MEDIA SERVICES AND GUIDELINES

MSU ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS The 2006 Mississippi State University MSU ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS PHONE Football Media Guide has been specifically (662) 325-2703 MSU ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS FAX prepared to assist media members in their (662) 325-2563 coverage of the Bulldogs. MSU ATHLETICS WEB SITE We hope that most of your questions will be http://www.mstateathletics.com answered on the pages of this guide. However, MSU FOOTBALL CONTACTS should you need additional information or Mike Nemeth, Associate AD/Media & Public Relations [email protected] assistance, please contact the MSU Athletic Home: (662) 323-7780 • Cell: (662) 418-7229 Media Relations Office. The information on MIKE NEMETH JOE GALBRAITH Joe Galbraith, Assistant Director of Media Relations the following pages should cover most media- [email protected] related questions you have. Home: N/A • Cell: TBA MAILING ADDRESS OVERNIGHT ADDRESS We appreciate your coverage of Mississippi P.O. Box 5308 Bryan Building State University football and look forward to Mississippi State, MS 39762 Lakeview Drive working with you this fall. Mississippi State, MS 39762

OTHER IMPORTANT PHONE NUMBERS IMPORTANT DATES Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field Press Box ...... (662) 325-3776 July 28 (Fri.) ...... SEC Media Day MSU Football Office ...... (662) 325-2534 August 1 (Tues.) ...... Bulldogs Report Coordinator of Electronic Media [Video/Satellite Services] . . . . . (662) 325-1332 August 2 (Wed.) ...... First Practice Opportunity MSU Athletic Ticket Office ...... (662) 325-2600 August 8 (Tues.) ...... Two-a-Day Practices Begin MSU Athletic Director’s Office ...... (662) 325-8082 August 9 (Wed.) ...... MSU Media Day Bulldog Club ...... (662) 325-3074 August 29 (Tue.) ...... First Weekly Press Conference University Information ...... (662) 325-2323 August 31 (Thu.) ...... Season Opener vs. South Carolina

PRESEASON MEDIA CONFERENCE WEDNESDAY TELECONFERENCE (SEC) MSU will hold its annual preseason media conference, Wednesday, August 9, at Coach Croom will join the league's other 11 coaches on the SEC's Wednesday tele- 12:00 noon, at the Bryan Athletic Administration Building media conference room. conference. Coach Croom's seven-minute segment is scheduled from 10:49-10:56 a.m. Head coach Sylvester Croom will address the media and take questions for 30 minutes, (CT). The teleconference phone number can be obtained by calling the SEC or the MSU after which selected players will be available for approximately 30 minutes for interview Media Relations Office. The SEC provides an archived copy of the teleconference at purposes in the Bryan Building. Contact the MSU Athletic Media Relations Office for www.secsports.com for media replay. specific player requests. WEEKLY PLAYER INTERVIEWS SYLVESTER CROOM INTERVIEWS Interviews with our players are encouraged; however, all interviews must be arranged All interviews with head football coach Sylvester Croom through Joe Galbraith in the Athletic Media Relations Office. This policy facilitates the should be directed through the MSU Athletic Media Relations orderly scheduling and completion of the desired interview. During game week, all office. Please contact Mike Nemeth at 662-325-2723 to player interviews must be conducted by Tuesday evening and need to be arranged at arrange an interview time. The head coach prefers that all least 24 hours in advance. Please coordinate all requests with Joe Galbraith in the MSU interviews be conducted on Monday. Athletic Media Relations office. Croom has three scheduled interview opportunities during MSU Athletic Media Relations will not supply the media home or cellular telephone game-week and media representatives are encouraged to numbers for Bulldog student-athletes. Likewise, training room, locker room and apart- make use of these question-and-answer situations. Croom ment/dormitory areas are considered private player areas and are off-limits to the is also generally available before or after practice, but media media. members must coordinate those opportunities through Nemeth. PRACTICE COVERAGE The first six periods (until “team” periods) of MSU's spring, preseason and fall prac- MONDAY TELECONFERENCE (MSU) tice sessions are open to the media (print media, still photo & TV video). Media must MSU will conduct a Monday teleconference with coach Croom at 10:00 a.m. (CT). This remain on the sidelines during this practice time as an injury precautionary measure. is generally a 30-minute conference call that reviews the previous week's game; however, Coach Croom will be available to the media following the practice session on the prac- the upcoming game's media is encouraged to use this opportunity to speak to the MSU tice field or in the Shira Athletic Complex. Media requesting practice reports should head coach. Contact the MSU Media Relations office for teleconference number. contact the Athletic Media Relations office. Assistant coaches and players may be interviewed prior to, and after practice at the TUESDAY PRESS CONFERENCE (MSU) Shira Athletic Complex. Contact the MSU Athletic Media Relations office to arrange this Coach Croom will conduct a weekly media conference each Tuesday prior to an MSU time. Players MAY NOT be interviewed after Tuesday night during a game week. game. The conference will be conducted at the Bryan Athletic Administration Building. When the Bulldogs are on the road, the media may attend any "walk-through" prepa- Coach Croom's press conference begins at 1:00 p.m. (CT). Selected players will be avail- rations and interview coaches provided they have contacted the MSU Athletic Media able following Croom's presentation (at approximately 1:30 p.m.). To request specific Relations office in advance. players, media members must contact Joe Galbraith in the MSU Media Relations Office (662-325-2703) by 5:00 p.m. the Monday preceding each respective media conference.

198 MEDIA SERVICES AND GUIDELINES

MSU ON THE INTERNET MEDIA CREDENTIALS Visit the official Mississippi State Athletics Arrangements for media credentials for Mississippi State's seven home football home page on the Internet at: http://www.msta- games in 2006 must be made through the MSU Athletic Media Relations Office. teathletics.com. The site provides updated sta- Requests by accredited media members should be made in writing and submitted tistics, game notes and other pertinent football on company letterhead to Mike Nemeth (via mail: P.O. Box 5308, MSU, MS 39762, information to visitors as well as live statistics and or by fax, 662-325-2563). Credential requests received via e-mail will only be granted audio links for all of MSU’s home football games to media representatives that regularly cover Mississippi State football or their weekly and selected road contests. opponents. An abbreviated transcription of head football Priority for the issuance of credentials will be given to daily newspapers, radio sta- coach Sylvester Croom’s Tuesday press confer- tions and television stations which cover MSU football on a regular basis. Due to space ence each week is available on MSU’s athletic limitations, weekly publications, non-broadcasting radio representatives and on-line ser- web site. Maroon To The Max, MSU’s premium vices may not be granted credentials. Student publications, radio stations and web sites area on the web site, carries Croom’s Tuesday that do not regularly cover MSU or its opponent, will be limited to one working media press conference live for media members who credential and/or one sideline photo pass, if applicable. Other credential requests will subscribe to the site and cannot attend the conference in person. M2M also covers be filled on a space-available basis. Non-working spouses, dates, relatives, non-work- selected preseason and game-week football practices, including post-practice interviews ers, and anyone 16 years of age or younger are not permitted in the press box. Media with the Bulldog head coach. credential holders who violate this policy risk forfeiture of future credentials. Media The site also offers up-to-date information on all of State’s 16 varsity sports, including credentials must be requested at least 48 hours prior to the requested game. schedules and results, player and coach biographies as well as the latest news from the Media credential holders in the press box who are not actively covering the game, MSU athletic program. Links to the NCAA, the Southeastern Conference and the other or credential wearers on the sideline who are not on assignment, will be asked to leave 11 SEC schools are also provided. those respective areas. Press box or sideline security will be requested should the cre- dential wearer not comply. Credentials used in an unauthorized manner will be revoked MEDIA WILL CALL immediately, and news organizations who allow credentials to fall into improper hands A media will call window will be operated on game days at the Davis Wade Stadium will have the credentials revoked for the remainder of the year or the succeeding year, at Scott Field Ticket Office (south end zone) for the distribution of credentials which have at the university’s discretion. not been mailed. Proper ID will be required. See Scott Field map on page 202 for exact location of will call. PHOTOGRAPHERS/VIDEOGRAPHERS MSU follows the guidelines established by the NCAA Communications Committee MEDIA PARKING and the SEC regarding sideline control to insure the sideline is a working media area. A limited number of season and individual-game parking spaces reserved for the The following guidelines are adhered to: media are available just west of Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field. Requests for media 1.) Each photographer is required to wear an armband at all times. parking passes should be specified with credential requests. Due to space limitations, no 2.) Armbands must be secured at the photographer's credential pickup, at the base of motor homes, campers or oversized vehicles will be permitted in media parking. Parking the media elevator at Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field. Display the photo credential pass requests for satellite trucks should be made at least one week in advance. to the media relations representative there and receive an armband with a correspond- ing number. Both the credential and the armband must be worn on the field. HOTEL ROOMS 3.) After kickoff, no photographers are permitted in the bench area, on the playing The Athletic Media Relations office has a limited number of rooms reserved for media field, or in the 12-foot area between the photo limit line and sideline. use during the 2006 football season. As you make plans for this season and need assis- 4.) In accordance with NCAA policies, no freelance photographers will be creden- tance with accommodations, please contact our office as soon as possible. tialed. 5.) Cutline writers, messengers and equipment carriers are not permitted in the REAL-TIME INTERNET POLICY sideline armband area. Photo assistants or others holding a "sideline" pass must remain Mississippi State retains the rights to the distribution of play-by-play, drive-by-drive, out of the photo area immediately adjacent to the playing field. This will insure that statistical material and photographs of MSU football during, and for 30 minutes follow- photographers/videographers have the appropriate working area. ing, game action, just as it retains the rights to the video and audio description of game 6.) Tripods are not permitted in the sideline armband area. Monopods are permis- action. All rights to the dissemination of audio, video and real-time material is granted sible. on a contractual basis only. Failure to abide by these restrictions may result in revocation 7.) The areas behind the team benches are considered bench areas and are to be of press credentials. used only for the passage between the north and south sidelines. This area may not be used as a photo zone. MSU SATELLITE SERVICES MSU's weekly football media conference, highlights and game preview material, and POSTGAME INTERVIEWS postgame highlights of the Bulldogs' seven home games in 2006 will be available to MSU officials will recognize the NCAA's 10-minute cooling-off period following each television outlets via satellite. For more information on MSU's satellite and television MSU game this season, home and away. Head coach Sylvester Croom and selected services, please contact Bennie Ashford (662-325-1332). players will be available for postgame interview purposes following each game on the second floor of the Seal M-Club Center at the south end of Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field. MSU players, however, may not be approached on the field following games for interviews. Croom’s portion of the press conference may also be viewed in the press box on the MSU TV Center channel on press box television monitors. The visiting head coach and players will be available following the cooling-off period in the interview room adjacent to the visitor's locker room. This media opportunity will be coordinated by the visiting SID and MSU Media Relations personnel.

199 MEDIA OUTLETS

PRINT MEDIA The Laurel Leader Call (p.m.) Starkville Daily News (a.m.) Shawn Wansley, Sports Editor Don Foster, Sports Editor 130 Beacon Street Travis Downey, Asst. Sports Editor / Beat Writer Laurel, MS 39440 P.O. Drawer 1068 Phone: (601) 428-0551 Starkville, MS 39760 e-mail: [email protected] Phone: (662) 323-1642 e-mail: [email protected] The Daily Star (p.m.) Chuck Hathcock, Sports Editor The Clarion Ledger (a.m.) P.O. Box 907 Rusty Hampton, Sports Editor Grenada, MS 38902 Ian R. Rapoport, Beat Writer Phone: (662) 226-4321 Rick Cleveland, Columnist e-mail: [email protected] P.O. Box 40 Jackson, MS 39205 The Delta Democrat (p.m.) Phone: (601) 961-7293 Ivy Murrell, Sports Editor e-mail: [email protected] P.O. Box 1618 Greenville, MS 38702 Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal (a.m.) Phone: (662) 378-0721 John Pitts, Sports Editor e-mail: [email protected] Gene Phelps, Columnist Gregg Ellis, Beat Writer WIRE SERVICE P.O. Box 909 The Associated Press Tupelo, MS 38804 TBA Phone: (662) 842-2611 125 S. Congress, Ste. 1330 e-mail: [email protected] Jackson, MS 39201 Phone: (601) 948-5897 The Commercial Dispatch (p.m.) e-mail: [email protected] Henry Matuszak, Sports Editor Danny P. Smith, Asst. Sports Editor SPECIALTY MEDIA Paul Jones, Beat Writer Dawgs’ Bite P.O. Box 511 David Murray, Editor Columbus, MS 39703 500 Russell Street Phone: (662) 328-2471 Suite 16 e-mail: [email protected] Starkville, MS 39759 Phone: (662) 324-9191 The Meridian Star (p.m.) e-mail: [email protected] Rocky Higginbotham, Sports Editor P.O. Box 1591 Maroon and White Meridian, MS 39302 Michael Wardlaw, Editor Phone: (601) 693-1551 P.O. Box 1263 e-mail: [email protected] Starkville, MS 39760 Phone: (662) 615-6135 The Daily Times Leader (a.m.) e-mail: [email protected] Brandon Walker, Sports Editor P.O. Drawer 1176 Rivals.com West Point, MS 39773 Willie Lee, Writer Phone: (662) 494-1422 830 North Jackson #2 e-mail: [email protected] Starkville, MS 39759 Phone: (601) 528-1732 The Sun Herald (a.m.) e-mail: [email protected] Doug Barber, Sports Editor Jim Mashek, Beat Writer Scout.com P.O. Box 4567 Gene Swindoll, Editor Biloxi, MS 39535 P.O. Box 80283 Phone: (228) 896-2352 Starkville, MS 39759 e-mail: [email protected] Phone: (662) 322-84665 e-mail: [email protected]

200 MEDIA OUTLETS

TELEVISION MEDIA RADIO MEDIA WCBI-TV Mississippi Network Drew Powell, Sports Director Dixon Williams, Sports Director Marcus Hunter 6311 Ridgewood Road P.O. Box 271 Jackson, MS 39211 Columbus, MS 39703 Phone: (601) 957-1700 Phone: (662) 245-0133 News Room: (601) 957-8877 e-mail: [email protected] e-mail: [email protected]

WTVA-TV WFCA Radio Jim Holder, Sports Director Jason Crowder, Sports Director Matt Wyatt/Marlin Williams Route 1, Box 12 P.O. Box 350 French Camp, MS 39745 Tupelo, MS 38802 Phone: (662) 547-6414 Phone: (662) 842-7620 e-mail: [email protected] e-mail: [email protected] WSFZ Radio WAPT-TV Bo Bounds, Sports Talk Host Tony Bahou, Sports Director 5 Twelve Oaks Circle, Suite A P.O. Box 10297 Jackson, MS 39209 Jackson, MS 39289 Phone: (601) 826-6300 Phone: (601) 922-1607 e-mail: [email protected] e-mail: [email protected] WJDX Radio WLBT-TV Doug Colson, Sports Talk Host Rob Jay, Sports Director Chuck Stinson, Sports Talk Host P.O. Box 1712 Randy Bell, Program Director Jackson, MS 39215 P.O. Box 31999 Phone: (601) 960-4428 Jackson, MS 39286 e-mail: robj@wlbt.net Phone: (601) 982-1062 e-mail: [email protected] WJTV-TV Rick Whitlow, Sports Director WMSV Radio - Bulldog Drive Time Dave Hotard Steve Ellis / Anthony Craven, Hosts 1820 TV Road P.O. Box 6210 Jackson, MS 39204 Student Media Center Phone: (601) 944-4922 Mississippi State, MS 39762 e-mail: rwhitlow@wjtv.com Phone: (662) 325-8034 e-mail: [email protected] WTOK-TV Lindsey Hall, Sports Director MSU RADIO CREW P.O. Box 2988 Jack Cristil, Play-by-Play Meridian, MS 39302 1310 Marquette Phone: (601) 703-2091 Tupelo, MS 38801 e-mail: [email protected] Phone: (662) 842-6095 FAX: (662) 842-0725 Starkville Channel 5 P.O. Drawer 728 Jim Ellis, Color Starkville, MS 39760 MSU Athletics Phone: (662) 338-1002 P.O. Box 5327 e-mail: [email protected] Mississippi State, MS 39762 Phone: (662) 325-8950 CAMPUS MEDIA e-mail:[email protected] MSU Television Center Bennie Ashford Steve Ellis, Studio Host P.O. Box 6101 WMSV Radio Mississippi State, MS 39762 P.O. Box 6210 Phone: (662) 325-1332 Student Media Center e-mail: [email protected] Mississippi State, MS 39762 Phone: (662) 325-8034 The Refl ector e-mail: [email protected] R.J. Morgan, Sports Editor P.O. Box 5407 John Correro, Sideline Mississippi State, MS 39762 616 Sherwood Street Phone: (662) 325-2374/8819 Starkville, MS 39759 e-mail: sports@refl ector.msstate.edu Phone: (662) 323-2392

201 ROBERT M. HARTLEY PRESS BOX

The Robert M. Hartley Press Box, named for longtime Mississippi State Sports TELEPHONES Information Director and administrator Bob Hartley, ranks among the fi nest col- A limited number of telephones are available for media use in the press box lege football media facilities in the entire country. on a fi rst-come, fi rst-served basis. Private lines are recommended for those work- The Hartley Press Box is located on the 200 level of the west side of Davis ing under tight deadlines and may be ordered through BellSouth (1-800-622- Wade Stadium. To access the press box, enter Gate 5 on the west side of Davis 0644 [out of state] or 662-557-6000 [in Mississippi]). Instruct BellSouth personnel Wade Stadium and take the media elevator to Level 2. to install the line in the press box at Scott Field, B.S. Hood Drive, on the MSU campus. Inform BellSouth that the line should "work like 325-8158." PRESS BOX SERVICES Please notify the Media Relations offi ce when ordering private lines so that MSU provides ample work space in the 144-seat Bob Hartley Press Box for phone line installation and seat location can be coordinated. members of the print media as well as booth accommodations for radio networks and originating telecasts. Post-game work space is available in both the open-air ETHERNET/WIRELESS CONNECTIVITY seating area of the press box or in the climate-controlled work area adjacent to A limited number of high-speed Ethernet connections are also available in the the seating area. Hartley Press Box. Those connections are available on a fi rst-come, fi rst-served basis. If you intend to use one of these lines, please notify Mike Nemeth in the STATISTICS MSU Media Relations Offi ce (662-325-2703) as soon as possible prior to your Complete individual and team stats, play-by-play and post-game quotes will arrival in Starkville. be available to the media following each game. One hour prior to kickoff, media A limited number of Ethernet connections are also available for photographic packets containing a game program, fl ipcard, updated stats and game notes will transmission in the climate-controlled area of the press box. These connections be distributed in the media working area. are assigned on a fi rst-come, fi rst-served basis to photographers requesting the An internal public address system will provide updated notes and information service. All Ethernet lines are NOT reserved by any media entity and may be during the game. A post-game fax service is also available upon request. shared when not in use. The press box is equipped with wireless internet access. To gain access to the wireless internet, media members must have a wireless card on their computer.

MEALS A pre-game meal is served on the second fl oor of the Seal M-Club Building (south end of Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field) beginning three hours before kickoff with a light snack available in the press box at halftime. A stub on your credential, or an all-sports pass, is required for the pre-game meal.

Collegeview Street Barr AvenueAvenue Barr LEGEND First Aid— +

Gate 13 Gate 14 Ticket Office—

Gate 12 T (Students) Gate 11 Gate 8 (Students) Gate 9 Will Call— WC Gate 10 Gate 7 SINGLE GAME PRESS PARKING + (west of Humphrey Coliseum) (west of Humphrey Gate 6 Gate 5 + enter from Barr Avenue) enter from SEASON PRESS PARKING SEASON PRESS (behind Bost Extension Center; PRESS BOX B.S. Hood Road Gate 4 + + +

SEAL M-CLUB CENTER

Gate 1 TURMAN FIELDHOUSE 100 Level Gate 20+ 200 Level Gate 19 T WC Gate 3 MSU Police Dept. Gate 18 MSU Alumni Center Gate 2 Gate 17 Gate 16 Gate 15

202 MSU RADIO NETWORK

rom the opening whistle to the fi nal horn, the addition to his duties as color analyst. An Associate color and excitement that is Mississippi State Athletic Director at MSU, he was selected as the 2006 MSU RADIO NETWORK Ffootball will fi ll the airwaves across the Mid- “Outstanding Broadcaster in Mississippi” in 1999 (LISTING SUBJECT TO CHANGE) South thanks to the MSU Football Radio Network. and 2002, and is perhaps most widely recognized City ...... Station ...... Frequency Linking 35 radio stations, the satellite-fed broadcast as the “Voice of the Diamond Dogs” on one of the Aberdeen ...... WWZQ-AM ...... 1240 signal blankets the Magnolia State from affi liates on nation's largest college baseball radio networks. He Amory ...... WAMY-AM ...... 1580 the Gulf Coast to a network outlet on the Tennessee also serves as color analyst on the MSU basketball border. Network programming is distributed and co- radio broadcasts. Batesville ...... WBLE-FM ...... 100.5 ordinated through the facilities of TeleSouth Commu- The Greenwood, Miss., native Correro is a former Biloxi ...... WTNI-AM ...... 1640 nications, Inc., headquartered in Jackson, Miss. three-year football letterman at MSU (1959-61). He Booneville ...... WBIP-AM ...... 1400 Anchoring the MSU broadcasts and returning for recently retired as Director of Alumni Affairs and is Bude ...... WMJU-FM ...... 104.3 his 54th season behind the microphone is the person- the secretary-treasurer of the MSU M-Club Alumni Cleveland ...... WMJW-FM ...... 107.5 able “Voice of the Bulldogs” Jack Cristil. Cristil is a Association. veteran of more than an estimated 1,700 MSU athletic Entering his 16th season with MSU’s radio crew Columbia ...... WCJU-FM ...... 104.9 broadcasts. is Steve Ellis. A native of Columbus, Miss., Ellis Corinth ...... WKCU-AM ...... 1350 The 2006 season marks the 28th year of work assumed color duties for State football when veteran French Camp ...... WFCA-FM ...... 107.9 for two other veteran members of the MSU foot- Jim Ellis moved to Comcast Cable television for a Greenville ...... WDMS-FM ...... 100.7 ball broadcasting team, color analyst Jim Ellis and tape-delay broadcast of MSU’s games from 1999- Grenada ...... WOHT-FM ...... 92.3 reporter John Correro. 2001. Steve, who serves as Broadcast Coordinator A native of West Point, Miss., and a 1969 gradu- for WMSV-Radio, State's on-campus radio station, Hackleburg, Ala...... WFMH-FM ...... 95.5 ate of Mississippi State, Ellis hosts MSU’s post-game serves as the studio host for the halftime show of each Hattiesburg ...... WMXI-FM ...... 98.1 locker room interview and scoreboard radio shows in Bulldog game. Hernando ...... WVIM-FM ...... 95.3 Houston ...... WCPC-AM ...... 940 Indianola ...... WTCD-FM ...... 96.9 Jackson ...... WOAD-FM ...... 105.9 Louisville ...... WLSM-FM ...... 107.1 Lucedale ...... WRBE-FM ...... 106.9 McComb ...... WAZA-FM ...... 107.7 Meridian ...... WYYW-FM ...... 95.1 JACK CRISTIL JIM ELLIS JOHN CORRERO STEVE ELLIS Monticello ...... WRQO-FM ...... 102.1 Philadelphia ...... WWSL-FM ...... 102.3

ack Cristil has served as the MState sole football A winner of numerous broadcasting laurels during Picayune ...... WRJW-AM ...... 1320 play-by-play broadcaster for 53 years, calling over his career, Cristil was honored with the prestigious Chris Tupelo ...... WKMQ-AM ...... 1060 J500 games for the Bulldogs. Cristil has also broad- Schenkel Award in 1997 (the longtime ABC announcer Tylertown ...... WTYL-FM ...... 97.7 cast MSU basketball games since the 1957-58 season. was the initial recipient in 1996) for excellence in college Vicksburg ...... WVBG-FM ...... 105.5 Born December 10, 1925, in Memphis, Tenn., Cristil broadcasting. Waynesboro ...... WABO-AM ...... 990 grew up with the dream of becoming a radio broadcaster, In 1992, Cristil received the Ronald Reagan Lifetime often simulating games outside his boyhood Memphis Achievement Award and was also the first non-coach/non- West Point ...... WKBB-FM ...... 100.9 home. After graduating from Memphis’ L.C. Humes High athlete to ever be inducted into the Mississippi Sports Wiggins ...... WIGG-AM ...... 1420 School in 1943, Cristil served as a member of the Army Air Hall of Fame that same year. Winner of the Mississippi Winona ...... WONA-FM ...... 95.1 Corps during World War II. Sportscaster of the Year Award a record 21 times, Cristil Yazoo City...... WYAB-FM...... 93.1 In 1947-48, Cristil studied broadcast journalism at was named the Southeastern Conference’s Broadcaster the University of Minnesota before returning home to of the Year in 1988. Memphis. He landed his first job in broadcasting in 1948 Cristil, who survives his late wife, Mavis, is the father as a minor league baseball announcer in Jackson, Tenn. of two daughters, Kay Clouatre and Rebecca Newhall. He Over the next five years, he would also hold that posi- also has one grandson, Jake Clouatre, and one grand- tion with teams in Anniston, Ala., Clarksdale, Miss., and daughter, Lindsey Newhall. Memphis. After two years with the AA Memphis Chicks of the Southern League, Cristil moved back to Clarksdale and broadcast local high school football and basketball games for WROX, where he had worked previously. It was August of 1953 when Cristil sent audition tapes in to Mississippi State when he heard of a job opening. MSU athletic director C.R. “Dudy” Noble hired Cristil that fall and he began his current career with the start of the 1953 football season. From 1955-85, Cristil also served as play-by-play announcer (broadcasting games for Tupelo High School and Itawamba Junior College) and advertising salesman for WELO radio in Tupelo, Miss, where he has resided since ‘55. He also served as sales manager for WTVA television in Tupelo beginning in 1986.

203