Media Information

The George & Sissy Reynolds Media Center is located on Level 5 of Gerald J. Ford Stadium

COACH & STUDENT-ATHLETE INTERVIEWS

All interviews must be arranged through the SMU Public Relations Office

During the regular season, media availabilty opportunities will be sent out via email. If you wish to be placed on the email distribution list, please email: athleticscredentials@smu.edu.

CREDENTIALS

All gameday requests for working press, photo and broadcast credentials should be submitted via SportsSystems at: www.smumustangs.com/media. Requests must be received by the SMU Athletics Public Relations office no later than Wednesday of game week at 5 p.m. CT. The credential site will close at that time.

The media will call window at Gerald J. Ford Stadium is located at the northwest corner of the stadium at the ticket office in the Paul B. Loyd, Jr. All-Sports Center.

PHOTO CREDENTIALS

Photo credentials will not be issued to freelance photographers unless on a specific assignment from an accredited organization. Credentials are not provided to “grips” due to on-field space limitations.

Anyone holding a field credential who is not actively involved in coverage of the game will be escorted from the field.

The photo deck at Gerald J. Ford Stadium is located on the roof of the press box. Take the press box elevator at Gate 2 to Level 5, proceed to the stairs at the south end of the press box and take them to the roof. There are covered areas from which to shoot in case of inclement weather. Photographers shooting from the photo deck must have photo credentials.

LIVE BLOGGING/TWITTER POLICY

SMU asks that members of the media utilizing such technology adhere to the following guidelines:

NO live reports can be filed from the practice field.

NO detailed speculation as to the potential nature or severity of an injury or level of practice participation until Coach Lashlee has addressed it. Acknowledging that an injury occurred and providing general details (i.e. ‘Right leg...’ or ‘Left wrist…’) is permitted, but anything beyond that would be purely speculative and possibly inaccurate, likewise with levels of practice participation.

NO entries that violate the team’s policy in regards to practice information (schemes, formations, etc.) or private team communication.

PRACTICE REPORTING GUIDELINES

PRACTICE INFORMATION

All media (news departments, etc.) must receive clearance from the public relations department before attending practice. No exceptions can be made.

If granted admission to practice, SMU makes the following requirements of reporting across all media platforms (print, television, radio, online or other) mandatory. Failure to adhere to the following policies will result in the revocation of practice access.

NO reporting of specific plays (trick or other), personnel groupings or special/unusual formations. This includes the reporting of individual players as part of sub packages or special formations across offense, defense and special teams.

It is incumbent upon media to ask a member of the P.R. staff about any information that may be close to violating these policies BEFORE it is reported.

PHOTOGRAPHY GUIDELINES

Videotaping and photography opportunities will be outlined in the season media advisory sent via email. Any photo/video transmissions are not permitted until after the designated shooting period has closed.

Wide-view photos/videos of formations and/or personnel groupings are not permitted (shots must be tightly focused on the player/ball).

PRIVATE TEAM COMMUNICATION

SMU asks all media to refrain from reporting and/or recording/filming any team communication meant solely for the team.

This includes the post-practice team huddle, in which Coach Lashlee addresses his players. It also includes mid-practice and/or post-practice communication between any coach and his players.

In general, reporting that the conversation took place is acceptable, just not the details of those conversations. Details are not to be relayed to the public either directly (through first-hand hearing), or indirectly (through interviews, even if the subject answers the question). If media has any question as to whether communication should be kept private, please contact the P.R. department before writing or airing such conversations.

INJURY INFORMATION

All information concerning player injuries will be issued by Head Coach Rhett Lashlee only.

BOUNDARIES

All practice guests, including members of the media, must remain within the boundaries established by the team.

ATHLETICS PUBLIC RELATIONS CONTACT INFORMATION

LINDSEY OLSEN

Associate Director of Public Relations Football Contact

Office: 214-768-4970 Cell: 847-344-0389 Email: lmolsen@smu.edu

BRAD SUTTON

Sr. Associate A.D./External Affairs

Office: 214-768-1651 Cell: 214-914-8705 Email: bsutton@smu.edu

HERMAN HUDSON

Director of Public Relations

Office: 214-768-1304 Cell: 214-924-0358 Email: hermanh@smu.edu

ADDITIONAL CONTACT INFORMATION

Mailing Address:

Box 315 Dallas, TX 75275-0315

Street Address For Overnighted Materials:

5800 Ownby Drive Suite 305 Dallas, TX 75275

Media Relations Office: Ford Stadium Press Box: Football Office: Athletics Website:

SMUFB RhettLashlee SMUMustangs

SMUFootball SMUMustangs

smufb Rhett_Lashlee SMU.Mustangs 214-768-2883 214-768-7730 214-768-3667 SMUMustangs.com

MEDIA PARKING

A limited number of parking passes are available to media members. Media parking is located in various lots on campus. Admittance to the parking areas is by parking pass only.

Parking information will be sent via email in availability advisories or credential approval correspodence.

MAIN PRESS BOX

The main press box at Gerald J. Ford Stadium is located on Level 5. Admittance is strictly limited to members of the working press. Media must access the press box through the main lobby of the Loyd All-Sports Center.

Priority seating will be determined according to the following criteria: local outlets covering SMU on a regular basis; outlets designated by the visiting SID; local radio and TV stations; national publications. All others are accommodated on a space-available basis.

PRESS BOX SERVICES

Team and individual statistics, play-by-play and postgame books will be available online.

The SMU press box provides wireless Internet access. To access the network, select SMUGuest as your network, then open your Internet browser and follow the instructions listed. You will need to create an account the first time you use the network. That link is at the bottom of the webpage.

POSTGAME PROCEDURES

The locker rooms are located in the Loyd All-Sports Center at the north end of Ford Stadium. After a cooling down period, SMU Head Coach Rhett Lashlee and key Mustang players in the game will be available in the interview room. The SMU locker room is closed to the media.

TELEPHONES

To order a phone line in the press box, contact: Ronny Jepsen SMU IT Services 214-768-3873 rjepsen@smu.edu

Requests for individual phone lines must be made by noon on Wednesday of game week. SMU will provide five courtesy phone lines on Level 5 (press box) on a first-come, first-served basis for general use by the media.

TELEVISION

SMU’s live television appearances are governed by existing American Athletic Conference and NCAA policies. All telecasts must be approved by SMU's Director of Athletics. Spotters and statisticians are available for a fee, but the SMU Athletics Public Relations office must be notified at least 10 days in advance.

SUPPLEMENTS

All SMU notes, releases, rosters and stats can be accessed at SMUMustangs.com. In addition, the PR staff will e-mail press releases to members of the media. If you wish to be added to the list, please email athleticscredentials@smu.edu.

collegepressbox is the official media website for Division I football. Access and download game notes, quotes, statistics, media guides, headshots, logos and more for all FBS schools, conferences, postseason games, awards and the College Football Playoff. For access, please register for an account at collegepressbox.com/register.

RADIO

Booths are provided for home and visiting radio networks on Level 5. Visiting radio stations should coordinate all logistics through Associate Director of PR Lindsey Olsen. SMU provides ISDN and POTS lines for visiting broadcasters on a reciprocal basis. There is also a dry-pair drop into the visiting locker room.

MUSTANG RADIO NETWORK

RICH PHILLIPS

Play-by-Play

22nd Season Phone: 469-358-8297 Email: rich.philips.tx@gmail.com

SCOTT GARNER

Analyst

10th Season Phone: 214-263-3251 Email: sngarner@msn.com

STEVE LANSDALE

Sideline

10th Season Phone: 214-417-6916 Email: dc2dallas@earthlink.net

THE AMERICAN COMMUNICATIONS STAFF

CHUCK SULLIVAN

Assistant Commissioner for Communications

Email: csullivan@theamerican.org

545 East John Carpenter Freeway Third Floor Irving, Texas 75062 theamerican.org