By DANAE MERCER
News Reporter
A love of sports sent one Creighton alumnus deep into the recesses of the CU archives. Months of digging and hundreds of photographs later, Travis Sing emerged and published “Creighton University Athletics: A History in Photographs.”
Sing will be at the CU Bookstore this Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. to sign copies.
True to its name, “Creighton University Athletics” provides a history of Creighton sports through photographs. Sing said his inspiration stemmed from a deep-rooted Creighton pride.
“I thought it was time Creighton got its own athletics book,” he said. “Creighton has its own athletic tradition. I decided I was going to do this for my alma mater. It really was a labor of love.”
So Sing, an independent scholar, began searching for athletic photos. He worked closely with university archivist David Crawford in the Reinert Alumni Library and the Creighton Athletics Department.
“Travis brought a lot of energy to this project,” Crawford said, “and that was needed given the amount of materials that he had to wade through.”
After compiling photos and conducting multiple interviews, Sing struggled with publishing issues.
“The publisher told me to presale 400 copies,” Sing said. “I’m not a big-time salesman. I’m not someone who is about sale, sale, sale.”
Rather than throw in the towel, Sing began his own publishing company, Osage Orange Publishing.
“My wife said, we’ll put money away and just publish this ourselves. It was a big decision, but we decided it was something that needed to be done.”
Then the athletic book was born. Some of the old photographs, especially football shots, fascinated Sing.
“It’s interesting to see how things have changed over the years. These old football teams wore sweaters with small pads on top and little leather helmets.
“And the basketball team, their warm-up outfits were cardigan sweaters!” Sing said.
Creighton has also housed several soon-to-be-famous athletes.
“We have people in the hall of fame that were associated either as coaches or students. We have a baseball hall of famer.”
Even less popular athletes are important to remember, Sing said.
“Folks don’t know a lot about Slingshot John Knolla. He was a really good player who played professional in the 1940s.”
Through his history of photographs, Sing hopes to help alumni reminiscence and current students discover.
“This book draws on personal memories and overlooked materials,” Crawford said.
“Creighton has a proud past of athletic achievements. These are the building blocks for today’s accomplishments,” said Rick Davis, who works with Creighton Marketing and Public Relations.
“Creighton University Athletics” has received generally positive reviews. “It turned out great,” Davis said. “It’s a nice chronicle that really captures Creighton athletics.”
“I wanted to get the story out about these athletes that have kind of been forgotten,” Sing said. “And I tried to make a book that someone can just pick up, open it to a page and read about the photograph.
“This gives people a chance to learn about some great athletic traditions,” Sing said.