Sports Information

Bethune-Cookman Media Relations 

The B-CU Office of Sports Information is available to assist you with coverage of the Bethune-Cookman athletics programs Assistant Athletic Director Bryan Harvey, Assistant Sports Information Director Michael Stambaugh, Sports Information Assistant Dan Ryan and all student assistants within the office will be happy to serve you during the 2012-13 season. The Office of Sports Information is located in the Wildcat Athletic Complex (740 West International Speedway Blvd.) on the left side of the building as you enter into the main entrance. You may also ask the Athletic Department Administrative Assistant Amanda Wooten for assistance as you enter the building.

For information regarding credentials, interviews, statistics, press conferences, etc., please call the Office of Sports Information (386) 481-2278, or visit www.B-CUathletics.com.

To assist you during the year, please take time to read the media information found on this page. Briefly, interviews must be arranged through the sports information office at least one day in advance. Photographers and video crews are allowed to shoot stretching drills at the beginning of practice only on designated and pre-approved days. Contact the Office of Sports Information for the exact time and location of each day's practice. After the stretching period, practices are closed until the last 15 minutes of practice when the head coach addresses the team to close the session for the day.

Football Media Credentials

Requests for working press, photo credentials, and parking at Bethune-Cookman home football games should be made electronically on the official Bethune-Cookman athletics website at the web address:

http://www.b-cuathletics.com/credentials

All requests should be sent promptly so they reach the Office of Sports Information at least one week prior to the game. For any questions regarding credentials, please direct inquiries to Assistant Sports Information Director Michael Stambaugh (stambaughm@cookman.edu).

Because of the demand for credentials, media agencies that cover Bethune-Cookman and the visiting school on a regular basis will receive top priority.

The University does not discriminate based on age, gender, orientation, race or religion. Credentials will be mailed or they may be picked up before 5 p.m. on Fridays prior to the game in the Sports Information Office. Those credentials not picked up by 5 p.m. on Friday will be left for Saturday pickup at the Municipal Stadium Will Call ticket window beneath the Press Box. The Will Call window opens two hours prior to kickoff, however, passes transferred to the stadium on game day will not be issued parking passes as visitors must enter the parking area to reach the Box Office.

Football Media Access and Parking at Municipal Stadium

Municipal Stadium access for the media is at the Media Pass/Gate entrance located on the left side of the gated entrance underneath the press box in the South parking lot. The working press level is on Level 3, with the photo and television level on Level 4. The second level of the press box is Bethune-Cookman University Interim President Dr. Edison O. Jackson's private suite, and it is closed to the media and public at all times during the game.

Football Interview Policy

During the season, Head Coach Brian Jenkins is available via telephone on Tuesday during the weekly Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) teleconference hosted by MEAC Director of Media Relations Patricia Porter. Please contact the MEAC Office at (757) 951-2055 for details. B-CU Sports Information hosts a weekly media luncheon on Wednesdays at 1:00 p.m. Additionally, Coach Jenkins will be available shortly before practice on Wednesday and Thursday. He will not be available before practice on Tuesday, but rather shortly after practice. There will be no media availability on Friday before a Saturday game. Any other interviews must be arranged through the Office of Sports Information at least one day in advance.

Football Daily Practices

During the season, practices are normally conducted at the Wildcat Practice Facility located beside the band practice field. All practices begin at approximately 4:00 pm. All practices are closed to the media and public after the stretching period and five-minute session of drills. Media with approved interviews for Coach Brian Jenkins or Bethune-Cookman players after practice should come to the Office of Sports Information shortly before the end of practice and be escorted to the field. Please contact the Office of Sports Information at (386) 481-2278 to verify practice times.

Football Postgame Interviews Will be Held in Press Box

Following a brief cooling-off period, requested B-CU players will take interviews only in the press conference located in an area of the Press Box designated by Sports Information staff.

The Wildcats' locker room is closed to media access. Representatives from Sports Information will take player requests from the media during the fourth quarter. Local television media who are on the field during the game should make player requests prior to the end of the game to the on-field Sports Information representative. Head coach Brian Jenkins will conduct a short interview with a correspondent from the CatEye Network's live broadcast before departing to the B-CU locker room.

Jenkins will then join the players at the postgame press conference. Any interviews attempted on the field or outside the locker room will be denied and may result in sanctions at/from future events from the Office of Sports Information.

After night games, Jenkins and players will be available simultaneously due to deadline demands. Quotes will be gathered from both Jenkins and several players for distribution in the press box. Away game procedures will vary, depending on available facilities.

Football Telephone/Internet Services

The Department of Athletics furnishes approximately three telephones along press row for media to file stories, and two additional lines along the Sports Information row directly above the media row. Data line access and wireless internet are available for media usage in the press box. All long distance calls must be credit card, collect or billed to a third number. Anyone desiring a private phone should contact the Municipal Stadium Facility Staff at the Daytona International Speedway main office at least two weeks prior to the game. If you are calling from within the 386 area code, dial 254-2700. Media should make a representative of the Office of Sports Information aware of any additional needs prior to the end of the game.

Football Sideline Policy

Photographers will not be allowed on the sidelines without a Bethune-Cookman-issued photographer's pass. Each photographer must sign in for her/his own pass. Under NCAA and Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference guidelines, photographers are not allowed between the 25-yard lines and must remain outside the restraining lines surrounding the field. Credential holders not working will

be asked to leave the sidelines. A representative of the Office of Sports Information will be on the field to handle any questions and serve as field liaison to press box officials. We ask, for the safety of others, that equipment not be left unattended on the sidelines. If you are shooting with a tripod, please keep a safe distance from the playing field.