Former SID Remembered for his Professionalism and Influence
by Ben Boggs
November 9, 2006
Media releases, public relations, magazines, reporters, score sheets – these are just some of the daily responsibilities that come with the fast-paced job title of sports information director. It’s a job that requires time, dedication and passion.
The Virginia Tech community is in the process of mourning Wendell “Wendy” Weisend, the school’s long time SID and one of the greatest contributors to the national success of sports at the university. Weisend passed away on Oct. 25 at the age of 82.
Weisend’s long-lasting term, which included the opening of Lane Stadium, began in the summer of 1956 and spanned until the spring of 1978. While it has been quite some time since his tenure, his influences and contributions have never be forgotten.
For Weisend, respect was gained through credibility. His peers recognized him for always going out of his way for the coaches, players, and teams as a whole. The humble Shakespeare fan constantly avoided the spotlight, focusing on whatever his next project was.
The career and success of Dave Smith, Virginia Tech’s current SID, might not have been possible without the training and mentoring of Weisend. “He allowed me to live a dream,” said Smith. “It was my dream to come here and work and he’s given me what’s turned out to be a 31-year career.
“He didn’t just bring me in, he supported me. He had confidence in me when I didn’t have confidence in myself sometimes. He’d let me know when I did things wrong and that’s what you want; you don’t want someone to pat you on the back when you’re not exactly doing it right.”
Smith also said that Weisend was a man of integrity, a simple but accurate description of his character. It showed in both his personal life and his professional life. He was always fair and honest when dealing with the media, qualities that will gain you respect quicker than anything else in the industry.
Weisend was famous throughout the industry for his method of simply caring. The players were not just athletes; he took a genuine and caring interest in them.
The field pass is a tough credential to come by these days partly due to Weisend’s contributions. Weisend believed having that close of a perspective on a game should be reserved for the professionals and was one of the original advocates in clearing up those sidelines for the photographers and cameramen.
Frank Beamer was a freshman at Virginia Tech when he first met Weisend and can remember his presence vividly.
“He was up front, with everyone,” said Beamer. “He was up front with the newspapers. He was up front with the players. There were never any hidden agendas with Wendy. There were never things that were going to come up as a surprise. You appreciate that.”
Beamer said that Weisend’s influences can still be seen in the sports staff today, including Smith. “He goes out of his way to treat everybody the same,” Beamer said. “He goes out of his way to be consistent. I see a lot of the same qualities in Dave, no question.”
According to Smith, Weisend also organized the “Southern Independence Sports Information Directors”back when a lot of top-tier NCAA schools were still independent, like Miami and Florida State. Along with the help of some other high profile SIDs Weisend’s time period, the organization has made lasting impacts.
Indeed, Weisend’s accomplishments have spanned far beyond the Virginia Tech campus.
His college years, spent studying journalism at Northwestern University, ended early in 1944 when he was called in by the Air Force during World War II, where he earned a Distinguished Flying Cross and a Purple Heart. Weisend flew in 28 missions as an aerial gunner in a B-17.
After the war, Weisend finished his education, spending five years at Duke University as a medical and science writer. The SID at the time, Frank Moseley, hired him in 1956.
Since his retirement in 1978, Weisend’s contributions have been enshrined by Virginia Tech and others. In 1983 he was inducted into the College Sports Information Directors of America Hall of Fame and eight years later his name was placed in the Virginia Tech Sports Hall of Fame.
Neal Turnage also contributed to this article.