Moon Township, Pa. - The Robert Morris University "Voice of the Colonials," Chris Shovlin, was honored with his third Achievement in Radio (A.I.R.) award Wednesday at the 13th Annual March of Dimes Pittsburgh Achievement In Radio (A.I.R.) Awards luncheon at the Green Tree Radisson.
Awards were presented in over 30 categories, ranging from news, sports and public affairs to music, promotion and the naming of the best personalities in each category. This year, legendary Pirate broadcaster Bob Prince was given the Lifetime Achievement Award posthumously.
In the category of Best Play-By-Play Sports Coverage, two finalists were vying for the top prize. "Robert Morris University Upsets Boston College" was the entry submitted by WPIT-AM and Robert Morris University Athletics. The other entry was "Steelers / Browns," submitted by WDVE-FM. The two entries tied for top honors, the only tie at this year's A.I.R. Awards.
The RMU entry featured the final minutes of the Robert Morris men's basketball victory at Boston College Jan. 7, 2008. The game was called by Chris Shovlin and Jim Duzyk. Mike Campbell was the producer at WPIT Radio. The game is widely known as the RMU basketball team's biggest upset win ever.
For Shovlin, it marks his third win at the A.I.R. Awards. In 1998, he and Jeff Waller won the Best Play-By-Play Award for their call of the Robert Morris-Georgetown ECAC Bowl Game in football, also on WPIT-AM. Shovlin and Robert Morris alumnus Steve Bell teamed up on the winning call in 2003 for Pittsburgh Riverhounds pro soccer on WBBG-AM (Fox Sports Radio 970). And now, Shovlin and Duzyk win for basketball in 2008.
Shovlin becomes the first Pittsburgh play-by-play personality to win A.I.R. Awards while broadcasting three different sports.
In accepting the award, Shovlin thanked WPIT General Manager Chuck Gratner and Kenny Woods, Gary Dixon and Campbell for providing the air time for RMU. He saluted RMU Director of Athletics Craig Coleman, M.D., and Associate Athletic Director Marty Galosi for maintaining RMU's presence on radio in Pittsburgh. He saluted RMU Sports Information Director Jim Duzyk for his analysis on the winning call, and credited Jim Elias and Jim Frederick for their roles on the RMU broadcasts.
Shovlin also thanked Robert Morris men's basketball head coach Mike Rice for inspiring his team to a "David over Goliath" win, which, in turn, inspired RMU's broadcasters. Finally, Shovlin thanked Tony Renda for allowing him to work away from his fulltime job at WJAS, WISH 99.7, and WMNY so he could continue to enjoy doing play-by-play sports elsewhere on Pittsburgh Radio and TV.
Shovlin is in his 22nd year as the Voice of the Colonials. He originally came aboard for Colonial basketball in 1987, and he has called each of RMU's last four trips to the postseason. In addition, Shovlin has called every play of every Robert Morris football game since the sport's inception in 1994. He also serves as the play-by-play voice for the Comcast High School Football and Basketball Games of the Week and is the play-by-play voice for the Pittsburgh Riverhounds (pro soccer) and the Pittsburgh Passion (women's pro football).
