The following sports editorial was published in a September 14, 2010, edition of The State Journal-Register.
"The University of Illinois Springfield made a really nice hire last week when it tabbed Ben Wierzba to be its new men’s basketball coach.
We wish Wierzba luck and success. But we hope he has an easier time getting a copy of exactly who plays on the UIS men’s basketball team than we at The State Journal-Register have had getting our hands on the roster.
Marcia Martinez from the SJ-R staff, whose beat it is to cover UIS athletics, was at the get-together last Thursday when Wierzba was introduced as the head coach.
After interviewing the new coach and athletic director Rodger Jehlicka, Martinez asked Jehlicka if he had a copy of the Prairie Stars’ men’s basketball roster. Jehlicka referred Martinez to Scott Reed, assistant athletic director in charge of sports information.
When Martinez asked Reed for the information, he said he didn’t have a copy of the roster and referred Martinez to an assistant coach. The assistant promised he’d e-mail that information later in the day. Martinez made follow-up calls. We still don’t have that list.
How can the top officials in an athletic department not know where to go to find out who plays for their men’s basketball team?"
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