Former FWAA President Sittler Named 39Th Winner of Bert Mcgrane Award
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Former FWAA president Sittler named 39th winner February 2012 Vol. 50, No. 1 of Bert McGrane Award Inside this issue: Dave Sittler, a staple of journalism braska and Oklahoma from Nebraska President’s column 2 in the Oklahoma and Nebraska areas coach Bob Devaney to Oklahoma for more than a half century, has been coach Bob Stoops. th named the 39 winner of the FWAA’s Sittler began his career at the Lin- Alabama wins SEC’s Bert McGrane Award. coln-Journal sixth consecutive 3 The Bert McGrane Award, symbolic State in 1971 Grantland Rice Trophy of the association's Hall of Fame, is and moved over from FWAA presented to an FWAA member who to the Omaha has performed great service to the or- World-Herald in Photos from presenta- ganization and/or the writing profes- 1978 and stayed tion of FWAA/Eddie Robinson Coach of the sion. It is named after McGrane, a Des until 1985. From 4-5 Moines, Iowa, writer who was the exec- there he went to Year Trophy to Okla- utive secretary of the FWAA from the Tulsa, where he homa State Coach early 1940s until 1973. worked for The Mike Gundy Sittler, the 2001 FWAA president Tribune from Michigan State’s Ar- and a member since 1973, first pro- 1985 to 1992. thur Ray Jr. wins posed the idea of the Volney Meece Sittler spent sev- Discover Orange 6 Scholarship (named after the FWAA’s Dave Sittler en years at The Bowl/FWAA Courage late executive director) in the mid- Oklahoman be- Award 1990s. He has been the only selection fore landing at his final stop, The Tulsa chairman the award has known. The World, in 1999. annual $1,000.00 grant, awarded since A native of Hebron, Neb., Sittler has Lenn Robbins of the New York Post be- 1997 and renewable for up to four won numerous local and national writ- 7 years, is given to a deserving son or ing awards and has been elected 10 comes the FWAA’s daughter of an FWAA member. times as the National Sportscasters 69th president Sittler, 66, recently retired from his and Sportswriters Oklahoma Sports- full-time job as columnist at the Tulsa writer of the Year. He claimed the Heb- World, but plans to still work part-time ron High School Distinguished Alumni Nebraska girl wins for the paper and continue to appear on Award in 2003 and two years later was Volney Meece Scholar- 7 the Tulsa Sports Animal radio show. inducted into the Oklahoma Journalism ship A 1971 University of Nebraska grad- Hall of Fame. uate, Sittler has worked for five papers Sittler and wife Ann, a native of Aus- Call for Entries: FWAA and has covered college football as tralia, have two grown children, Geoff 8 either a beat writer or columnist in Ne- and Brian. Best Writing Contest Page 2 THE FIFTH DOWN President Lenn Robbins New York Post First Vice President President’s column Chris Dufrense This has been one I am hoping my friends on the board Los Angeles Times of the most challeng- will agree to quarterly conference calls to ing years in college discuss issues in a more timely fashion. Second Vice President football history. This might enable us to make a positive Kirk Bohls Some of the elite impact and avoid trying to tackle all the Austin American- programs around the issues once a year. Statesman country have faced And I hope coaches, SIDs, conference Board of Directors difficult issues. Rea- commissioners and conference media Buddy Davis lignment continues relations personnel will be willing to dis- Ruston Daily Leader to have fans won- cuss, both this offseason and at league Cory Giger dering if they should preseason media events this summer, Altoona Mirror hold off on purchas- opportunities to create a healthier atmos- Kate Hairopoulos ing their next T- phere between the media and coaches. The Dallas Morning News LENN shirt. And the fu- This might help facilitate better access. ture of how the na- The FWAA needs to show it will not be Wally Hall ROBBINS Arkansas Democrat- tional champion will taken lightly, either by the people-service Gazette be decided remains industries to whom we offer millions of Mike Huguenin a contentious issue. dollars in travel and lodging business, and rivals.com But the game itself is spectacular. The to the colleges and universities whom we Tom Kensler players are dazzling. The fans are pas- provide the most thorough coverage on a Denver Post sionate. And the sights, smells and emo- day-to-day basis. That is public relations Iliana Limon tions that are there for the senses make that can’t be bought and must continue to Orlando Sentinel college football unique — it is part World be respected. Kelly Lyell Cup, part NFL, part high school football. I also believe it is time to mend fences Fort Collins Coloradoan It is with that backdrop that I write to between print and Internet sites. At the Brett McMurphy say how proud and humbled I am to have end of the day, responsible reporters, re- cbssports.com been chosen to serve your FWAA presi- gardless of affiliation, are seeking to pro- Jorge Milian dent for the next year. My job is simple: I vide insightful, accurate information in as Palm Beach Post am here to serve you, each of the more timely a fashion as possible. Malcolm Moran than 1,200 members that make up this In closing I’d like to make this pledge Knight Foundation important organization. and request. I will do my best to honor Randy Peterson Before I go further I went to thank last those that have held this position before Des Moines Register year’s president Tommy Hicks, who as- me and serve those of you who miss holi- Randy Rosetta sured me that even a reporter from a city days, birthdays, anniversaries and count- Baton Rouge Daily that doesn’t have an FBS team, can be less other family functions for the job and Advocate president. Past president Dick Weiss, of the love of the game. Zach Silka that other tabloid newspaper, assured me I am here for you. You can reach me Toledo Blade he’s ready to lend a hand. And Tony Barn- via cell 917-337-3530 or email Andy Staples hart, who says I have an accent, has also [email protected]. I will try my best to si.com promised his guidance. respond in a prompt manner. My request Phil Steele And, of course, where would the is that you reach out. I can’t reach out indi- Phil Steele Publications FWAA be without Steve ‘Tiger’ Richard- vidually to each of you, and for those of Jake Trotter son and, before him, Volney Meece, who I you who read my weekly college football espn.com also had the pleasure of working with? picks, I’m clearly not clairvoyant. Ex-Officio Their devotion is without equal. Charles Bloom Although college football remains a Southeastern Conference wonderful part of the American sports John Paquette landscape, there are issues we in print, Big East Conference magazine and the Internet are forced to Joe Hornstein contend with, sometimes on a daily basis. Central Florida I believe many of these issues can be ad- dressed with better communication, start- ing with the FWAA. THE FIFTH DOWN Page 3 Alabama is SEC’s sixth straight winner of Grantland Rice Trophy NEW ORLEANS — Following its 21-0 win over LSU game and finish the season like they did.” in the Allstate BCS National Championship Game, the No matter who won last night’s BCS title game, the Alabama Crimson Tide (12-1) was presented the 2011 SEC was going to continue its dominance. This marks Grantland Rice Trophy by the Football Writers Associa- the sixth straight season the SEC has won the Grantland tion of America. FWAA president Lenn Robbins of the Rice Trophy. Auburn won it last season, with Alabama New York Post made the presentation to head coach (2009), Florida (2008), LSU (2007) and Florida (2006) Nick Saban at a morning news conference. claiming titles in the four previous seasons. A panel of veteran FWAA members selected Ala- Alabama now has won a record six FWAA national bama as the association’s national champion after the titles, the most of any school. Its previous titles have Crimson Tide held LSU to 92 total yards of offense, com- come in 1965 (along with Michigan State), 1978, 1979, mitted only one penalty and didn’t allow LSU to cross 1992 and 2009. Saban also was Alabama’s head coach midfield until late in the championship game. in 2009. Earlier in the season, previously unbeaten LSU had The Grantland Rice Trophy has been presented by defeated Alabama, 9-6, in overtime in Tuscaloosa on the Football Writers Association of America to college Nov. 5 as part of its run to the Southeastern Conference football’s national champion since 1954. Named for the championship. That forced the Crimson Tide to make the legendary sportswriter, the Grantland Rice Trophy was BCS title game as an at-large team and set up the rare the first national championship award to be presented postseason rematch. But the second meeting was all after the college football postseason. Alabama behind its stellar defense, five field goals from Although the FWAA does not conduct a final poll at Jeremy Shelley and the passing of quarterback AJ the end of the season, it will conduct a 2012 preseason McCarron. poll during the summer when the entire membership will “It was tougher losing a game,” Saban said after the vote.