Who are the friends of Oklahoma State football?

I once "covered" a USC -- that's Pete Carroll's USC -- practice. I was covering the opposing team.

The only people allowed in were the USC writers.
If you were from out of town, you had to wait outside until it was over.

I don't know if this is legal. I don't know if it's standard policy. I just know it happened.

 

I swear, I need to stop reading comments associated with stories. This is what gets me every time...

 

I've had that happen to me. Some places it's standard policy.

I was at one basketball practice where the coach refused to start until a columnist was removed. The columnist called the SID over and said, if he throws me out, he has to throw everyone out.

We were all thrown out and practices were closed the rest of the year.

 

The media "friends" allowed into practices are the Oklahoma State radio guys -- which is to say 1) the sports anchor for a Tulsa TV affiliate (color analyst on Okla. St. radio broadcasts) and 2) the gopokes.com guy (Scout.com "recruiting analyst" -- yep, cross-thread, but the recruiting guy, who also has a very local radio show and is the sideline reporter on Okla. St. broadcasts).

Both on the Oklahoma State payroll.

(And yes, it's interesting that the Scout.com guy is on the payroll as part of the radio team, especially in light of the WaPo article and thread elsewhere on this board).

Re: USC's practices. Yeah, they're open to just about everyone except reporters from media outlets that regularly cover that week's opponents. Not an unusual policy, except in most places, practices are just closed to everyone.

 

In terms of access, USC is about as good as it comes at the highest level of college football. (Only DI team with open post-game locker room.)

The only frustration would be that out-of-town media is banned for USC practice during that particular game week. I can understand that not knowing whether that beat guy is a huge homer and what his/her intentions are, although I don't agree with the blanket policy.

As for USC's open-door practice policy, I believe they still check driver's licenses and ask some background questions for you to get in.

When it comes to media attending practice, I've always liked Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer's policy: Everybody basically has the other team's playbook. It's about who executes on Saturday.

 

Indeed.

USC (Trojans) are "USC" and "Southern Cal"

The other one simply is South Carolina.

Deal with it, 'Cocks!

 

Actually, USC Sports Information hates it when the school is called "Southern Cal." There was a big stink about it in their media guide a few years back. Not sure if it's still there.

 

I don't see anything wrong with asking for identification. Even if it's open USC has the right to know who is there.

 

Yeah, and Washington State hates being called Wazzu. Who the fuck cares?

 

Just pointing it out.

 

As a reporter covering a Big 12 school that allows almost zero access to practices, being banned from practice would seem to be a godsend. Who wants to watch football practices every day?

I'd be livid if the school I covered opened them up, because then I'd have to go.

 

Gundy probably realizes with expectations comes more pressure. Can't wait for the pile on when they lose one of their look-ahead games.