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Inside President’s Ron Higgins’ All-America Outland, Nagurski Dennis Dodd on this Column bowl report watch list watch lists media relations June 2005 Page 2 Page 3 Pages 4-5 Page 6 Page 7 issue Vol. 43, No. 2 Here’s to the FWAA’s 50-plus club The FWAA is honoring members who joined the Association in 1956 or before by placing them in the “50- Plus Club.” From the FWAA archives, re- search indicates there are 28 current members who joined the organiza- tion in 1956 or before. That is a re- markable number for one of the old- est writing organizations in the coun- try. Those members are being hon- ored for their longevity of member- ship and will receive a token of the FWAA’s appreciation later this year. In addition, the 50-Plus Club will be featured on the front cover of the 2005-06 print FWAA Directory. Pat Harmon, former FWAA presi- dent and Bert McGrane winner, has been a member since 1942 and leads the organization in member- ship longevity. There are actually six members Former Bert McGrane award winner Jimmie McDowell, who became a who have been members for 60 member in 1948, is one of 28 members who joined the FWAA in 1956 years or more. Harmon, Norris or before. Anderson (1946), Bob Broeg (1945), Sid Hartman (1945), Paul Morrison Norris Anderson (1946) Football Post-Dispatch (1946) and (1946). News Don Bryant (1950) University of Here’s the complete list of the 50- (1950) Nebraska Plus Members, the year they joined Journal-Constitution Arnie Burdick (1956) Syracuse and their past or current affiliation: Bob Broeg (1945) St. Louis (Continued on page 4) Page 2 THE FIFTH

President Alan Schmadtke Orlando Sentinel

First Vice President President’s column Dennis Dodd The Bowl is equipped with wireless in the media CBS SportsLine Championship center. Rooms won’t have wireless but

Second Vice President Series may be will have optional high-speed service. Mike Griffith full of uncertainty Wireless service at the Rose Bowl is Knoxville News-Sentinel as conference still a question, one that won’t be an- commissioners swered until football season. As it is, Executive Director try to sort out Ash’s staff is promising one free phone Steve Richardson Dallas Morning News their poll prob- for every three working writers. High- lems. Its media speed service also may be an option. 2004 Directors representatives A few words of caution: Nothing in LA

Jack Bogaczyk are playing a is inexpensive, and covering this game Charleston Daily Mail much smoother won’t be, either. The Beverly Hilton -- game. Rate: $175. Rose Bowl officials negoti- Al Featherston Freelance Among 2005’s ated a discounted daily parking rate ALAN first-half develop- ($21, down from $25). Paul Gattis SCHMADTKE ments: Such rates won’t play well with many The Huntsville Times ● Big 12 assis- editors, especially those in college towns Tim Griffin tant commis- like Norman, Okla., and Knoxville, Tenn., Express-News sioner Bob Burda smartly convened a but they’re a couple ticks down from at

Chad Hartley gathering in Dallas of BCS media reps the last in Jacksonville. Reno Gazette Journal from the Orange, Fiesta, Rose and One key thing to note about this sea-

Dave Jones Sugar bowls, plus reps from the SEC, son’s Rose Bowl include credentials. The Patriot-News Big East and Pac-10. Just like the Orange, the Rose will re- ● media coordinator quire photos for its credentials. Todd Jones Joe Hornstein briefed his peers on his Unlike the Orange, the Rose will not Columbus Dispatch bowl’s 2005 BCS Championship Game permit media members to e-mail photos Rich Kaipust media plan, one that drew raves. to the bowl. All media photos must be Omaha World-Herald ● And Mitch Dorger, executive direc- taken by the bowl, which plans to send a Steve Kiggins tor of the Rose Bowl, host of the 2006 photographer to the SEC, ACC and Big Casper Star-Tribune BCS Championship, hosted a small 12 championship games. Other media

Brian Koonz group from the FWAA to preview his that need credentials can apply without a Danbury News-Times bowl’s media plan, one specially tailored photo and will have their pictures taken for the inherent challenges of Los Ange- when the pick up credentials. The proc- Ted Lewis les. ess will add only about two minutes to NO Times-Picayune Burda is BCS coordinator Kevin Wie- credential pickup, Ash said. Joseph Person berg’s point man for the media, and he As for football business at the BCS, The State was among those attending the A-to-Z the bowls and conference partners are

Damien Pierce Rose Bowl preview. Media members can exploring a replacement poll. That poll Fort Worth Star-Telegram expect shuttles to the Home Depot Cen- won’t be the FWAA’s.

Chip Scoggins ter in Carson, Calif., and back for media First, our board has no interest in do- Minneapolis Star-Tribune day (Jan. 2, 2006); to the media party ing away with a pre-season poll. that night and back; and to the Rose Second, there simply is too much Kalani Simpson Bowl and back on game day (Jan. 4). downside in allowing our poll to plug di- Honolulu Star-Bulletin Rose Bowl chief administrative officer rectly into a BCS formula. FWAA reps Bob Thomas Kevin Ash and his staff already have Chris Dufresne (Los Angeles Times) and Times-Union made one move to accommodate East Mark Blaudschun (Boston Globe) re-

Scott Wolf Coast members: timing of media day layed this sentiment to BCS partners at Los Angeles Daily News was moved forward three hours to 2:30 their April meeting.

Ex-officio to 5 p.m. EST. The Home Depot Center, It’s possible some FWAA members Bob Burda a monster practice facility, will be will be asked to participate in a newly Big 12/BCS liaison equipped with phones so members writ- created BCS poll. And that decision will Jon Jackson ing on deadline can file without having to be up to each member and each mem- Duke/CoSIDA. go back to the media hotel. ber’s boss. Regardless what it touches, The media hotel (the Beverly Hilton) the BCS is never dull. Page 3 THE FIFTH DOWN Bowl press operations improving By Ron Higgins At the Mobile Bowl (one of two bowls I covered this Memphis Commercial-Appeal year), they didn't have a press room. When I asked the To borrow and tweak a phrase of a popular commer- bowl's alleged media director for press guides of both cial concerning a corporate sponsor of one of the post- teams, as well as a bowl press guide, he said, "I have season bowl games, "Capital One, what's in your bowl some in the trunk of my car." I never got the press game press operation?" guides and didn't see any until game night. Actually, it wasn't just the Capital One Bowl's press And then on game night, I almost fell out of my chair operation we were interested in. It was all the bowls, when the pregame media notes informed us that the which is why we tried to get media surveys from as press box would close at midnight and that the press box many postseason games as possible. must be clear. What the surveys told us that that there's a clear line What about writers who had to file more than one between the operation of the BCS bowls and a few of story? When I walked out of the press box at 11:45 p.m., the upper level bowls and the operation of the rest of the there were about six or seven guys left hammering bowls that seem to spring up every other year like acne. away. I hope they made it out before midnight. They may Understandably, the BCS bowls should have an still be locked in up there for all we know. Maybe they've edge. They have more money, bigger budgets and gotten the postgame quotes by now. there's a reason they are BCS bowls. They are profes- The Liberty Bowl, which may have been the most sional operations with year-round personnel. competitive and most entertaining non-BCS bowl this They also listen to FWAA when we have sugges- year featuring Louisville and Boise State, also received tions. We don't ask for much. mostly critical surveys. One writer put it best on our sur- All we really care about is good access to players vey when he wrote, "For the most part, it seemed like the and coaches during the week, a press room at the press media was on its own." hotel where brochures and updates may be obtained, There were breakdowns in several areas. The press plenty of phones and electrical outlets on game day and conferences for both coaches the day before the game an efficient postgame for writers battling deadline. were held at separate locations. The bowl media guide Anything else that we get is gravy. Which is why cov- came out late, and no information was provided on direc- ering the Fiesta and Cotton Bowls is a dream. Both tions to and from key locations. There were no free use bowls bring a wave of key players and coaches to the phones in the press box, and the postgame interview media hotels for interviews, and they back it up with ex- area was in a tent in a parking lot with a band playing tensive quote sheets. outside. The media hospitality at both bowls is a dream. They The tent was also so far from the Boise State locker actually have several events for the media and spouses/ room that Boise State was gone by the time the press or girlfriends. And it's nice to have transportation to and conference ended. from these events and to and from the game. Living in Memphis and having covered games at Lib- In our survey, other bowls got high marks for innova- erty Bowl Memorial Stadium, I can't blame all the post- tive ideas. At the Orange Bowl, press conferences with game problems on the Liberty Bowl media operation. the teams and players were broadcast on TV in the me- Postgame has always been a pain in that stadium. dia hotel. Brilliant! There's no large postgame interview room where it's The drew raves for just about every- quiet. Unless you are in the hastily set up an interview thing but rated the highest for its media center, media tent at midfield, halfway between the dressing rooms, hospitality suite and bowl staff and volunteers. The main there is no good location. gripes came from photographers, who said that the There's also the fact they remodeled the press box "standing only" policy in end zones was dangerous and and made it even worse. One writer wrote in his survey that too many sideline passes were issued on the Wis- that it would be nice to have high-speed internet in that consin sideline. stadium. Hey, they're lucky to have electricity that works Also, there were a couple of complaints about lack of most of the time in that dump. The only real way to im- access to Wisconsin players during the week, but that's prove Liberty Bowl Stadium is to implode it. often something a bowl can't control. And frankly, it has The good news from all surveys tell us that more and been my experience, having been spoiled by covering more bowls are getting their press operations in line. the mostly media friendly SEC, that Big 10 schools treat But we're shooting for 100 percent. All they have to the media like the enemy. do is listen to us. If they do that, they may get there yet. The smaller bowls seem to struggle handling the ba- A wag can dream the possible dream, can't she or sic needs of the media. he? Page 4 ALL-AMERICA OFFENSE DeAngelo Williams, Memphis , TCU Jon Wilson, Air Force , Michigan Carlton Jones, Army , BYU Drew Tate, Iowa , Oklahoma Jeff Webb, San Diego St. OFFENSIVE LINEMEN , Bowling Green Chris Barclay, Wake Forest D’Juan Woods, Oklahoma St. Mark Setterstrom, Minnesota , Toledo Wali Lundy, Virginia . Rob Warren, Bowling Green Chris Leak, Florida Leon Washington, Florida St. TIGHT ENDS Marcus McNeill, Auburn , Alabama Lynell Hamilton, San Diego St. Brent Celek, Cincinnati Max Jean-Gilles, , Vanderbilt Lonta Hobbs, TCU Charles Davis, Purdue , LSU , USC DonTrell Moore, New Mexico Cooper Wallace, Auburn , LSU Jared Zabransky, Boise St. Gerald Riggs, Tennessee , Georgia Na’Shan Goddard, So. Carolina Darrell Hackney, UAB Derek Schouman, Boise St. Jabari Levey, South Carolina Jordan Palmer, UTEP WIDE RECEIVERS , UCLA Ryan O’Callaghan, California , Notre Dame , Ohio St. Tim Day, Oregon Josh Linehan, Oregon St. Reggie McNeal, A&M Ted Ginn Jr., Ohio St. , USC , USC Vincent Young, Texas Greg Lee, , Notre Dame , Boise St. Brian Brohm, Louisville , Florida Zach Miller, Arizona St. Samson Satele, Hawaii Tyler Palko, Pittsburgh Tres Moses, Rutgers Joe Newton, Oregon St. Aaron Lips, Louisiana Tech Brad Smith, Missouri , LSU Matt Herian, Nebraska Ryan Wendell, Fresno St. Charles Whitehurst, Clemson Marcus Monk, Arkansas , Colorado Toby Bullock, Marshall Marcus Vick, Virginia Tech Travis Wilson, Oklahoma David Thomas, Texas Chris Magee, Tulane Steve Odom, Toledo Jeff King, Virginia Tech Dylan Lineberry, North Texas RUNNING BACKS Ed Hinkel, Iowa Garrett Mills, Tulsa Ryan Harris, Notre Dame Jamario Thomas, North Texas , Michigan , Rutgers , West Virginia , Minnesota Courtney Taylor, Auburn , Texas Michael Bush, Louisville Kyle Ingraham, Purdue CENTERS , Kansas St. Garrett Wolfe, Northern Illinois Andre Caldwell, Florida Kyle Roper, Arkansas Brian Daniels, Colorado Kenneth Darby, Alabama Glenn Holt, Kentucky , Minnesota , Oklahoma , Rutgers Craig Davis, LSU , Ohio St. Jonathan Scott, Texas P.J. Daniels, Georgia Tech Mike Hass, Oregon St. Brian Van Acker, Northern Illinois Steve Vallos, Wake Forest Damien Rhodes, Syracuse Derek Hagan, Arizona St. Mike Degory, Florida D’Brickashaw Ferguson, Virginia Terrence Whitehead, Oregon , USC J.B. Closner, Alabama , , Fla. Mike Hart, Michigan Rufus Skillern, San Jose St. , Louisville Kyle Ralph, North Carolina Cornell Brockington, UConn Nichiren Flowers, Nevada Grayling Love, Arizona St. Jake Kuresa, BYU Jerious Norwood, Miss. St. Paul Dombrowski, New Mexico , California Doug Free, Northern Illinois , LSU St. Kyle Young, Fresno St. Travis Leffew, Louisville , LSU Vincent Marshall, Houston , Virginia Tech , USC , USC Todd Blythe, Iowa St. , Utah Tony Palmer, Missouri LenDale White, USC Jarrett Hicks, Texas Tech Ryan Cook, New Mexico Arron Sears, Tennessee Maurcie Drew UCLA , Georgia Tech Lance Reynolds, BYU Matt Lentz, Michigan Marshawn Lynch, California David Anderson, Colorado St. Patrick Ross, Boston College Bryson Sumlin, Fresno St. Jovon Bouknight, Wyoming Mike McCloskey, UCLA 50-plus club (continued)

(Continued from page 1) Bob Hurt (1950) Daily Oklahoman/Arizona Republic Herald-Journal Kaye Kessler (1952) Columbus Citizen-Journal Dave Campbell (1956) Texas Football Jimmie McDowell (1948) All- Don Clerkin (1956) Author Paul Morrison (1946) Drake University Beano Cook (1956) ESPN Jim Mott (1955) University of Wisconsin Joe Doyle (1951) South Bend Tribune Murray Olderman (1953) NEA Wayne Duke (1951) Joe Pollack (1954) St. Louis Post-Dispatch Dick Forbes (1948) Cincinnati Enquirer Edwin Pope (1946) Miami Herald Dan Foster (1954) Greenville News Bob Roesler (1953) New Orleans Times-Picayune Jack Hairston (1954) Hairston’s Gator Pipeline (1950) Dallas Morning News Wiles Hallock (1951) Pacific-10 Conference Al Shrier (1956) Temple University Pat Harmon (1942) Cincinnati Post, College Hall Nick Vista (1956) Michigan State University Sid Hartman (1945) Minneapolis Star-Tribune Page 5 CHECKLIST DEFENSE DEFENSIVE LINE Jesse Mahelona, Tennessee , Boston College Charles Gordon, Kansas Jeremy Chase, Navy Parys Haralson, Tennessee Cameron Jensen, BYU , Nebraska , Michigan , Oregon Spencer Toone, Utah Donnie McCleskey, California Ray Edwards, Purdue , Ole Miss Josh Powell, San Jose St. , N.C. St. Ricardo Hurley, South Carolina Richard Marshall, Fresno St. Tamba Hail, Penn St. , UCLA Cameron Vaughn, LSU John Eubanks, Southern Miss Devan Long, Oregon , Iowa Travis Williams, Auburn Wesley Smith, Memphis Manase Hopoi, Washington A.J. Hawk, Ohio St. Brandon Siler, Florida Curtis Keyes, Marshall Dan Bazuin, Central Michigan , Penn St. Earl Everett, Florida Hunter Reddick, Navy T. J. Jackson, Auburn , Iowa Freddie Roach, Alabama Dhyan Tarver, Army Stanley McClover, Auburn Terna Nande, Miami, Ohio Moses Osemwegie, Vanderbilt , Ohio St. , Georgia Thomas Howard, UTEP DeMeco Ryans, Alabama Jimmy Williams, Virginia Tech Kyle Williams, LSU AJ Nicholson, Florida St. Kevin Simon, Tennessee , Clemson , LSU Gerris Wikinson, Georgia Tech , Florida St. Willie Evans, Miss. St. , Arizona St. , Ohio St. Stanley Doughty, So. Carolina Keon Jackson, Toledo DEFENSIVE BACKS Gabriel Fulbright, New Mexico Larry McSwain, UAB Will Derting, Wash. St. Alan Zemaitis, Penn St. , Wyoming James Wyche, Syracuse Dale Robinson, Arizona St. Jason Allen, Tennessee , Utah , Boston , Stanford Roman Harper, Alabama Jahmile Addae, West Virginia College Trent Bray, Oregon St. , Alabama , Syracuse , Miami, Fla. Bernard Davis, Troy Muhammad Abdullah, Kentucky , USC , N.C. St. David Mahoney, Navy LaRon Landry, LSU Jason Simpson, Missouri Garrett McIntyre, Fresno St. , Boise St. Jessie Daniels, LSU Antwan Allen, Iowa Mel Purcell, Hawaii Byron Santiago, La. Tech , South Carolina Bernard Pollard, Purdue Alex Guerrero, Boise St. Chris Moore, East Carolina , Florida St. Jaxson Appel, Texas A&M Larry Birdine, Oklahoma Anthony Cannon, Tulane , Texas Keyunta Dawson, Texas Tech , Kansas Dusty Dvoracek, Oklahoma Brandon Hoyte, Notre Dame , Texas H.B. Blades, Pittsburgh Darryl Tapp, Virginia Tech D’Qwell Jackson, Maryland , Georgia Tech Ahmad Brooks, Virginia Steve Fifita, Utah , Florida St. FWAA ALL-AMERICA COMMITTEE

►Al Featherston, Freelance, SPECIALISTS [email protected], ACC KICKERS Kyle Stringer, Boise St. ►Paul Gattis, The Huntsville Times, Andrew Wellock, Eastern Michi- Chris Beckman, Tulane [email protected], SEC gan , Baylor , Auburn John Torp, Colorado ►Tim Griffin, San Antonio Express-News, Andy Bailey, Georgia Brendan Carney, Syracuse [email protected], Big 12 Chris Jackson, LSU Ryan Dougherty, East Carolina ►Dave Jones, The Patriot News, Josh Brown, South Carolina Joel Stelly, Louisiana-Monroe [email protected], Big 10, MAC James Wilhoit, Tennessee Adam Podlesh, Maryland Colby Smith, Middle Tennessee ►Brian Koonz, Danbury News-Times, , Memphis RETURNERS [email protected], Big East , Colorado Kevin Robinson, Utah St. ►Ted Lewis, New Orleans Times-Picayune, , UCLA Ted Ginn Jr., Ohio St. Deric Yaussi, Wyoming Tyrone Prothro, Alabama [email protected], C-USA, Sun Belt Alexis Serna, Oregon St. Thomas Flowers, Georgia ►Damien Pierce, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Josh Cummings, Pittsburgh , LSU [email protected], Mountain West Travis Bell, Georgia Tech Jonathan Lowe, Miss. St. Matt Nuzie, UConn Mike Espy, Mississippi ►Kalani Simpson, Honolulu Star-Bulletin, Reggie Bush, USC [email protected], WAC PUNTERS Ashlan Davis, Tulsa ►Scott Wolf, Los Angeles Daily News, , Illinois John Eubanks, Southern Miss Ryan Plackmeier, Wake Forest Travis Williams, East Carolina [email protected], Pac-10 Brandon Fields, Michigan St. , Miami, Fla. ►Dennis Dodd, CBS SportsLine, Kody Bliss, Auburn Larry Taylor, Connecticut [email protected], Independents Eric Wilbur, Florida , Texas Tech Kyle Basler, Washington St. ►Mike Huguenin, Orlando Sentinel, Tom Malone, USC [email protected], National Page 6 THE FIFTH DOWN watch list announced The FWAA has announced the 2005 Outland Trophy quet, which is sponsored by the Greater Omaha Sports Watch List. Committee and First Data Corporation, is on Jan. 12, The Outland Trophy has been awarded to the best 2006, in Omaha, Neb. offensive or defensive lineman in since Oklahoma offensive Jammal Brown won the 1946. The winner is usually selected by the FWAA’s All- 2004 Outland Trophy. Former Outland winner America Committee, which selects the association’s 25- from USC (1967), will make the announcement of the man team and picks three Outland Trophy finalists. 2005 winner in Orlando. The 2005 Outland Trophy announcement will be on Outland Trophy candidates may be added or deleted Dec. 8 in Orlando, Fla., on the ESPN College Football during the course of the season. Tackles, guards and Awards Show. The Outland Trophy presentation ban- centers are eligible for consideration.

OUTLAND TROPHY WATCH LIST

Gabe Watson. Michigan Marcus McNeill, Auburn Jon Wilson, Air Force Garrett McIntyre, Fresno State D’Brickashaw Ferguson, Virginia Ryan Cook, New Mexico Davin Joseph, Oklahoma Marvin Philip, California Mark Setterstrom, Minnesota Travis Leffew, Louisville Jonathan Scott, Texas Grayling Love, Arizona State Greg Eslinger, Minnesota Ryan O’Callaghan, California Rodrique Wright, Texas. Josh Linehan, Oregon State Nick Mangold, Ohio State Matt Lentz, Michigan Dylan Lineberry, North Texas Ben Siegert, Oregon State Eric Winston, Miami, Fla. Manase Hopi, Washington Manase Hopoi, Washington J.B. Closner, Alabama Jesse Boone, Utah Max Jean-Gilles, Georgia Haloti Ngata, Oregon T.J. Jackson, Auburn Mike Degory, Florida Steve Fifita, Utah Daryn Colledge, Boise State Andrew Whitworth, LSU Orien Harris, Miami, Fla. Jake Kuresa, BYU Samson Satele, Hawaii Jesse Mahelona, Tennessee Dan Mozes, West Virginia

Bronko Nagurski watch list announced

The FWAA has announced the Tro- Dec. 5 at the Westin Hotel in Charlotte, where five final- phy Watch List for the 2005 season. ists will be present. The , which is awarded to Texas won the 2004 the best defensive player in college football, has been a Bronko Nagurski Trophy. staple of the FWAA’s awards since 1993. The Bronko The FWAA All-America Committee selects the Nagurski Trophy is sponsored by the Charlotte Touch- Bronko Nagurski winner from the association’s 11-man down Club, which has held the annual awards banquet All-America defensive team in late November or early since 1995. December. Players may be added or deleted from the The CTC will hold the 2005 banquet on Monday, Bronko Nagurski Watch List during the season. NAGURSKI WATCH LIST Dan Bazuin, Central Michigan -Darnell Bing, USC Ko Simpson, South Carolina John Eubanks, USM H.B. Blades, Pittsburgh Michael Huff, Texas Jesse Mahelona, Tennessee Korey Hall, Boise State Terna Nande, Miami, Ohio -Jimmy Williams, Virginia Tech Jason Allen, Tennessee Josh Powell, San Jose State Gabe Watson, Michigan Rodrique Wright, Texas. LaRon Landry, Alabama Jon Alston, Stanford Ray Edwards, Purdue Steve Fifita, Utah Kyle Williams, LSU Haloti Ngata, Oregon Abdul Hodge, Iowa Gabriel Fulbright, New Mexico Jeremy Chase, Navy Trent Bray, Oregon State A.J. Hawk, Ohio State Cameron Jensen, BYU Mario Williams, N.C. State Will Derting, Washington State -Chad Greenway, Iowa Derrick Martin, Wyoming D’Qwell Jackson, Maryland Spencer Havner, UCLA Paul Posluszny, Penn State Muhammad Abdullah, Kentucky Ahmad Brooks, Virginia Alan Zemaitis, Penn State Dhyan Tarver, Army Mathias Kiwanuka, Boston Col. Larry Birdine, Oklahoma DeMeco Ryans, Alabama Ernie Sims, Florida State Charles Gordon, Kansas Roman Harper, Alabama Bernard Davis, Troy -, Oklahoma Travis Williams, Auburn Larry McSwain, UAB -Darryl Tapp, Virginia Tech Quentin Moses, Georgia Thomas Howard, UTEP Page 7 THE FIFTH DOWN

Controlling the message is out of control By Dennis Dodd The survey showed that four schools limit player inter- FWAA First Vice-President views to one day per week. "Day" is sometimes stretch- The exact moment it happened is hard to pin down. The ing the meaning of the term. At a place like Kansas moment when the ability to establish a relationship — a State, reporters have to gather all their material within a certain working intimacy with players and coaches — 30- to 45-minute window on Tuesday afternoons. was all but taken away. That's just the way it is. As we said, no one is sure We'll estimate it happened, oh, about 10 to 15 years when this "packaging" occurred. But we are all worse ago. Not to preach, but many of you are too young to for it. Players because this is supposed to be the time of remember having lunch with a coach or a player and their lives. Ninety-nine percent of them will never see an chatting them up after practice or meeting the offensive NFL practice field. This is their time. coordinator for a beer. There is still the simple thrill for these guys getting Don't gasp, sports editors. Back then it was called their name in the paper. reporting. Now such interaction is so rare the catch-all Coaches, because they are first, last and always term is "access." Increasingly, we have less of it in our accountable. Many of us would love to have a Friday sit sport. Over the past 1½ decades, something happened down with the coach and staff before a game. But we to the informal atmosphere surrounding college football, haven't paid enough in rights fees to get that interview. and it wasn't good. Again, that's the way of our modern media world. By and large, we know less about the athletes and What's not acceptable is this scenario early last season: coaches. Their time with us has been homogenized. It's On deadline for a night game in the South, a small all about controlling the message, which might be OK if group of reporters wanted to speak to the kicker whose you're the president but distasteful in college athletics. miss cost his team the game. The harried visiting It comes down to the public's right to know — more. team's SID either didn't want to ask, or didn't ask the Whether they like or not, players and coaches are public despondent kicker to face the media for a few minutes. figures. At most institutions, the public pays for those That was bad enough but it was unacceptable when scholarships through taxes, endowments, donations, etc. images of the kicker in the locker room turned up later Private schools can't have it both ways. Roll over and in the season on a national cable network. have their bellies scratched by the networks on Saturday The rights holder got a compelling image of the and have two SIDs watch-dogging the 15 precious min- grieving kicker face down on the floor. The outlet had utes we get with the on Tuesday. written a check big enough to film those images. What The overriding question is: Why have these public the rest of us got that night was an empty notebook. figures increasingly been turned into private citizens? What coaches and, sometimes, SIDs don't realize is Yes, the proliferation of media has something to do that our sport is unique. with it. There are more outlets (newspaper, cable, Inter- In general, good things are written about college net, magazine) than ever. What might be a juicy topic for football (unless it's the BCS). Spring practice is still a the student newspaper is a waste of time for the national laidback opportunity to mingle with a staff and players. cable network looking for a 20-second bite. Too often all Reporters can relate to the stud chasing a Heisman or the interviewers are lumped in a pack. the walk-on who just dropped a game-winning pass. That's the path of least resistance. You know the Mostly because the majority of us have been to col- routine: "Yes, you in the back, far left, please identify lege, we know the experience. We can relate to former yourself and affiliation and wait until the microphone UCLA linebacker Donnie Edwards having to decide be- reaches you." tween buying food or repairing his car as money ran out Ugh. The one-on-one, the get-to-know, the simple at the end of the month. Matt Leinart staying for his lunch is becoming extinct. senior season becomes a feel-good story. A recent FWAA survey of sports information depart- But in other ways there has been that disconnect. ments showed that the overwhelming majority of major- Ivory towers have grown taller as schools have made college programs provide what in modern-day terms is millionaires out of coaches. Players matriculate through considered adequate access (there's that word again) to school used to being herded into a room for 20 minutes coaches and players during game week. of questions. What's worse, reporters are used to it. The typical week: Coach is available Sunday or Mon- We're seeing press box seats given to boisterous day for a press conference and after every practice ex- boosters. That is our office, our (noisy, sweaty, freezing, cept Friday. Players are typically cut off from the media cramped) sanctuary. How about if we show up on Mon- after Wednesday practice. day in bad slacks, sucking down a hot dog, to cheer on And even that amount of access might be eroding. (Continued on page 8) Page 8 THE FIFTH DOWN Access at many schools is suffering

(Continued from page 7) ●The Pac-10 continues to be laidback and friendly. the accounting department? USC, for example, has players and coaches available in When is some AD going to have the bright idea to some form or another five days a week. The only re- start charging US for our seats in the press box? Hey, stricted days are Friday and Sunday. Cal and Arizona it's a revenue stream, don't laugh. State also deserve special mention. Our friend at Wash- The compartmentalization has taken away some of ington, Jim Daves, has been through the ringer lately the charm. We've let it happen to a certain extent. There (Neuheiselgate etc.) and handled it admirably. The was that moment when we ceded a part of the sport over dearly departed Bob Rose has done a great job promot- to "handlers." ing the resurgence of the Bears under Jeff Tedford. There are a handful of coaches who won't even allow ●Miami is an aging relic and, no, we're not talking assistants to speak to the media. It's the so-called "one- about the Orange Bowl. The Hurricanes' open locker- voice" approach. That stifles the coaches' ability to pro- room policy after games is treasured. Sure there are mote themselves and our ability to do our jobs. some bombastic moments (Kellen Winslow's "solider" OK, deep breath. Down off the soap box. A survey comment), but over the years media and Miami have shout out goes to the following for providing continued both profited from the policy. Too bad more programs good access ... don't see how this policy can personalize a program. ●After a rocky start with the media, Notre Dame ●The SEC is reflection of its football fervor. An off- coach Charlie Weis, has been more accommodating in season conference call with coaches. Sunday confer- the off season. Several national outlets have gone in ence calls after games. Charles Bloom leads a first-class during the spring and have had plenty of time with Weis, group of schools, coaches and SIDs. Can't wait to see his staff and players. While John Heisler tells us the Spur Dog once again pitch it around a little bit. game-week routine hasn't been determined yet, the tra- ●Texas is as accommodating during game week (and ditional Sunday coach press conference will be back. in the off season) as any program.

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