June 25, 2009
In 1946, Bill Sansing, a newly hired first-time sports information director at Texas, was told by legendary Longhorns coach Dana X. Bible he was going to Chicago.
It was the site of the college football all-star game and also where football writers were from around the country were meeting.
"I want to see what you can learn and what those guys are doing that we need to know," Sansing recalled Bible telling him.
Along with about 10 other sports information directors who attended, Sansing said he learned two primary things -- how to create a pre-season brochure and how to entertain writers.
As the group discussed ways to promote and publicize their teams and universities, they decided it would be appropriate to have an organization of their own, and the beginnings of CoSIDA, the College Sports Information Directors of America, were formed.
On Thursday at a luncheon in San Antonio, CoSIDA inducted Sansing into its Hall of Fame.
"I'm very humbled. I did nothing to deserve this, except being old," Sansing laughed. "What they've brought to college sports is immense. There was nobody doing that when it started. They've built it all up and they deserve all the credit they can get."
In fact, Sansing's contributions at the beginning of CoSIDA are very deserving, and he deflected more credit to Bible for being ahead of the game in recognizing a need for the position, the first of its kind in the southwest.
Sansing noted being ahead of the curve seems to be a common trait among Texas coaches.
"Darrell Royal was the curve," Sansing said in a smile. "Mack Brown has the greatest personality of anybody I've ever met in my life."
It was quite a compliment from the 89-year-old Sansing, who after his time at Texas went on to a great career in advertising and public relations that included clients such as golfer Jack Nicklaus and the Dallas Cowboys.
However, Texas always remained in his heart and as he looked around at the number of tables in the hotel ballroom for the luncheon, he was amazed at what the organization he helped start had become.
"I thought there would be 30 or 40 people here," Sansing said. "I had no idea it was this big. I wouldn't be here if it weren't for Bill Little. He's everything for me. This is mind-boggling, but I sure enjoy being here. I appreciate The University of Texas, which has done everything for me in my life."
