I should come and see you for a job."

I'm really flattered.

"I took some journalism classes, you know. I know the lingo in this business. So, like what's our angle?" Our role is more to facilitate stories. Get the press access to the facts they need to write a story. And help the local papers keep up on their hometown kids playing at Concordia.

"OK, so I could, like, work on getting stats out to the press. They like stats, the more the better." Our coaches don't really like to give out too many stats, Woody. They feel it gives the competition an unfair advantage.

"OK, so how about I write a little thing each week about injuries on our teams and how it can affect upcoming games?"

Our coaches don't really like to talk about their injury situation, Woody. They feel it gives the competition an unfair advantage.

"They sound like a touchy group." They're coaches, Woody. They want to win.

"But I thought this Division III thing meant that winning wasn't that big a deal. No scholarships . Academics first. Character building. All that stuff." We like to say that academics and excellence on the playing field are not mutually exclusive, Woody.

"I like it. But, what do we say about our teams that are not so good?

Rebuilding.

"So, like, does Concordia sports get a lot of publicity from what you do?"

We don't have a clue as to how much of a difference we make that way, Woody. But look at it this way. Around here we get less coverage than NDSU but more than the conflicts in the Middle East or the world debt crisis. People like their sports around here, in case you hadn't noticed.

"I like it. So, like, what's my salary going to be?" Like you said, Woody, we're into building character here.

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