Former SU Sports Information Director Val Pinchbeck Passes Away
3/7/2004 5:35:13 PM | Men's Basketball, Football
Pinchbeck graduated from the SU School of Journalism in 1952. He served in the U.S. Navy during the Korean conflict from 1952 to 1954 with duty in the Mediterranean, Caribbean and Atlantic. He also served 21 years in the Naval Reserve and retired in 1971 with the rank of Commander. From 1956 until 1966, he served as the Orange Sports Information Director. He was also Publicity Director and later Managing Director of the Syracuse Regatta Association. In 1966 he served additionally as President of the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSida). Prior to his appointment at Syracuse, Pinchbeck served in the same role at Bucknell University for two years.
Pinchbeck was recognized by Syracuse University as an honorary Letterwinner of Distinction in 1987.
In 1966, Pinchbeck became Director of Special Events for the then American Football League under new Commissioner Al Davis. The following year he moved to the Denver Broncos as Director of Public Relations. In 1970, he returned to New York as Assistant to the President of the American Football Conference of the National Football League under Commissioner Pete Rozelle. In that position, he served as the League's chief administrator and liaison with the AFC teams. He was also the principle administrator of the AFC-NFC Pro Bowl game. In 1978, he switched to the broadcasting area and was named Director of Broadcasting. He was elevated to Vice President of Broadcasting and Productions by Commissioner Paul Tagliabue in 1990.
Pinchbeck served as the main League liaison on television and radio with the 30 teams as well as the various networks who telecast (ABC, FOX, NBC, ESPN, TNT) and broadcast (CBS Radio) NFL games. He was directly involved in the negotiations of the NFL network television contracts in 1982, 1987, 1990 and again in 1994. Pinchbeck has also been one of the people responsible for the construction of the NFL playing schedule each year.
