Indianapolis announced it will not print preseason media guides for any of its 21 varsity sports.   Athletics Director Sue Willey said the print savings will funneled into new Web and marketing projects that will benefit fans, media and recruits.

“When schools like Michigan, Ohio State, Wisconsin and Marshall, among others, moved swiftly to eliminate printed guides, it gives you a sense of where this issue is heading,” Willey said. “Recruits are so much more Web-savvy, and media are already used to checking the Web site for updated information, so it is the next logical step to focus on improving our Web presence. Measure in the benefits in cost savings and environmental effects and it becomes a no-brainer.”

Assistant Athletics Director for Sports Information Mitch Wigness said while media guides served broadcasters and journalists and helped in recruiting, those services are now offered online. “As those can now be better fulfilled through the Web and other avenues, then the printed version becomes more and more obsolete,” Wigness said. “We are at that point.”

Wigness said while the printed guides will no longer be distributed, the information is still available at www.athletics.uindy.edu. Student-athlete bios, statistics, records, game recaps and more are online in addition to new ventures to produce more live events via video and television partnerships.

Wigness said the school will still produce limited quantities of media information for teams that qualify for postseason play and will produce preseason prospectus materials for media use.