DALLAS (NCBWA) – Craig Way, in the midst of his fifth decade of working with the Longhorn Radio Network from Learfield and baseball voice of the University of Texas program since 2002, has captured the 50th annual National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Russell D. Anderson/Wilbur Snypp Award for national contributions to college baseball.
The award, first given in 1975 to NCBWA founder Wilbur (Bill) Snypp of Ohio State, also memorializes the cherished Russell D. Anderson – treasurer and associate executive director for the NCBWA for 25-plus years from 1996-2021 before passing away April 5, 2021. Anderson was awarded the top honor given by the NCBWA in 2002 for his sterling efforts in the college baseball realm.
“Craig Way has done so many great things to encourage interest and to promote the game of college baseball,” NCBWA Executive Director Bo Carter said. “His body of work and work ethic not only college baseball but in all areas of college broadcasting are unrivaled. He is one of the best in the business and longtime friend of many NCBWA members and officers.”
Way is currently in his 24th season as the play-by-play voice of the Texas Longhorns for baseball on the Longhorn Radio Network from Learfield, but his legacy goes far beyond the diamond. He began working on radio broadcasts in 1988 as the network's studio anchor and served as analyst on football and basketball broadcasts from 1992-2001 while becoming UT's play-by-play voice of women's college basketball in 1997. He then assumed play-by-play duties on football, men's basketball and baseball beginning in 2002.
The Voice of the Longhorns, Craig Way
His list of honors in broadcasting, which covers a career as a student broadcaster at the University of North Texas to an intern and anchor at KRLD Radio in Dallas, includes the Contribution To Amateur Football Award from the National Football Foundation/College Football Hall of Fame Austin (Texas) NFF Chapter, the Texas High School Coaches Association's Distinguished Service Award, induction into the Texas High School Football Hall of Fame and his first (of two) 2016 Texas Sportscaster of the Year by the National Sports Media Association.
Way also is recipient of the Dallas Press Club’s prestigious Katie Award, and seven Lone Star Emmy Awards, three as host of “High School Scoreboard Live” on FOX Sports Southwest; four for Best Play-By-Play in Texas for his call of the UIL State High School Championships and also is widely recognized as “The Voice of High School Sports In Texas.” He has called more than 200 state title games in football and basketball on TV and all told more than 5,000 high school football, basketball and baseball games on TV and radio.
His smooth and exciting descriptions of everything from the greatest moments in Longhorns history in the NCAA World Series, 2005 Bowl Championship football title, NCAA Final Four®, times in the pressbox elevator (when it worked) at old Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha, and other national events have distinguished him among fans and fellow broadcasters alike.
Anderson/Snypp namesake Russell Anderson told friends before his passing that Way was one of his favorite broadcasters, and the two met many times during Anderson’s days as assistant commissioner of Conference USA and in NCBWA capacities.
"I am greatly honored and humbled to be named the recipient of the 50th annual National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association's Russell D. Anderson/Wilbur Snypp Award.” Way said. “This award is synonymous with great contributions to game of college baseball, beginning with its namesakes Russell Anderson and Wilbur Snypp, and includes some of the greatest names in the history of college baseball.
“I feel fortunate and blessed to have worked alongside several of the individuals who have won this award, including the late Bill Little, one of my first broadcast partners on Longhorn baseball,” he added. “I also have been blessed to work with great coaches like the late Augie Garrido, David Pierce and now Jim Schlossnagle. I have also greatly benefited from having a College Baseball Hall of Famer in Keith Moreland over the years as a broadcast partner.
"Other than calling the two national championships for the Texas Longhorns in 2002 and 2005 at the College World Series, I can't imagine a greater thrill in the game in being named the recipient of this prestigious honor. I thank the NCBWA for this award."
All-Time Russell D. Anderson/Wilbur Snypp Award Winners
1975 Wilbur Snypp, Ohio State
1976 Bill Esposito, St. John's
1977 Phil Langan, Cornell
1978 John Geis, Southern Conference
1979 Hank Schomber, Georgia Southern
1980 Bob Culp, Western Michigan
1981 Lou Pavlovich, Sr., Collegiate Baseball
1982 Tom Price, South Carolina
1983 Bob Bradley, Clemson
1984 Robert Williams, Omaha World-Herald
1985 Jerry Miles, NCAA
1986 Larry Keefe, Seton Hall
1987 Tom Rowen, San Jose Mercury-News
1988 Fred Gerardi, KESY Radio, Omaha
1989 Jim Wright, NCAA
1990 Steve Weller, SIU-Edwardsville
1991 Bill Little, University of Texas
1992 Kirk Bohls, Austin American-Statesman
1993 Bo Carter, Southwest Conference
1994 Lou Pavlovich, Jr., Collegiate Baseball
1995 Steve Pivovar, Omaha World-Herald
1996 Gary Johnson, NCAA
1997 Dave Wohlhueter, Cornell
1998 Allan Simpson, Baseball America
1999 Alan Cannon, Texas A&M
2000 Jim Callis, Baseball America
2001 Dick Case, USA Baseball
2002 Russell D. Anderson, Conference USA
2003 John Manuel, Baseball America
2004 Dana Heiss Grodin, USA TODAY Sports Weekly
2005 Dennis Poppe, NCAA
2006 Mike Montoro, Southern Miss
2007 Barry Allen, Alabama
2008 Mike Patrick, ESPN
2009 Al Chase, Honolulu Star-Bulletin
2010 Lou Spry, NCAA
2011 Jeremy Mills, ESPN/D1Baseball.com
2012 Eric Olson, Associated Press
2013 J.D. Hamilton, NCAA
2014 John Sullivan, Rice
2015 David Feaster, Dick Howser Trophy
2016 Ralph Zobell, BYU
2017 Aaron Fitt, D1Baseball.com/Baseball America
2018 Kyle Peterson, ESPN
2019 Jim Ellis, Mississippi State Radio
2020 Malcolm Gray, East Carolina
2021 Kevin Kugler, Westwood One/Fox Sports
2022 John Cox, Southern Miss
2023 Ryan Bomberger, Liberty
2024 Craig Way, Texas Longhorns Radio