Media interest in Virginia Tech football and Coach Frank Beamer swelled during Tech’s 11-0 regular season in 1999 and the Hokies’ appearance in the Sugar Bowl national championship game. What Is a Hokie? That’s the most often-asked question in Virginia Tech athletics. The answer leads all the way back to 1896 when Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College changed its name to Virginia Polytechnic Institute. With the change came the necessity for writing a new cheer and a contest for such a purpose was held by the student body. Senior O.M. Stull won first prize for his “Hokie” yell which still is used today. Later, when asked if “Hokie” had any special meaning, Stull explained the word was solely the product of his imagination and was used only as an attention-getter for his yell. It soon became a nickname for all Tech teams and for those people loyal to Tech athletics. The official school colors — Chicago maroon and burnt orange — also were introduced in 1896. They were chosen because they made a “unique combination” not worn elsewhere at the time. Spirit units at Virginia Tech include (clockwise, from top left) the HighTechs dance team; the Hokies’ lovable mascot, the HokieBird; the cheerleading squads; the Marching Virginians band, known as “the Spirit of Tech”; and the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets regimental band, the Highty-Tighties. Tech and Texas A&M are the only two schools in the country with a full-time corps of cadets as part of a larger civilian student body. Media Information The Press Box receive first priority, as well as offerings of a single individual. play and statistics, of any home The press box at Lane national news-gathering • Membership in a writer’s game is the exclusive property association does not Stadium/Worsham Field is agencies. Credentials for on-line of Virginia Tech and/or its rights automatically qualify an agency comprised of five levels. Internet sites will be granted to holder(s). “Real-time” is defined for credentials. Newspaper and television Virginia Tech operated Web as “live continual coverage or •A media agency may reporters, the radio network sites, the visiting team’s official description of an event.” assign one of its credentials to crews and statisticians work on Web site and the BIG EAST its on-line entity. the eighth level. Space in other Conference’s official Web site. Media Will Call Requests should be made • An on-line entity, not areas is assigned as follows: associated with a traditional In most cases, credentials Sixth level-University in writing on company letter- will be mailed. Credentials may head at least 10 days prior to media agency, may qualify for President’s box; Seventh level- one credential, subject to the be picked up through Friday on Athletic Fund Box; Ninth level- the game to guarantee a game week from secretary consideration. Requests should following conditions: Public address announcer, An on-line entity may Donna Smith at the Sports scoreboard operators, Tech be directed to Dave Smith, Information Office. Credentials sports information director. receive a credential only if its coaches’ phones, private own full-time staff writes a not mailed or picked up will be Requests the week of the boxes; Roof-Television majority percentage of that held at the Will Call window game will be honored on a broadcast booth, team site’s own material. located a few steps from the space-available basis and will coaches’ show and film crews, On-line entities that focus main entrance to the west phones for visiting team’s be left at the Will Call window primarily on Virginia Tech stands of Lane Stadium/ coaches and overflow area for at Lane Stadium/Worsham Athletics and also sponsor Worsham Field. media and pro scouts. The Field if they cannot be mailed. message boards or chat press box is accessible by an Spouses, dates, children, rooms, may receive credentials Photo Credentials elevator which is centrally equipment carriers and non- provided they adhere to a The NCAA has established located underneath the west workers are restricted from the policy that requires that a a control policy to keep the field stands and runs to levels six press box, sidelines and locker posted message or opinion is free from congestion. Only through nine. Steps from the rooms. Any abuse of a working identified with the actual name photographers on assignment ninth level provide access to credential will result in the and city of the individual. and members of the television the roof area. Admission to the media agency losing credential Any on-line service that is media are given photo press box is by credential only. privileges. recognized as an outlet credentials. Freelance or Smoking is not allowed in the In some instances due to intended primarily for the amateur photographers will not stands or in any enclosed area space limitations meeting the purpose of delivering news be issued credentials. All of Lane Stadium, including the criteria identified below does related to the recruitment of photographers must work press box and rest rooms. not guarantee credentials for student-athletes will not qualify outside the 30-yard lines as every game. for credentials. On-line entities will not prescribed by the NCAA. Press Credentials receive photography credentials. Photographers are not Requests for press Accreditation Guidelines On-line entities (other than permitted in the bench area. credentials are screened with • Only full-time, salaried those identified above) For those who need to care due to the demand for employees intending to provide registering 20,000 legitimate transmit photos electronically, a credentials and to ensure a actual game coverage may unique users per month in each work room for photographers, working press box. Traditional receive a credential. of the past 12 months will be complete with phone lines, will print, television and radio •A requesting media given first consideration. be available. This room is (media agency) regularly agency must represent a “Real-time” transmission of located in the June Oblinger assigned to cover Virginia Tech collective, organizational digital images, audio and data, Shott Media Center, on the and the visiting school will editorial voice, not simply the including live game play-by- Continued … Virginia Tech Sports Information Directory Dave Smith Anne Panella Bill Dyer Torye Hurst Bryan Johnston David Knachel Donna Smith Sports Information Associate SID Assistant SID Assistant SID Assistant SID Assistant SID Secretary Director Virginia Tech Sports Information Office Phone: (540) 231-6726 Hokie Hotline: (540) 232-3719 460 Jamerson Athletic Center Office Fax: (540) 231-6984 Web Site: www.hokiesports.com Blacksburg, VA 24061 Smith at Home: (540) 951-8024 VIRGINIA TECH FOOTBALL 315 Tech home athletics contests. Burrows-Burleson Tennis Press Box Services Media The use of photographs, Center. The entrance to this lot Complete team and Continued video and/or audio for pur- is on Tech Center Drive off of individual statistics, a play-by- ground level beneath the new poses other than traditional Southgate Drive. Requests for play, drive chart, defensive south end zone. news coverage is forbidden. No parking credentials should be stats and postgame coaches’ Virginia Tech is, and shall redistribution is permitted. submitted to Dave Smith, quotes will be provided. An be, the sole owner of any and all sports information director. If inside public address an- copyrights, intellectual property Parking you plan to visit the Tech nouncer keeps the media rights and proprietary rights for Game day media parking is campus during the week, abreast of play-by-play, records images, sounds and data available on a limited basis in a parking information is available that are broken and game arising from or during Virginia media-designated lot near the on page 319. notes. A pregame meal is served, starting approximately one and one-half hours before kickoff and refreshments are Opponents’ Sports Information Directory available throughout the game. Postgame stats will be faxed upon request. The BIG EAST Conference Rutgers www.bigeast.org Primary Football Contact: John Wooding Telephones Communications – (401) 453-0660 Office Phone: (732) 445-4200 Switchboard – (401) 272-9108 Home Phone: (732) 548-7005 Long distance telephones Fax – (401) 751-8540 E-mail Address: [email protected] will be located on the working SID Fax: (732) 445-3063 press tables. These phones Arkansas State School Website: www.scarletknights.com require collect calls or a credit card for billing and are Primary Football Contact: Gina Bowman designated for pool use. Media Office Phone: (870) 972-2541 Temple members desiring their own Home Phone: (870) 932-6947 Primary Football Contact: Kevin Lorincz telephones should submit E-mail Address: [email protected] Office Phone: (215) 204-1608 Home Phone: (856) 854-0292 requests to Virginia Tech CNS SID Fax: (870) 972-3367 E-mail Address: [email protected] (Shannon Hall at (540) 231- School Website: www.ASUIndians.com SID Fax: (215) 204-7499 4350 or 6460, [email protected]). If School Website: www.owlsports.com you request your own phone, LSU please notify the sports Primary Football Contact: Michael Bonnette Pittsburgh information office so we can Office Phone: (225) 578-8226 Primary Football Contact: E.J. Borghetti give the phone company the Home Phone: (225) 923-2426 Office Phone: (412) 648-8240 proper location. Please make E-mail Address: [email protected] Home Phone: (412) 441-2431 your requests well in advance SID Fax: (225) 578-1861 E-mail