Stewart Mandel
Encyclopedia
Stewart Lance Mandel is an American sports writer who focuses on college football
and college basketball
. Mandel was raised in Cincinnati, Ohio
, attending Sycamore High School
, and is a graduate of Northwestern University
(1998) with a degree in Journalism
.
Writing in Gelf Magazine, David Goldenberg noted that Mandel "has a broad perspective on the sport [of college football] and its various constituencies". Since 1999, Mandel has worked for SI.com, where he writes the "College Football Mailbag" (The Mailbag) column, numerous individual features, and analyses of various games. Mandel describes his job as primarily "attempting to explain to irrational college football fan bases across the country just how illogical the current system of college football is". He also writes about men's college basketball
. He was an AP voter in the NCAA Football AP poll, but gave the duty up to fellow SI.com writer Andy Staples.
In 2007, Mandel released his first book: Bowls, Polls, and Tattered Souls: Tackling the Chaos and Controversy that Reign Over College Football. A review in The New York Times complimented the book's "breezy, airy tone" and Mandel's ability to be "sarcastic without being cynical and critical without sounding jaded" during the "intricate tour through the ills of the college football world."
In February 2009, SI.com announced Mandel would be taking a sabbatical from the site "to work on other projects. He returned in early July."
A practicing Jew, Mandel held off from writing his featured SI.com sports blog during and in observance of Yom Kippur
when it fell on a game day during the college football season.
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
and college basketball
College basketball
College basketball most often refers to the USA basketball competitive governance structure established by the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Basketball in the NCAA is divided into three divisions: Division I, Division II and Division III....
. Mandel was raised in Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio. Cincinnati is the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located to north of the Ohio River at the Ohio-Kentucky border, near Indiana. The population within city limits is 296,943 according to the 2010 census, making it Ohio's...
, attending Sycamore High School
Sycamore High School (Cincinnati, Ohio)
Sycamore High School is a four-year public high school in the north-east suburbs of Cincinnati, Ohio. It is the only high school in the Sycamore Community School District. The current building was built in 1974 in a very modern architectural style employing the progressive and experimental open...
, and is a graduate of Northwestern University
Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, USA. Northwestern has eleven undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools offering 124 undergraduate degrees and 145 graduate and professional degrees....
(1998) with a degree in Journalism
Journalism
Journalism is the practice of investigation and reporting of events, issues and trends to a broad audience in a timely fashion. Though there are many variations of journalism, the ideal is to inform the intended audience. Along with covering organizations and institutions such as government and...
.
Writing in Gelf Magazine, David Goldenberg noted that Mandel "has a broad perspective on the sport [of college football] and its various constituencies". Since 1999, Mandel has worked for SI.com, where he writes the "College Football Mailbag" (The Mailbag) column, numerous individual features, and analyses of various games. Mandel describes his job as primarily "attempting to explain to irrational college football fan bases across the country just how illogical the current system of college football is". He also writes about men's college basketball
College basketball
College basketball most often refers to the USA basketball competitive governance structure established by the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Basketball in the NCAA is divided into three divisions: Division I, Division II and Division III....
. He was an AP voter in the NCAA Football AP poll, but gave the duty up to fellow SI.com writer Andy Staples.
In 2007, Mandel released his first book: Bowls, Polls, and Tattered Souls: Tackling the Chaos and Controversy that Reign Over College Football. A review in The New York Times complimented the book's "breezy, airy tone" and Mandel's ability to be "sarcastic without being cynical and critical without sounding jaded" during the "intricate tour through the ills of the college football world."
In February 2009, SI.com announced Mandel would be taking a sabbatical from the site "to work on other projects. He returned in early July."
A practicing Jew, Mandel held off from writing his featured SI.com sports blog during and in observance of Yom Kippur
Yom Kippur
Yom Kippur , also known as Day of Atonement, is the holiest and most solemn day of the year for the Jews. Its central themes are atonement and repentance. Jews traditionally observe this holy day with a 25-hour period of fasting and intensive prayer, often spending most of the day in synagogue...
when it fell on a game day during the college football season.