The Fifth Down
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Coach of the Year event to be in New York City June 2010 Vol. 48, No. 2 DALLAS — The 2010 FWAA/Eddie ence. We are grateful to the National Robinson Coach of the Year Reception/ Football Foundation and the FWAA for Inside this issue: Announcement, sponsored by the Tosti- their efforts in making this happen.” tos Fiesta Bowl, will be held in New York Coach Robinson’s son, Eddie Jr., is City in conjunction with the annual Na- expected to be on hand for the an- tional Football Foundation Induction Din- nouncement, which will be attended by President’s column 2 ner in early December. other coaches, former Grambling players This season’s Coach of the Year an- and Coach of the Year winners, Fiesta nouncement will be made on the after- Bowl, FWAA and NFF officials, specials noon of Dec. 6 at the Waldorf Astoria guests and numerous members of the FAQs about the FWAA 3 Hotel, the day before the NFF Banquet is media. held at the same hotel. A reception and "The Eddie Robinson family is very news conference are planned to an- excited about helping to bring this award nounce the Coach of the Year winner, ceremony to New York City,” Eddie Rob- which is expected to be carried on ESPN inson Jr. said. “Our family's relationship Outland Trophy Watch 4 News. TCU’s Gary Patterson claimed with this great city goes back at least four List the 2009 Award. decades when in 1968 Grambling played "We at the FWAA will be honored to Morgan State before a large crowd at present our Eddie Robinson Award every Yankee Stadium. I am certain that my December in New York City,” said Tim late father would be just as excited as we Griffin, FWAA’s 2010-11 president. “It's are." Bronko Nagurski 5 only natural that college football's most The late Robinson is the winningest Trophy Watch List revered award for coaching excellence coach in Division I history (408 games) will now be announced along with the and the move to presenting this award in festivities of the National Football Foun- New York City is a natural. The Gram- dation's annual induction dinner. The fact bling Tigers, which Robinson coached it will be announced in the nation's media from 1941 through 1997 played numer- FWAA Awards Calen- 6 center makes it even more exciting. We ous regular-season games at Yankee dar are thrilled with our upcoming opportu- Stadium starting in the late 1960s and nity." into the 1970s and later at the Meadow- “The Fiesta Bowl is honored to be lands in New Jersey. involved with the Eddie Robinson Robinson, who passed away on April Jack Hairston, 1990 Award,” Fiesta Bowl chairman Duane 3, 2007, won 70.7 percent of his games Bert McGrane Award 7 Woods said. “This move will allow the during his illustrious career. Robinson’s winner, remembered most prestigious national coaching teams won or tied for 17 Southwestern award to reach an even broader audi- (Continued on page 6) Page 2 THE FIFTH DOWN President Tim Griffin ESPN.com President’s column First Vice President Tommy Hicks I faced some with television revenues and coaching Mobile Press-Register excruciating salaries soaring, it’s clear that these Second Vice President choices a few guides rank low on the spending priori- Lenn Robbins weeks ago. ties of most schools. New York Post A recent down- Some conferences have talked about sizing in my li- grouping all of their schools on a thumb Board of Directors John Davis brary area meant drive. And the Cotton Bowl folks with the Oxford (Miss.) Eagle that space on my help of our own Ted Gangi had that Heather Dinich shelves was at a handy compilation of all of the guides on ESPN.com premium. It left a disk last season and will again this Pete DiPrimio me with a tough season. Fort Wayne (Ind.) News- decision. But it’s not the same. Sentinel Namely, would These humble sources of information Chris Dufrense TIM I keep my collec- have been around for many years, evolv- Los Angeles Times tion of college ing from a simple guide that could be Ryan Finley GRIFFIN Arizona Daily Star football guides, fitted into your back pocket into the mega Pete Fiutak even if many of promotional guides for the biggest na- College Football News them have evolved into promotional tools tional programs. I remember counting Cory Giger for their programs that become dated one coach I covered being pictured more Altoona Mirror and of little use after only a year? than 100 times – give or take a group Kevin Gorman Most of them still are safely tucked shot with a movie star or a group of Pittsburgh Tribune-Review away, mainly because I can read the Shriners – in one book. Kate Hairopoulos handwriting on the wall. In the not-too- I’ve been fascinated with media Dallas Morning News distant future, these informational guides since I was a kid. I remember Mick McGrane Freelance sources will be eliminated — at least in buying one late each summer to get Rodney McKissic their current printed and bound format. ready for the start of Tennessee football Buffalo News The Southeastern Conference’s re- at my neighborhood newsstand in Mem- Dave Matter cently accepted proposal to return these phis. Columbia (Mo.) Daily Tribune sources to their stated use as an infor- Later, I learned how to compose busi- Jorge Milian mational tool for the media rather than a ness letters by writing to every major Palm Beach Post recruiting guide has only bought them sports information director and major- Malcolm Moran time. The inevitable still seems likely to league franchise across the country. Knight Foundation happen much sooner than we’d all like. Somewhere buried in my parents’ home, Randy Rosetta Baton Rouge Advocate We as media members should feel those guides are tucked away for poster- Roger Rubin fortunate that media guides haven’t al- ity. New York Daily News ready been legislated out of existence by The digital age has made those hal- Adam Sparks the NCAA. That idea became more wor- cyon days of my youth seems much far- Daily News (Tenn.) Journal risome last season after Big Ten powers ther removed than the 35 years on the Andy Staples Ohio State, Michigan and Wisconsin an- calendar. It’s a little sad for me to see Sports Illustated nounced that they would not print media them go. But it’s not surprising. Phil Steele guides and also were actively encourag- By my count, about 30 major football- Phil Steele Magazine ing other schools to follow suit. playing schools did not print guides last Jake Trotter Daily Oklahoman That announcement came after the season. The number appears to be Jimmy Watson Pacific-10 Conference proposed to do growing as we enter the 2010 season. Shreveport Times away with all printed media guides, in- There’s no doubt that the savings of stead providing them in a PDF format. not printing these guides are becoming Ex-Officio Charles Bloom Some schools made printouts that were more prevalent in these cost- Southeastern Conference available in press boxes when needed. containment days. Only the biggest of Mike Finn Others didn’t. the programs can expect these guides to Atlantic Coast Conference The forces of cost containment are come close to paying for themselves. Joe Hornstein becoming more prevalent in college ath- There’s an argument that a new gen- Central Florida letics. Other schools have made “going eration of reporters who are savvy with green” an important consideration. But (Continued on page 6) Page 3 THE FIFTH DOWN Frequently asked questions Some answers to common questions about the Foot- FWAA prints only a limited number of books and does ball Writers Association of America, its member benefits not publish the directory online due to past abuses. The and award programs. If you don't see the answer to your directory is generally mailed to the membership in mid- question, send us an e-mail at webmas- to late August. If you pay your dues after June 25, you [email protected]. are not guaranteed to be listed, nor can you be guaran- About the FWAA teed to receive the directory in time for the start of the • Eligibility: The Football Writers Association of season. The FWAA does its best to ensure that all mem- America is open to all accredited members of the media bers get a copy of the directory in a timely fashion, re- and members of schools and organizations directly affili- gardless of when dues are paid. No member will receive ated with college football. Although we are the football a directory until dues are paid. For questions about the writers, editors, radio and television broadcasters, publi- directory, its contents and distribution, contact Steve cists and even photographers are eligible to join. Please Richardson ([email protected] or 972-713-6198). note that all applications are subject to the approval of • The Fifth Down: The association's newsletter is the board of directors and the FWAA cannot guarantee produced five times per year and posted to the website. that any paid dues will be refunded if your application is A printable PDF version of each newsletter is available rejected. For new members, we encourage you to indi- and a limited number of printed newsletters are mailed, cate on your application if you were recommended by a mainly to retired members. The Fifth Down generally colleague. For questions about eligibility, contact Steve features a column from the FWAA president and a recap Richardson ([email protected] or 972-713-6198).