By DON FLETCHER
News Staff Writer
Officials of College Sports Communicators (CSC), a membership association of professionals working in intercollegiate athletics, announced this week that Atmore native Scottie Rodgers, whose resume includes dozens of NCAA, professional and other sporting events, was one of six people selected for induction into the College Sports Communicators Hall of Fame.
According to a CSC press release, the honor bestowed upon Rodgers is a reflection of “his many contributions to, and excellence in, college sports communications.”
A University of Alabama graduate, Rodgers currently holds the position of Vice President of Communications for the Cotton Bowl, a job that entails overseeing the media operations for the annual Cotton Bowl Classic and the press box operations for all college games at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
He also implements strategic communications objectives, coordinates publicity and leads the social media strategy — with an emphasis on digital marketing — for the Classic, the CBAA and the Cotton Bowl Foundation.
The 2025 College Football Playoff Semifinal at the 89th Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic will be the 26th Classic Rodgers has worked and his fifth as a member of the CBAA staff. The game, set for this Friday, January 10, at 6:30 p.m. (CT), will pit No. 8 seed Ohio State vs. No. 5 seed Texas.
Rodgers was a part of the Cotton Bowl media operations staff for 21 years (2000-19), serving as a team media liaison for 17 games before joining the staff in a full-time role. His 30-plus year career as an athletics communications professional has included stops at three NCAA Division I conference offices — the Southeastern, the Ivy League and the Sun Belt, as well as the NCAA national office, CBS Sports Digital and Tulane University.
College Sports Communicators recognized Rodgers in 2020 with its 25-Year Award and has twice (in 2021 and 2024) presented him with its President’s Award.
The Atmore native’s career has included participation in communications for many and varied NCAA and national championship events, including 17 NCAA Men’s Final Fours, eight NCAA Women’s Final Fours and seven College Football Playoff National Championship games (2015, ‘18, ‘19, ‘20, ‘21, ‘23 and ‘24). He was also a part of the operations staff during the first and second rounds of the 2021 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship.
Rodgers has also worked on the media operations staff for various professional and international sporting events, including the Kentucky Derby (2002-07), the 2008 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, the American League Division Series (2007, ‘08, ‘09, ‘11 and ‘12), the American League Championship Series in 2009 and 2010, and the 2009 World Series.
Rodgers earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communication from the University of Alabama in 1995. He spent three years as a student assistant in the UA athletics communications office during his time in Tuscaloosa before beginning his climb up the ladder to earn a place among the best in his chosen profession.
The other members of the CSC Hall’s Class of 2025: Lonza Hardy, Jr. (Retired athletic administration and communications leader at Alcorn State, Southern University, Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) and Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC), among others; Larry Hymel (Retired Southeastern Louisiana University Sports Information Director); Tony Neely (University of Kentucky Assistant Athletic Director for Athletics Communications and Public Relations); Cindy Potter (Columbia College, Mo., Director of Athletics and former CSC president), and John Painter (Maryville College, Tenn., Assistant Athletics Director for Communications).
Rodgers and his peers will officially become Hall of Fame members on Monday, June 9, during the CSC All-Star Night of Honors, when they and the Academic All-America Hall of Fame Class will be enshrined. The special night is a highlight of CSC’s annual convention, which will take place June 8-11 at the Orlando World Center Marriott Resort.