Talking to friends and comrades in the sports information field, former boss and longtime friend
John Carpenter at the top of that list, has caused me to reminisce a little … OK, a lot … and again appreciate the training and guidance he and others provided me as his graduate assistant (GA) many moons ago or a fellow SID more recently.
Not even a few errant elbows from Mr. C (and/or
John Hicks) to the chops during staff/faculty pickup basketball games in the McKay Education Building gym can take those great memories away.
I also remember how very proud Mr. C was of all his former GA’s who stayed in the business, including Bill Hunt, who went on to serve as SID at LaSalle College in Philly, and
Jeff Michaels, who became SID at Lycoming College before getting smart and leaving our rat race for the less hectic life of an athletic director. Jeff, a former Assistant to the AD under Paul Lueken here at The Rock, is now the Acting AD at Shippensburg University.
Shout out to Jeff and his better half,
Carrie Osborne Michaels, former Assistant Women’s Basketball Coach and Assistant to the AD here at SRU who is now acting Associate AD/Senior Woman Administrator at Ship.
While we’re at it, “Hope you’re doing well” also to
Steve Roach, another former Assistant to the AD here at The Rock, now Associate AD at Millersville University.
But I digress.
I can now appreciate how proud Mr. C is of his former GA’s and student assistants.
Pardon me while I brag a little:
• A former GA of mine,
Ben Fairclough is now the Senior Director of External Affairs for the Big East Conference;
• Former GA
Leah Brock is Manager of Communications & Editor for the American Volleyball Coaches Association;
• Former GA
Shane Meling is SID at NCAA Division II Texas-Kingsville after serving in a similar capacity at LeTourneau University in Texas;
• Former student assistant
Matt McCollester is Assistant Director of Media Relations at Ball State University, an NCAA Division I Mid-American Conference school, and the primary contact for the Cardinals’ men’s basketball, baseball and soccer programs;
• Former student assistant
Carol Bonner is Assistant Director of Compliance at Robert Morris University in Moon Township;
• Former student assistant
Megann Powell is Assistant Athletic Director/Senior Women’s Administrator at Western State College in Colorado;
• Former GA
Carol Kramer now owns Slippery Rock Specialty Florist on Main Street;
• Former student assistant
Jeff Berthney is a State Farm Insurance agent in Monroeville.
I'd like to think I played at least a small part in their successes.
But I guess what I am really trying to say is, as the saying goes, "no man is an island."
I’m proud of what we have been able to accomplish in the past 10-plus years, since that July 2000 day when I succeeded Mr. C, a College Sports Information Directors of America Hall of Famer and multiple-time national SID award winner, as The Rock’s SID.
But I know all too well that, without the help of the people listed above, the many other student assistants who have passed through our office over the years and my fellow SIDs, a lot of what we have done and are doing would not have been or still be possible.
This blog project is the latest in the long line of additions. Big shout out to Assistant SID
Jon Holtz for helping to make this and many of the other projects happen. And a huge thanks to our boss,
Rita Abent, SRU's Executive Director of University Public Relations, who gives us the resources to do what we do.
I hope you enjoy what we’re doing. We've love to hear from you and know what you think.
Until we talk again … GO ROCK!!
Bob McComas
Sports Information Director
