WISE, Va. -- The 2008 University of Delaware Football Media Guide has been judged “Best in the Nation” by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) as part of it annual publications contest.

The 184-page publication, which was edited by UD Assistant Director of Athletics and Sports Information Director Scott Selheimer and Assistant Sports Information Director Kevin Tritt and designed by UD Senior Art Director Keith Heckert, was judged “Best in the Nation” by a three-person panel coordinated by University of Virginia at Wise Sports Information Director Chris Myers. The panel consists of media members and those in the printing and publications business.

The contest is open to all 123 NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (formerly known as NCAA I-AA) schools. Appalachian State finished second in this year’s judging followed by Liberty and Youngstown State. The University of Massachusetts was honored for having the “Best Cover”.

Guides are judged on such topics as overall appearance, layout, design, writing style, amount of information, and ease of reading and finding information.

The University of Delaware football guide is published each year and distributed to media members both locally and nationally for their coverage of the Blue Hens during the season. The publication is also distributed to recruits and donors and is sold at Delaware Stadium on gamedays during the fall. The publication includes staff and player profiles, season information, season recaps, historical information, and photos.

This year’s award marks the 28th time since the 1976 season that the Delaware Football Media Guide has earned either a district or national award by CoSIDA - including four other “Best in the Nation” citations in 1997, 1990, 1981, and 1977 and a “Best Cover” award in 2005. The publication has been honored as one of the top five guides in the nation 17 times.

The 2009 publication is currently being completed and will be available for distribution in mid-August.