There’s a new updated page for the Augustana Sports Information website as the overall layout for the site has changed.
The change was due to the website provider company, Sidearm, that Augustana Sports Information has a contract with.
On Aug. 15, the contract Augustana had with Sidearm renewed. With the renewal, came a new, updated sports website. Augustana didn’t have a large part in redesigning it. Assistant Sports Information Director Dan Sand said Sidearm took the lead on this part.
“Sidearm didn’t nearly take as much input from us as they have in the past,” Sand said.
Sports Information Director Dave Wrath said Augustana uses the outside provider because Sidearm is able to get stories and updates out fast, which is a necessity for the Sports Information Department.
“The instant publication is one of the main reasons that drove us to Sidearm,” Wrath said.
Wrath said the new site has its quirks, but also some drawbacks.
“The new home page has social media buttons, which we like,” Wrath said. “The only nuance with the home page is the size of the pictures.”
The pictures are large enough to the point that one has to scroll down on the screen to view everything. Both Wrath and Sand reported they would like to have everything viewable in one frame.
Many other teams in the CCIW and outside of the CCIW use Sidearm and were on the same three-year contract as Augustana. Looking around the conference, teams such as North Central College and Carthage College use Sidearm as well, so their websites are fairly similar to Augustana’s.
The next time the contract is to be renewed is three years from now, leaving this site in place until Augustana is eligible for another revision.