April 17, 2014 – Meeting Roundup – WVU Sports New Media
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It can’t be easy being director of New Media for WVU sports. There are six different websites as well as social media such as Twitter and Facebook that you have to coordinate. There are 17 different sports you have to publicize. Add to that the fact that WVU is in the Big 12 with no natural rivalries to replace teams such as Pitt. Plus, the closest opponent is over 1,000 miles away, and throw in the fact that the two money producing sports—basketball and football—have had lousy results the past two years, and you have a very tough job trying to spin something positive. Yes, there have been a couple of sports that have done well, women’s basketball and the rifle team come to mind, but right now WVU is floundering.
John Antonik is responsible for coordinating the websites WVUsports.com, mobile.wvusports.com, MountaineerAthleticClub.com, WVUGAME.com, ShopWVU.com, WVUVarsityClub.com and is the director of new media for the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics.
He oversees the department’s social media program through the development of Twitter and Facebook, serves on the school’s all-time team committee for men’s basketball and football, and is also a contributor on the Mountaineer Sports Network from IMG football pre-game show Mountaineer Tailgate.
Antonik joined the WVU athletic staff in 1991 after working as a graduate assistant for one year and a student assistant for two years in the Sports Communications Office. From 1991-1998, Antonik served as associate sports information director, helping coordinate the publicity efforts for West Virginia University’s 19 varsity sports, as well as working with the Mountaineer football and men’s basketball programs. Antonik earned several CoSIDA writing citations during his tenure as associate sports information director, including a “Best in the Nation” award for his work on the 1992 women’s basketball media guide. In addition to his publicity duties, Antonik also directed WVU’s community relations program.
During his 21-year WVU tenure, Mountaineer football has made 17 bowl appearances, including trips to the 1994 and 2006 Sugar, 2008 Fiesta and 2012 Orange bowls; men’s basketball has made nine NCAA tournament appearances, including three Sweet 16 trips, an Elite Eight appearance in 2005 and a Final Four trip in 2010, while the women’s basketball program has made eight NCAA tournament appearances.
Antonik has authored three books on Mountaineer athletics: West Virginia University Football Vault: The History of the Mountaineers, Roll Out the Carpet: 101 Seasons of West Virginia University Basketball, and his latest effort, The Backyard Brawl: Stories from One of the Weirdest, Wildest, Longest Running and Most Intense Rivalries in College Football History, which was a 2012 Foreword Book of the Year finalist in the category of sports.
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MHS Chamber Choir
The young ladies who sang for us were well rehearsed and had beautiful, almost angelic, voices. They performed together wonderfully as a group and managed to grab everybody’s attention with their songs.
Cogwheels
Answer to last week’s question:
A Rotary club shall not express an opinion on a pending controversial public measure; nor shall it endorse or recommend any candidate for public office, nor discuss at any club meeting the merits or demerits of any such candidate. A club shall not adopt or circulate resolutions or statements dealing with international policies of a political nature, or direct appeals or circulate proposed plans for the solution of specific international problems of a political nature.
This week’s question:
What is meant by Club Service?
Laurel Kirksey, a member of the Vandalia Rotary club in Charleston, was our lone visiting Rotarian.
Jennifer Bishop, Business Deposit officer with MVB Bank, was back as a guest of Kenny Lemaster. Buzz Poland brought his son, David, who is a recent graduate of WVU and currently lives in Morgantown. Suzanne Taylor, Assistant Property Manager at Potomac Housing, was a guest of Page Burdette. Tom Geiermann brought Melanie Miller, owner of Sonic Promotions. Joanne Young was back as a guest of Roy.
We are seeking clothing for orphans in South Africa ages infant to 5 years old. They need shoes (no holes), rompers, pants, shirts, and dresses. Marilyn Schoon and Bill Wortley are flying to South Africa in early May and are allowed to take 6 suitcases. We need to fill them for delivery to President Mike’s brother who is coordinating everything in South Africa. We need the items by May 1st. Contact Roy Young (304-263-3870) for a pick up.
Thanks goes to Chris Knight and all those who volunteered for making the Wellness testing a success.
Sign-up sheets for the Memorial Day Pancakes for Polio Breakfast are appearing on the tables. Be sure to volunteer because we need as many people as possible to help. May 26th is coming faster than you think.
April is bring a guest month, so why not bring one yourself. It’s a great way to let prospective members see what our club does.
Buzz Poland won 50/50, but his luck was no better than a few weeks ago. He will sell tickets this week.