Journalist Woody Paige is best known for his sports knowledge and wit. The ESPN broadcaster and Denver Post reporter and columnist credits UT’s journalism school for building a great foundation for his career.
Monday, Paige was honored with an Accomplished Alumni award. The Accomplished Alumni program recognizes notable alumni for their success and distinction within their field.
“This is incredible because I was the most incorrigible student in the School of Journalism,” joked Paige. “The school is responsible for whatever I’ve accomplished because it set the landscape for me to succeed.”
Paige is currently a sports columnist for The Denver Post and regular panelist on ESPN’s sports talk program, Around the Horn. Over his thirty-five year career, Paige has covered sporting events in more than twenty-two countries. His resume includes numerous Super Bowls, Summer and Winter Olympics, World Championship fights, as well as the World Series and the NBA and Stanley Cup Finals.
He joins a variety of outstanding alumni that have been featured through the accomplished alumni program, including CEOs of major corporations, Olympians, authors, artists, musicians, US ambassadors, and civic leaders.
The award was presented by College of Communications Dean Mike Wirth during an Advanced Sports Writing class for undergraduate journalism and electronic media students.
“Woody Paige is one of the most talented sports journalists in the world,” said Wirth. “His remarkable ability to share his knowledge of and—passion for—sports, through his columns and books and on television, is why Woody has won more than one-hundred local, state, and national media awards.”
Paige gave a surprise guest lecture, sharing some wisdom about the field and life in general.
“I tell young people to work harder than everybody else, be passionate about what you are doing, and be creative,” said Paige. “Those three things, combined with reading and writing, will help you succeed in the most difficult economy I’ve ever seen.”
Paige, a native of Memphis, Tennessee, began his career as a sports columnist with The Whitehaven Press after attending UT from 1964 to 1968. He later went on to cover politics for The Knoxville Journal and civil rights for The Memphis Commercial Appeal and the Rocky Mountain News.
To view other Accomplished Alumni, visit the Vols Connect web site.
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C O N T A C T :
Whitney Heins (865-974-5460, wheins@utk.edu)