Press Box Attire - College Football

[JM22720]

I'll be covering my first college football game next week (NCAA D1, FBS/ACC) and am wondering how I'm supposed to dress. I was thinking an untucked button-down shirt and khaki pants, but would this be too casual?

 

[TexasVet]

In a sense it's like going in for a job interview. I would say tuck in your shirt and look as professional as possible — dress nice enough, groom yourself and don't smell. Stay quiet and observe others and you can see how other folks are doing it. You're not only representing the media outlet you're working for, but also any potential employers as this also serves as a networking event for you, and you'll most likely want to leave a good first impression.

That said, good luck and enjoy!

 

[LongTimeListener]

If you're in Tuscaloosa, something like this:

 

[Elliotte Friedman]

Here's a story always tell about the start of my career: I covered the 1994 Canadian Open Golf Tournament. Was in sports radio at the time.

Went in a long-sleeved shirt, tie and pants. The hosts joked about it and made fun of me, on-air. "Golf shirt will do," the said.

When it was over, they came up to me and thanked me for giving them material. Then they said, "Appreciate you going the extra mile, but a golf shirt is seriously ok."

Go the extra mile for your first appearance.

 

[Steak Snabler]

Golf shirt and khakis is fine. Especially in the South early in the season, you'll turn into a sweaty mess if you try to go coat and tie.

 

[User 11148]

Have fun. Don't cheer. Don't get intimidated by the big-timers there.

 

[Alma]

Some men can wear dress pants/khakis well.

For the men who can't, a pair of moderately expensive, nice dark jeans probably look better. Pair with a button down and a jacket and good shoes. The bigger/taller you are, the more that jacket helps.

If you're a smaller, thinner-waisted man, dress up if you can afford it.

 

[DanOregon]

Not really on topic, but it is embarrassing what some sports people deem acceptable attire when they are representing a news outlet in public.

 

[SoloFlyer]

Not really on topic, but it is embarrassing what some sports people deem acceptable attire when they are representing a news outlet in public.

My rule of thumb is always to wear a collared shirt. If it's 90 degrees and you're covering high school baseball or early season high school football, nice shorts are fine. Just wear a golf/polo shirt.

College and pro, always wear pants - khakis, nice jeans (not baggy) or dress pants. You can stick with the polo shirt for warmer events, including much of the baseball season, but I prefer a button-down dress shirt for all others.

 

[Fredrick]

I think it depends on the weather and what level of team you are covering. If the team blows chunks and it's going to be 100 degrees out and most colleges now treat the media like crap, it's ok to wear a golf shirt and jeans. If you have to be on the field shooting as well as reporting, shorts are OK. Times are changing, folks. Colleges are treating the media like crap with all their rules and I think this has changed a bit in terms of how the media should respond. There is NO reason anymore to sweat up a storm in fancy clothes, especially if you are covering a day game of a non top 25 type game. I could be mistaken but I feel like the colleges have started a war with the media and no reason to dress up, especially when "most" head coaches in football are wearing casual shirts with the team logo. Again if it's 90 to 100 degrees and you are spending any time on the field in this day and age of video, shooting the game as well as covering, no way in hell you wear your sunday best; you wear casual casual casual. You aren't going to impress anybody into giving you better seats or access. The press is the enemy now. Dress like it. Nobody's judging your dress. I mean no T-shirts, but golf shirts?? Of course.

 

[John]

You'll never go wrong with khakis and a button down at games, or most anywhere else.

And how a college treats me or the quality of the game I'm covering has no bearing on the respect I have for myself and my employer.

 

[jr/shotglass]

 

[Double Down]

Some men can wear dress pants/khakis well.

For the men who can't, a pair of moderately expensive, nice dark jeans probably look better. Pair with a button down and a jacket and good shoes. The bigger/taller you are, the more that jacket helps.

If you're a smaller, thinner-waisted man, dress up if you can afford it.

This is, I think, the best advice.

My default is a nice dark (and freshly-ironed) pair of jeans and a sportcoat. Dress shirt, no tie. It's a good mix of professional and casual. You take the jacket off in the pressbox so you don't get hot, roll up your sleeves to work/type, and you roll them down and put the jacket on when you go down for interviews. I'll wear a tie to the Kentucky Derby and Super Bowl, but usually the no-tie, sportcoat look is a solid bet for anything unless it's 99 degrees.

 

[Fredrick]

I respect you good dressers but when the coaches of teams are wearing golf shirts with the team emblem they are setting the standard for it being casual casual casual. With all their rules and such restricting access, why would you get dressed up for a football game on a 99 degree late summer afternoon? Now winter sports like NBA or college basketball or NFL, yeah you wear dress slacks and button down shirt or sportscoat no tie like u said. But college football in the summer? Crazy to not go casual.

 

[stix]

Board shorts and sandals.

 

[Deskgrunt50]

It's never wrong to err on the side of dressing up over dressing down.

 

[Gator]

Golf shirts? Collars? What is this? 2007? I'll take a dri-fit Nike T-shirt, or some variation thereof. Still can tuck so you don't look like a Neanderthal, but collars are for loserz.

 

[playthrough]

Don't dress to be memorable. That's the advice I give now to folks at my university that are going on camera, if they ask. Clean and professional really isn't memorable, if you're doing it right.

 

[Doc Holliday]

You guys act like we're in the stone age. Sports coats? Ties? Slacks? Give me a ****in' break. Are we back in the '20s and punching our **** out on a typewriter, too? WTF.

Times have changed. Dress the way that makes you look good, feel good and what is comfortable for your environment. My employer has one dress code: dress similar or comparable to the people you cover.

As far as what "future employers" and "networking" people you meet might think, I don't give a **** how you're dressed so long as you're not an eyesore. At the same time, I do give a **** how you write.

Over time, people aren't going to judge you on how you dress, but they sure as hell will on how you write. Wear blue jeans for all I care but get the damn story and make it sing like Smokey Robinson. You do that, you'll never hear a word from me.

 

[Liut]

Wear socks.