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Show i Snorts Sports Editor: Jarrod I liatt Phone: 626-7983 Sports info deparSBiieffifi rceeps BO yp ft dafie By Chris Coombs correspondent The Signpost Long before Weber State University's faithful fans come to watch their favorite student athletes and long after they return home, Brad Larsen arid Nan Holyoak are busy doing what they do best. They are in the business of making WSU's student athletes and athletic programs look good. For more than 20 years Larsen and Holyoak have helped the WSU Sports Information Department grow into one of the strongest in the country. The duo has the distinction of having the longest tenure in a sports information department for the same school in the country. On a daily basis, they oversee the publicity of all men's and women's sports. Together they coordinate media relations, press releases, publications and game day programs in addition to gathering and cumulating athlete statistics. "They are true Wildcats," said WSU Athletic Director John Johnson. "They have seen it all: several athletic directors, coaches and countless athletes." Johnson added that the sports information director has three roles: to publish game results and statistics, to pro vide a conduit for information to the media for human interest stories and to act as keepers of the records. "They often will put a bug in the ear of the media about a student athlete that may be a great human interest," Johnson said. During their time of service, Larsen and Holyoak have planted many "bugs." In 1991, former WSU Quarterback Jamie Martin received the Walter Payton award as the top offensive player in Division I-AA football. Larsen was crucial in gaining voter attention to help Martin receive the prestigious award. "The sports information director has the first chance to promote a player," said WSU football Coach Jerry Graybeal. "Brad has the ability to take numbers and turn them into opportunities to promote players," Graybeal said. WSU Men's track Coach Chick Hislop said, "Whenever we have someone that qualifies for nationals or is All-American Brad makes sure that they get good publicity. Over the years he has just done a very steady job for us." Along with their talents of generating human-interest stories within the field, Holyoak has the distinction of being one of the first women to work in the sports information field. "Nan was one of the first 10 to 20 women in this profession," Larsen said. "She was a real pioneer in this field long before the NCAA became involved in women's athletics." When asked what she enjoys the most about her position, Holyoak said, "I enjoy being at the games." Both Larsen and Holyoak posses knowledge and experience that is invaluable to the athletic department. "Their wealth of knowledge is priceless to an athletic director," Johnson said. "In today's world, the media is crucial for us to get our stories out to ensure to create awareness for athletic programs and the university." The duo works closely with the media to develop a relationship of trust to ensure that accurate information goes out to the public, Johnson said. The sports information department has stayed current with technology and with the winds of change within the industry. "In the last 10 years the face of the sports information director has greatly changed," Johnson said. "We have gotten into an electronic world. Since the onset of the Internet and the electronic world they have changed the' way they do business." You can leave a message for correspondent Chris Coombs by calling 626-7988. 5 1 W 4- 1 A 1 Sports information director Brad Larsen pauses for a picture. Larsen and Nan Holyoak head the WSU sports information department. Geez . . . a lot has happened this year; it'll be tough to see it end .J.U!i.v.kUWJJt.l.l.'. I larrod M. Hiatt v rrl ! sports editor Jim Carrey said a classic line in the movie "Dumb and Dumber" that captures my feelings in a single sentence. "Welp, see you later," he said to a couple of lads loitering in front of a 7-11 store drinking Big Gulps. It's been one heck of a year covering sports for The Signpost. I'm sad to see it come to an end. But as the phrase goes, all good things must come to an end. So, here I am writing my good-byes and my thank yous. My first thank you would have to go to you, the readers. It's been fun to walk down the halls of the various buildings and see people reading the sports section. It's been our goal to cover as much as we can. We can't always mention every club or sport on campus in every issue, but we've tried to deliver the best coverage we knew how for the circumstances. Sometimes, we were restricted by space or by timeliness, but every time we made the attempt to run the best story possible in each issue. I hope you enjoyed what you read this year. I'd also like to thank Brad Larsen and Nan Holyoak in the sports information department for their tireless efforts in working with The Signpost sports staff as well as with all the other journalists who cover WSU. I know that we would have been at a loss if it weren't for you two. I'd also like to thank the athletes and the coaches. You have been great to work with. It's been nice to know that whenever we needed an interview you were more than willing to take a few minutes of your time to help out. Next, I'd like to thank the correspondents. Thanks to all of you who worked your butts off for that one credit hour. It was fun getting to know you and working with you. Keep at it you guys are going to go far. To Steve, thanks man. For most of the year, we went without a reporter. It was nice to have you come in and lighten the load. You were clutch, dude. It would be a travesty to not say thanks to Jamie Peterson, the best assistant ever. I worked hard at this job, but Jamie was the brains behind the operation. Not only can she write, but she constantly had ideas to make the section better. And to top it all off, she can work just about anyone at this school in hoops. I know the departure of myself and Jamie may leave some you in tears, but the section next year will be just as good or even better than it was this year. And with that, I bid you Adieu. Thanks for reading The Signpost. J&ESu IYY7YYI rwpirp-r? nhn777i7i I -Hawass ir1UBjK 4fW I 1 SOURDOUGH PIZZA V THE SIGNPOST PICKS I CIRCLE ONE FROM EACH MATCH-UP MLB NL to! (Weber StateA '5. Montana State Chicago'CSBs Los Angeles (May 3) Philadelphia Colorado (May 3) Atlanta St. Louis (May 3) Cincinnati San Francisco (May 3) I AL , aediue var iiMKces .rv.ay i) Tiebreaker: Guess Oakland Chicago White Sox (May 3) the score of (he I Texas Cleveland (May 3) Atlanta at St. Kansas City Baltimore (Mav 1) Louls Same GUESS THE SCOR larrod M. Hiatf (4-4) Chicago Cubs Colorado St. Louis San Francisco Seattle Oakland Cleveland Baltimore lamie Peterson (5-3) Chicago Cubs Philadelphia Atlanta San Francisco N.Y. Yankees Oakland Texas Baltimore lose Carvaial (4-4) Los Angeles Philadelphia St. Louis San Francisco Seattle Chicago White Sox Cleveland Baltimore leremv Dustin (f,-7) Los Angeles Philadelphia St. Louis San Francisco N.Y. Yankees Oakland Texas Baltimore NAME: PHONE : 1 -J. nHhLS'T'i I1?' W'Trw-rcaKh Same- "i?r !he 5W fnrm bring it in lo the Signpost ollice in room 207 ot (he Shepherd Union Building by 5 p m this fnday. Only one entry per WSU student, faculty, or staff member. H San Tanas Sn'rrt ,h P " , XV " ""V ' ." "itV'X'il M-eua y p a iron. Kier4V 11 ,,,7., , 1 -.. " a i'1-. utttu will LU IU UIC I the imrnminn VV?! n-imo r D : one who picks Die closes! score of CONGRATULATIONS TO THIS WEEK'S WINNER Scott Craig t un i .... fli) ii mi ii ,i il Jiiiin wnwa 'i 14 Mil, irtlllliiitfikl IM.ijI .tlOMJ |