IOWA CITY, Iowa — The University of Iowa football athletic communications staff received a Super 11 Award on Thursday from the Football Writers Association of America. The award is presented annually to the best performing sports information departments in the Football Bowl Subdivision.
“What is encouraging about this year’s group of recipients is for a second straight year we had a large number of first-year winners in the group,” FWAA executive director Steve Richardson said. “Last year we had four first-year recipients, so that means over a two-year period we have had nine new schools hitting strong standards for accessibility.”
The five first-time recipients in the award series, which dates back to the 2009 season, are Iowa, Appalachian State, California, Memphis and North Carolina State.
Iowa’s athletic communications staff for football is led by Steve Roe, assistant athletics director, athletic communications.
This year’s winners were deemed by FWAA observers to have had good accessibility during the week of the game and after the game — with a program’s players, coaches and assistant coaches.
“That was a point of emphasis for 2018 and 2019,” Richardson said. “Our membership wanted access to players after games, of course, but also for human interest and analytical stories during the week. It is encouraging that SIDs were being allowed to do their jobs by coaches at these schools. Obviously, as we move into uncertain times in college football, there may be developing standards and protocols which become prominent.”
FWAA members who covered college football during the 2019 season provided input in the awards survey.
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 FWAA has awarded Super 11 to 70 different schools in this program over the years.
