CSC FOOTBALL
WOOHEADMANIA SWEEPING THE COUNTRY
By CSC SPORTS INFORMATION
Oct 10, 2007, 10:58

Chadron State College tailback Danny Woodhead of North Platte can add another record to his scrapbook.

According to Chadron State College officials, Woodhead’s career rushing record is garnering unprecedented media coverage for the college. After Saturday’s 208-yard performance against Western New Mexico, the 5-8 senior is college football’s new all-time rushing leader with 7,441 yards.

Justin Haag, CSC communications coordinator, said a news monitoring service reported Monday that more than 11.5 million viewers were made aware of Woodhead’s gridiron exploits from Wednesday, Oct. 3, to Monday, Oct. 8.

Among those reports was a segment on ESPN’s “College Gameday,” which featured Woodhead and Head Coach Bill O’Boyle. Nielsen Ratings indicate that 1.5 million people viewed that piece.

Haag said CSC’s most television coverage for a single reporting period that he’s witnessed prior to this week was in July 2006 when about half as many reports mentioned Chadron State for the wildfires that threatened the campus.

Woodhead also has gained attention from national print media outlets this fall, not to mention reporters throughout the High Plains. Among the other national media outlets who have visited Chadron to do stories on Woodhead are Sports Illustrated, the New York Times, CSTV and USA Today.

Alex Helmbrecht, CSC sports information director, said both regional and national media outlets are calling daily to arrange interviews with Woodhead, who was awarded the Harlon Hill Trophy in 2006.

Reporters from both the Lincoln Journal-Star and Omaha World-Herald were in Chadron to cover the Eagles’ last home game, and this Sunday’s Omaha World-Herald featured a full-page color poster of Woodhead.

© Copyright 2002 by Double Q Country Radio