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The Pleasant Price of Success
May 6, 2005 | Baseball
May 6, 2005
NEW ORLEANS, La. - Richie Weaver hasn't slept much this spring. As assistant media relations director for athletics and the official public relations point man for the top-ranked Green Wave baseball team, Weaver has spent countless hours working to satisfy the media and fans with the latest tidbits from the 2005 season.
"Have you met my girlfriend? Her name is Tulane baseball," Weaver says with a laugh, looking out his office window in the Wilson Center onto Turchin Stadium. The home of the Wave is also Weaver's home on most spring weekends, recording statistics and assisting media members from the press box.
During the week Weaver spends his work days writing post-game reports and previews, designing the official media guide, filling out forms for conference and national player awards and working as a go- between for media members and the team.
Though the Green Wave has had its fair share of media coverage from local outlets for years, the team has seen an increase in national interest since Baseball America ranked it No. 1 in all collegiate baseball early in the spring.
"The biggest difference this year has been the preseason No. 1 ranking," Weaver said. "We normally have media coverage from the Times-Picayune and a few other local groups, but this is really the first time we've had national publications interested in covering the team. That's been a real feather in our cap so far."
Along with Baseball America, the team has been featured in Collegiate Baseball Newspaper, SEbaseball.com, and Louisiana Sports Magazine as well as a quick plug in Sports Illustrated. Add those requests to the regular regional newspaper and radio coverage, plus television broadcasts on ESPN and Cox Sports, and Weaver's days are eaten up quickly. However, positive stories in print or on the air make the hard work worth it, says Weaver.
"Many times the media are all too ready to jump onto something negative," Weaver said. "When we can get something into the news that is in a positive manner, that's a victory for me."
The team also has been graceful under the spotlight, Weaver says, learning to work with the media during magazine and television interviews, photography shoots and radio analysis.
"The guys have been great, and have worked with me if I ask them to do a photo shoot on a day off or do an interview after a loss," Weaver says.
Below Weaver's office on the first floor of the Wilson Center, Dan Holden, ticket manager, is finishing up another long day helping the team's growing fan base with ticket information and merchandise. Holden joined the ticket office in January, taking over at the beginning of the baseball frenzy.
"If you had been in here two months ago, you would have heard the phones ringing all day," Holden said, enjoying a quick break in action before the postseason.
This year the Green Wave sold roughly 2,000 season tickets, filling close to two-thirds of Turchin Stadium. The team also sold heavy volumes of a "Three at the Z" pack, with tickets to games against Arizona State, Cal State-Fullerton and arch-rival Louisiana State University. Include several Turchin Stadium sellouts for the team and it became a daunting task for Holden to handle the requests each day.
"Sales have done really well this year, since everybody has been excited with the success of the team," Holden said.
Though the ticket staff can breathe a little easier right now after the Louisiana State series, more work is on the way, Holden said. Starting in mid-April, postseason in-formation was sent to all season ticket holders in anticipation of hosting a Regional and possible Super Regional match-up.
Road trips, late nights and demands from the media and fans define the work of people like Weaver and Holden. Still, with a possible College World Series trip to Omaha on the horizon, the hard work is well worth the pain.
"It can be demanding sometimes, but this is the profession I've chosen, this is what I've wanted to do," Weaver said. "I've had fun and I know the team has had fun too. Hopefully we can end this year with a trip to Nebraska."
Inside Tulane
May 2005
