DALLAS — For its servicing of media during the 2023 football season, BYU has been recognized by the Football Writers Association of America with a Super 11 Award as one of the best performing athletic communications departments in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision.
It’s the second-consecutive recognition for BYU. In those two football seasons, BYU hosted some of the biggest brands in college athletics, including many first-time opponents. The enhanced strength of schedule, along with admittance into the Big 12 Conference drew an increase in media attention that had not been seen previously.
BYU Athletic Commnications coordinated more than 1500 football media interviews in the 2023 season and hosted media members from ESPN, Fox Sports, CBS Sports, The Athletic and a host of other national and local outlets, as well as NFL scouts from more than 20 teams. Other important areas lending to BYU Athletics' media relations efforts include the department's video services and BYU Photo.
The extra emphasis that BYU Athletic Communications has been able to put toward football in the past two seasons is thanks in part to an enhancement in the structure of BYU Athletics external groups. Brand study and market research anaytics make it clear that BYU Athletics is the most visible extension of BYU and also that BYU is the most visible extension of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. With football being the most visible extension of BYU Athletics, the Athletic Communications staff knows the importance of communicating effectively and strategically in football-related efforts.
The BIg 12 had the most honorees among the FBS conferences in 2023 with BYU, Kansas State and Oklahoma representing the league among the 11 department's receiving the award.
The Super 11 award dates back to the 2009 season.
2023 FWAA Super 11 Honorees
| BYU |
| Cal |
| Clemson |
| Illinois |
| Kansas State |
| Kentucky |
| LSU |
| Navy |
| Nebraska |
| Oklahoma |
| Pittsburgh |
From the FWAA’s announcement of the honorees:
This year’s winners were deemed to have had excellent accessibility during the week of the game and after the game with a program’s players, coaches and coordinators/assistant coaches. Other criteria listed in the 2023-24 FWAA Directory included beat reporter access, interview requests and docorum and protocols in the press box.
FWAA Executive Director Steve Richardson said: "We once again honor some programs who have provided great assistance to writers for many years and have demonstrated a culture of excellence in what they do in their pressbox and in terms of accessibility to players and coaches. We applaud those programs as well as the two newcomer programs."
"I want to thank these departments for fostering a welcoming environment and providing terrific access, allowing us to tell the stories that are informatiove and insightful," said 2024 FWAA President, Andrea Adelson of ESPN.com. "Rather than limit our access, they understand providing more than just a fleeting glimpse into their programs provides a great service not only to the players and coaches but to their respective fan bases as well."
FWAA members provided input during the season when press boxes were judged on how well they were run and maintained in terms of neutrality, pool reporters, noise level and accessibility to the press box that could affect a media person’s ability to do his or her job.
In addition to the departmental awards, the FWAA is presenting a Super 11 Coach of the Year Award to Mike Norvell of Florida State. Norvell, entering his fifth season in Tallahassee, is the sixth head coach to win this award and it comes in a season in which he won the ACC title in an undefeated regular season.
About the Super 11 and FWAA
In January 2009, the FWAA released the first Super 11 Awards – a concept supported by the College Sports Communicators (formerly CoSIDA). The FWAA has now awarded at least one Super 11 Award to 81 different programs.
In addition, the FWAA will pay tribute to five retiring communicators in the upcoming 2024-25 FWAA Directory.
Founded in 1941, the Football Writers Association of America consists of journalists, broadcasters, publicists, photographers and key executives in all areas of college football. The FWAA works to govern media access and game-day operations while presenting awards and honors, including an annual FWAA All-America Team. For more information about the FWAA and its program and initiatives, contact Executive Director Steve Richardson at 214-870-6516 or tiger@fwaa.com.