Maybe the “good old days” weren’t as good as they seem to be now. Maybe it’s just the residual effect from such a successful 2006-07 season here at the UW. Perhaps it’s the high expectations for the football team. Whatever it is, summer sure seems shorter now than it did back when I started in athletic communications as a college student in 1984.

But back then there was no all-sports talk radio and no internet and no 24-hour news cycle and no e-mail and no instant messaging and no Blackberries or Treos and no Big Ten Network. Life, in general, didn’t seem to be as immediate as we’ve made it in 2007. That is, however, what it is. So, that’s what we tackle each day in our office, even through the summer months.

Of course, I sound like I’m complaining. I’m not. I always tell people it’s the “good busy.” It’s the busy that comes with successful teams, student-athletes and coaches. Is it challenging? Yes, it can be. It’s also rewarding and what some would call a “labor of love.”

We’ve spent our summer wrapping up the ’06-07 season, while already looking ahead to 2007-08. Our staff writes, edits and designs all of the media/recruiting guides for our teams. We continue to provide content for our web site. We answer requests from various constituencies (media, general public, staff). We are preparing game programs for the upcoming seasons. We also attend our annual College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Workshop. This year it was held in San Diego. One of our staff members, Tam Flarup, was inducted into the CoSIDA Hall of Fame and our two basketball game programs (men’s and women’s) both were judged “Best in the Nation,” in CoSIDA’s publications contests. So, it was an enjoyable and productive trip for the Wisconsin contingent!

Our staff also took vacations to places like the Upper Peninsula of Michigan; Rehoboth Beach, Delaware; Long Island, N.Y. and California. Everyone has returned now, however, and we’re focused on our fast-approaching fall sports seasons. Hope to see you here in town this coming school year!