Johnson C. Smith University Office of Sports Information
 

JCSU Football Media Credential Policy and Application

Johnson C. Smith University competes in 15 intercollegiate sports - seven men's programs and eight women's programs. It is the responsibility of the Sports Information Director (SID) and the University Communications and Marketing department to disseminate information about all 15 teams and the respective student-athletes and coaching staffs, as well as information relating to all activities of the Department of Athletics. If the Sports Information Director is not available, inquiries can be made to the Director of University Communications and Marketing.

Media Guides
Media Guides are a production of the University Communications and Marketing department as a service to the media.

The Internet
Information on the JCSU Golden Bulls is available to members of the media and the public at the JCSU Athletics website, www.goldenbullsports.com. The most up-to-date releases and statistics for many sports may be accessed throughout this website. The CIAA website, www.theciaa.com,is updated with statistics, rosters, schedules and stories for all 12 member institutions, including JCSU.

Social Media
The official Twitter handle of JCSU Athletics is @JCSUSports. JCSU Athletics also maintains Facebook (JCSU Athletics) and Instagram (@jcsusports) accounts that are updated during athletic contests and periodically throughout the athletics year. 

Game Services
Media guides, line-ups, statistics, CIAA standings and notes, and game background information will be supplied at all home athletic events to accredited media representatives and scouts at press row (basketball and softball), and in the press box (football) upon request. Access to press box, press row and press room in Irwin
Belk Complex, Brayboy Gymnasium, and Biddleville Park is reserved for properly credentialed individuals only. 

For basketball games, quick stats are provided to broadcasters during time-outs. At football and basketball games, NCAA box scores are distributed at halftime with a complete NCAA final box score and play-by-play available after the game in the press box or press row upon request. An interview room will be available following basketball games if requested. Interviews are typically held on the field following football games and outside locker rooms following basketball games. Postgame press conferences may be held following specific games, and reporters/bloggers will be told where to go for the press conference in advance.

Postgame wrap-ups including game stories and statistics will be distributed as soon as possible after the completion of each contest.

Interviews
The best way to reach all JCSU coaches is through the Sports Information Director. Please contact the SID for assistance in arranging interviews with the coaches.
Please arrange all player interviews through the Sports Information Office, allowing at least 24 hours in advance. We will try to accommodate every request, taking the players' classroom and practice schedules into account. No student-athlete's home or cellphone number will be given to the media or public. Most student-athlete interviews will be done pre- or post-practice.

JCSU coaches and players will be available for postgame interviews following a brief quiet period. For football, interviews will be conducted in a designated area inside the Irwin Belk Complex. For basketball, the home and visiting coaches will be available for interviews in Brayboy Gymnasium. Post-game policy for visitors may vary at the visiting teams' discretion. For all other sports, contact the SID after the game to arrange post-game interviews at the site. Media representatives are advised to contact the visiting SID with special requests.

JCSU Athletics Media Credentials Policy
Credentials for Johnson C. Smith University home games are issued through the University Communications and Marketing department. Official media outlets and professional scouts may request credentials by contacting the Sports Information Director via email or telephone.

Official media outlets are defined as newspapers, television stations, radio stations and digital media that provide coverage of JCSU sports or the visiting team on a regular basis. Media representing websites that sponsor message boards, message centers or chat rooms where anonymous information can be posted will not be issued credentials.

Season credentials will be issued prior to the start of the season, and single-game credentials are issued on a game-by-game basis. For media covering a team visiting JCSU, requests for credentials may be sent to the opposing team's Sports Information Director for distribution in advance. If necessary, credentials will be available at the will-call window on game day.

Requesting credentials at least two weeks in advance of game day ensures plenty of time to mail the requested credentials and parking information. Local media that request by the week of the game may pick up the credential at the JCSU Sports Information Office by Thursday or from will call on game day.

On game day, credentials may be picked up at will call in the Irwin Belk Complex (football) or in Brayboy Gymnasium (basketball). No designated media parking is available unless noted in advance, but there are plenty of parking spaces within easy walking distance of our facilities.

Photographers
Photographers are issued similar credentials to media. For football, photographers are allowed to shoot from outside the 25-yard line on each side of the field and outside the dotted line surrounding the field. Under no circumstances are photographers other than JCSU photographers allowed in the home bench area during the game.

Credential Requests
All media outlets that wish to cover JCSU football games at the Irwin Belk Complex must submit their requests via EMAIL at least one week prior to the home contest, unless requesting a season pass. The Sports Information Director will notify you if the request has been granted, so please provide a method of contact. Press credentials WILL NOT be issued to spouses, dates, friends or children. Requests made during the week of the game will be considered on a case by case basis.
Possession of a credential does not guarantee a seat in the Brayboy Gymnasium media seating area (press row), but reasonable accommodations will be made. To assure yourself of a seat, you must notify the Sports Information Director of your intention to cover a particular game. All seat assignments will be made on a first-come, first-served basis.

Credentials must be worn and visible at all times because staff and security may ask to verify your credential at any time. All credentials are non-transferrable. Your credential will allow you to access the stadium, press box, press row (basketball), sidelines and post-game interview area(s).

Home Events
Pre-Game
The JCSU Sports Information Director will provide flip cards, game notes, cumulative statistics and other pertinent information for both teams to credentialed media prior to all games upon request. The press areas open one hour prior to scheduled start time. For contests at Irwin Belk Complex, please enter through the main gate and take the elevator to the 3rd floor. For basketball games, flip cards, including rosters and relevant stats will be provided.

Phone Lines
Phone lines needed for a particular game/contest must be requested at least 72 hours prior to the game. Long-distance access is not available to "dial out," but a number will be provided for the radio stations to "call in."

Internet Access
Wireless connection through the JCSU Guest network is available in the football press box and basketball press row. Please know that the University server does track all Internet usage, including in the press box and on press row for inappropriate use.

Wi-Fi guest access codes will be available to working media.

In-Game
Media outlets covering the home games will receive copies of the final game statistics, play-by-play and a scoring summary.

Live stat feeds for volleyball, football, basketball, and softball may be followed online at www.goldenbullsports.com.

Game Announcements
Requests for game announcements must be submitted for approval no later than the Wednesday prior to each home football game or 48 hours prior to the start of other sports events. Exceptions will be made for specific University-related emergency announcements.

Please remember - the Irwin Belk Complex press box and Brayboy Gymnasium press row are working press areas. Therefore, cheering is discouraged and may be grounds for removal and/or revocation of credential for the remainder of the season.

Game Itineraries
Game itineraries will be made available for each team and officials prior to the start of the each contest. All efforts will be made to send game itineraries to visiting football opponents prior to their visit.

Post-Game
The Sports Information Director or designee will make available all stats, game stories, wrap-ups, etc. following the completion of every home contest to all media in attendance. The information will be distributed electronically to local, regional and national media not in attendance. It is our goal to make results and write ups available no later than two to four hours after football and basketball contests. All other contests will be updated within 24-36 hours after completion of their events. Please observe that some travel is required of the SID and results will be made available as soon as possible while travelling.

Away Events
If you plan on attending JCSU football or basketball road games, please let the Sports Information Director know and he/she will assist in securing game and parking (if available) credentials for any media member making a trip in coordination with the opposing Sports Information/Media Relations offices.

Statistics
In-game statistics will be kept for volleyball, football, men's and women's basketball and softball. Statistics will also be kept for golf, bowling, tennis, and track and field. As per NCAA guidelines, statistics will be reported to the CIAA and NCAA for inclusion in national rankings releases, award considerations, etc. The Sports Information Director and other trained personnel will operate the statistical software during the contests. Statistics for away games are the responsibility of the host school.

All decisions regarding statistics are final and cannot be changed once submitted to the NCAA.

Live statistics feeds for volleyball, football, basketball and softball may be followed online at www.goldenbullsports.com.

Email and E-Marketing
Periodically, emails will be sent to the JCSU community with information about home games and nearby athletic events. Also, emails will be sent periodically to notify and update the campus community of results, awards, and general athletic news.

Game Sponsorship and Marketing
Game sponsorship and marketing are operated jointly through the University Communications and Marketing department and the Athletics department.