OU Plays Huge Role in WCWS

May 29, 2008

NORMAN, Okla. - Since the time when former softball coach and athletics administrator Marita Hynes played such an integral role in bringing the NCAA's Women's College World Series to Oklahoma City, the University of Oklahoma has been a mainstay in hosting the event.

As the 2008 tournament unfolds, OU personnel remain deeply involved in everything from tournament management to servicing the media corps to painting logos on the field.

In total, there are 18 OU employees working at the series. By the time the event concludes, they will have combined for something in the neighborhood of 800 hours of work.

Lindy Roberts, assistant director of event management in the OU Athletics Department, is the co-tournament director and as such she handles nearly all aspects of game management.

Her long list of duties includes securing a large number of individuals who in turn carrying about many of the game day duties. Among other things, she coordinates the host hotels, medical and athletic training professionals, the opening ceremony and Party at the Park.

Before transferring to Central Oklahoma to play basketball, Roberts spent her freshman year on the softball team at Kent State. That familiarity with the sport adds to her interest in the tournament.

"This is definitely a labor of love," she said. "This is just so awesome, so awesome. I always wanted to work in Division I athletics and this event, especially now with the continued improvements to the facility, is incredible. I just love it."

Roberts helps coordinate five conference calls and three local meetings that are staged in preparation for the WCWS.

Mike Houck, OU's Associate Director of Athletics Communications, supervises a staff of 13 who service the large number of media attending the event.

Now in his 12th season as local media coordinator, Houck supervises much of the credentialing, in addition to game day services such as statistics, quotes and dissemination of other media materials.

The logos that adorn the field are painted by a staff members from Jeff Salmond's grounds crew, the same one that paints logos and maintains the field at OU's athletics facilities.

ESPN's cameras will expose Oklahoma City to the country as it televises the 2008 WCWS. For the most part, those cameras will miss the behind-the-scenes work of yet another university, but suffice it to say that much of the growth and success of the tournament, even today, can be attributed to OU Athletics.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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