SEC GAME MANAGERS MEETING January 14, a.m. CT SEC Office Kramer-Moore Room

Transcription

1 SEC GAME MANAGERS MEETING January 14, a.m. CT SEC Office Kramer-Moore Room Byron Hatch, SEC Assistant Commissioner, called the meeting to order at 8:02 a.m. CT on Monday, January 14, Attendees: University of Alabama University of Arkansas Auburn University University of Florida University of Georgia University of Kentucky Louisiana State University University of Mississippi Mississippi State University University of Missouri University of South Carolina University of Tennessee Texas A&M University Vanderbilt University Southeastern Conference Red Leonard, Brian Edmiston, Matt Elliott Chris Pohl Jeremy Roberts, Scott Carter Bryan Flood, Will Kraus Matt Brachowski, Christie Purks Kevin Saal Ronnie Halliburton, David Taylor Joe Swingle, Neal Mead, Jay Logan, Brent Frye N/A Shawn Burke Angie Doyle, Jordan Bearden Kevin Hurley Ed Higgins Byron Hatch, Matt Boyer, Lauren Taylor, Grace Sanders, Kory Dahlen, Chuck Dunlap, Mark Womack, Tiffany Daniels, Leslie Claybrook, Steve Shaw I. Welcome & Introductions Due to inclement weather, Tony Wirkus from Missouri was unable to travel to Birmingham to attend the meeting. II. Recap of 2018 Football Season a. Metal Detectors Mr. Hatch gave an update to the group on the metal detector policy and shared the language for the metal detector proposal that was approved by the SEC Presidents/Chancellors during the 2018 SEC Spring Meetings. Jay Logan (Mississippi State) and Matt Elliott (Alabama) provided an overview of their institution s experiences with metal detectors during the 2018 football season.

2 b. Team Bench Credential Management Mr. Hatch reviewed the team bench credential policy implemented by the NCAA prior to the 2018 season. Mr. Hatch spoke with his counterparts at the other autonomy five conferences, and they expressed similar concerns as the SEC game managers in that it appeared not to eliminate the number of people on the sidelines; however, there seemed to be less people in the team bench area. Additionally, the group indicated it occasionally negatively impacted those (e.g., team managers and athletic trainers) who needed to be in the team bench area due to their role. Matt Boyer informed the group this topic is on the NCAA Football Oversight Committee s agenda for their next meeting. Mr. Boyer thinks this policy will be in place again next year with some revisions to address administrative issues that arose. c. Artificial Noise Policy Enforcement Mr. Hatch reviewed the SEC Commissioner s Regulation pertaining to the Artificial Noise Policy and the revised language that was applicable in This policy was revised prior to the 2018 season to specify artificial noise must end when the center puts his hand on the ball. During the season, there were a few instances in which the policy may have been violated. However, there did not appear to be continuous repeat offenders. d. Inclement Weather Planning/Procedures Mr. Hatch discussed efforts by the SEC Office to create a Severe Weather Planning Guide. The intent is to create a tool that serves as a guide leading to a decision on scheduled competition when severe weather is predicted. Mr. Hatch shared a draft of an initial document that has been prepared and asked the group to review and provide feedback. Additionally, Mr. Hatch mentioned the conference office has engaged in discussions with SECN/ESPN regarding the current lightning policy pertaining to outdoor events. The issue centers around lightning detection and the different systems that can be utilized by SECN/ESPN and SEC institutions to track lightning strikes. Due to the different systems, there are occasions where the different systems detect lightning differently. The group also shared there is ambiguity regarding if the current policy pertains to all lightning or if there is a difference on how the policy applies to cloud-to-cloud versus cloud-to-ground lightning. Further, the group questioned what SECN/ESPN utilizes as the point to track the distance of lightning from the venue. They wondered whether it s based on an 2

3 address, latitude/longitude, location of the TV production truck or location of someone who has the app on their phone. The SEC office is continuing discussions with SECN/ESPN and will follow-up with the group on recommendations that arise. e. Visiting Team Pregame Field Access Restrictions The group discussed instances when the visiting football team may not be allowed on the field prior to the game by the home team. Currently, one SEC school restricts the visiting team s access to the field until one hour and 45 minutes prior to kickoff. The intent is to avoid altercations on the field between teams because the home team does its team walk across the field around the time the visiting team arrives at the stadium. Currently, an SEC Commissioner s Regulation specifies the field must be available for pregame warm-up no later than 90 minutes before kickoff. The SEC staff will discuss this matter with the directors of football operations and football sport administrators at their April 2019 meeting. f. Managing Postgame Deterring Incidents The group discussed the incidents that occurred on-the-field following some football games in 2018 and ideas for how to manage to deter such incidents from occurring. Some ideas that were shared were: Adding staff near the visiting team locker rooms to assist with getting the visiting team into their locker room; Constant communication between the visiting team s travel/operations staff and home team s football game manager leading up to a game; Identifying people who should/should not be on the field to assist with postgame issues; and Adding more staffing on the field whose role is to manage postgame and prevent incidents. g. Other Matters The group discussed issues that can occur occasionally with receiving the Vokkero headset equipment (aka O2O ) in a timely fashion. After receiving the equipment and installing, there can be concerns with having enough time to rectify issues that may arise. Additionally, it can be a challenge getting the equipment back to the game officials following the game. The group asked if there is a better process that can be employed to receive the equipment prior to the game and to return it to the game officials following the game. 3

4 The group also shared concerns with assigning a reliable play clock operator for football games. Each school currently assigns a play clock operator. The group asked if it was possible for the conference office to assign the play clock operators. The group gave feedback on the TV Timeout Clock. Overall, the group felt it was a successful first year. For future versions of this clock, the group suggested the switches to turn the clock on/off and to start the countdown be moved further apart to minimize the opportunity for the red hat to inadvertently click the wrong button. The other suggestion was to allow the pole to bend or for the top half of the pole to slide into the bottom half to allow it to be reduced in length to make it easier to transport. III. IV. Football Minimum Facility Requirements Mr. Hatch informed the group the Football Minimum Facility Requirements must be implemented beginning with the 2019 football season. The group discussed power on the sidelines for cooling benches. The group asked for clarification pertaining to which team is responsible for providing the generator when a generator is needed to power the visiting team s cooling benches. The group suggested the visiting team shall be responsible for obtaining the generator, and the home team is responsible for identifying a location for the generator to operate. The SEC staff will share this with the athletics directors for their review. The outcome of the athletics directors discussion will be shared with the game managers, the football directors of operations and football sport administrators. Visiting Team Participant Access to Spectator Area The group discussed a recent instance in which an SEC gymnastics coach expressed an intent to sit in her opponent s stands with the opponent s students during an upcoming match. Mr. Hatch shared with the group the SEC Commissioner s Regulation in Football that prohibits visiting team participants from accessing the spectator area. Additionally, there are other sports that have a similar policy in its game management manual, but football is the only sport that currently has it as a Commissioner s Regulation. The challenge for a policy of this nature in many sports is that it is common for visiting team participants to access the spectator area during competition for a specific reason (e.g., baseball, softball, track & field). Different scenarios were discussed on ways to word the policy and not have unintended consequences. The SEC staff will discuss internally and follow-up with the group on a recommended course of action. 4

5 V. Baseball Video Review Update Herb Vincent gave the group an update on the baseball video review procedures that will be in place during the 2019 season. For conference games, video review will be conducted via a collaborative review process. For non-conference games, plays will be reviewed like last year with the review being conducted entirely at the stadium. Additionally, if any technical issues are encountered that prevents collaborative video review at a site during a conference game, the review will take place entirely at the stadium in the same method as utilized during non-conference games. VI. Future Meetings The 2019 SEC Event Management Summit is at Mississippi State University on June 17-19, On June 17, there will be a dinner meeting with on-campus hosts of the SEC Championships. The regular meeting will be conducted on June Mr. Hatch provided an Event Management Summit Host Rotation that indicates the year each school is slated to host the meeting (See Attached Supplement). Monday, February 10, 2020 was selected as the date for next year s in-person meeting at the SEC Office. The meeting was adjourned at 2:03 p.m. CT. PREPARED BY: Kory Dahlen/bh Assistant Director of Competition

6 Supplement EVENT MANAGEMENT SUMMIT PROPOSED FUTURE HOST ROTATION YEAR HOST LAST HOSTED 2019 Mississippi State N/A 2020 Arkansas N/A 2021 South Carolina N/A 2022 Missouri N/A 2023 Tennessee Florida Auburn Georgia LSU Kentucky Alabama Texas A&M Ole Miss Vanderbilt 2018