Lynn Hoppes, associate managing editor/sports for The Orlando Sentinel

Andrew was different from other college journalists because he kept badgering me to help him improve. Seriously. He would send me his published stories. He would send me notes. He would send me e-mails. He never gave up. I eventually offered him an internship here and he was terrific. He then sent his clips to other writers and editors for advice on how to get better. He'll continue this practice until he gets everything out of life he wants.

Bill Reiter, sports enterprise writer for the Kansas City Star

Andrew is one of the most talented, hard-working and interesting writers I've met. Reading his work and visiting with him about journalism makes me believe that, despite all the bad news about the journalism business, the future of our industry is in good hands. He's a sports writer whose works often transcends sports -- he tells tales that go beyond games and show us truths about ourselves and our community.

Greg Bowers, sports editor for the Columbia Missourian

Last summer, we were dealing with a difficult issue. The coach of the University's club lacrosse team was fired. The coach was also openly gay. Although the leaders of the team denied that his sexuality played a role in his dismissal and the coach himself would not, at the time, assert that his dismissal had anything to do with his sexuality, it was a story. Andy and I talked about how to go forward and he spent more than a month finding and contacting gay coaches from around the country. The resulting story was a roundtable discussion of what it means to be a gay coach. It was a significant, perhaps groundbreaking story. The Associated Press sports editors recognized it with an award in the under-40,000 circulation category.

Source | The Missourian
Kyle Hawkins had just spent another 20 minutes or so being interviewed on his cell phone, talking once more about the issues that have made him an unintentional trailblazer.

Source | The Orlando Sentinel
Down the road from Dodgertown, the lunch crowd files into Bobby's Restaurant, some young, some old. Talk of batting orders, the bullpen and starting rotations begins.

Source | The Missourian
Don Fambrough’s voice is rising, each word from his wrinkled lips dripping with fire. The former Kansas football coach and face of disdain for all things Missouri is on a roll, so don’t try to stop him now.

Source | The MIssourian
Brad Ekwerekwu is serious. A smile isn’t peeking between his cheeks. No laughter. Not even a smirk.