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CoSIDA Goodwill & Wellness Committee
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Communicators Outside the Lines Feature Series
This is the next profile Q and A in a series entitled
Communicators Outside the Lines: Better Yourself, Better Your Community produced by the CoSIDA Goodwill & Wellness Committee. Read past profiles at
CoSIDA.com/CommunicatorsOTL.
HAVE IDEAS OR MEMBERS TO NOMINATE FOR THIS SERIES?
If you have any ideas for this series, which will revolve around CoSIDA member volunteerism and health and wellness, please contact Goodwill and Wellness Committee chair
Chris Mitchell, Washington University in St. Louis Assistant AD for Communications, at (618) 560-9280 or
mitchell@wustl.edu.
Safford with his son PJ.
Q&A with Mike Safford
Director of Athletic Communications, College of Idaho
by Tommy Chasanoff, Sports Information Director, University of the Cumberlands
CoSIDA Goodwill & Wellness Committee
Mike Safford is in his 17th year as the SID at the College of Idaho. A 1998 graduate of Pacific Lulthern University, Safford has served as an SID at Evergreen State and the College of Idaho. He also is an accomplished broadcaster since 1994 having called games at the prep, collegiate and in professional baseball. He suffered a serious leg injury a few years ago but has used youth baseball coaching and a weight loss program with his wife to help with his recovery.
Q. How did you get started in the profession and what is your favorite job?
SAFFORD: In high school, I started handling the PA for our basketball games as a senior and enjoyed the public speaking aspect of things…I had wanted to be a teacher heading into college, but fell in love with the communication field…I started working for the Pacific Lutheran sports info office, helping with gameday ops during the winter and spring – which led to my first full-time job in 1998 at Evergreen State…and headed to C of I in the fall of 2001…my favorite job (if you want to call it a job) is researching game notes, trying to find those little nuggets of information that fans enjoy and the media will use.
Q. You have served as a mentor to a lot of colleagues in the profession, what is the best advice you give them?
SAFFORD: Strive for excellence and always give it your best shot. Be confident in what you do and know that there are so many folks out there who are willing to help if you need answers.
Safford coaching at a youth baseball game.
Q. In 2016 you suffered a bad injury, what happened and how was the recovery process?
SAFFORD: For 13 years, I worked in minor league baseball during the summer. But after losing my position the year prior, I began coaching my son’s Cal Ripken team. During a game, I jumped out of the way of a ball and landed on the lip of the dugout with my quad tendon exploding. Many of you probably remember me in a wheelchair at CoSIDA in Dallas – which was about the time when I started being able to put some weight on the leg. After six weeks of no weight bearing and six weeks of a walker, 12 weeks of intense PT followed and eventually I was able to walk. There is still pain and my mobility will never be the same, but I am mobile and active.
Q. You have recently started a new journey with your wife to lose weight. How is that process going? And how do you stay motivated during crossover season?
SAFFORD: We got to a point in November where we had a family photo session for Christmas Cards and we didn’t like what we saw. The two of us began a journey through Weight Watchers right through the holidays. Between the two of us, we’ve lost well over 100 pounds and I'm wearing clothes I haven’t worn in years and feeling so much better. This has helped during the spring crossover as I am taking time to walk during the day and having better eating options. Though, the zero-calorie energy drinks (which are 0 points in WW) probably aren’t be best option.
Q. How do you find work-life balance in this profession? What is your favorite activity to do outside of work?
SAFFORD: It is always a difficult process for me – and my wife has to remind me that. For me, I try to use coaching my son’s team as a huge opportunity to have fun, be active and engage with him. I also love to golf, but don’t get to go out as much as I would like.
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