HBCU Experience From The Men's NCAA Final Four

Learning how the NCAA Men's Final Four's treatment of fans, coaches, players, media, and using a mobile app could transform the black college championship games and tournament experience.

HOUSTON — This week at the 2023 NCAA Men's Final Four,  HBCU Legends learned how the sports entity's treatment of media, players, fans, and use of a mobile app could transform the black college championship games and tournament experience. 

MY HBCU OBSERVATIONS

• HBCU Legends greeted SWAC Commissioner Dr. Charles McClelland.  He was totally immersed and engaged with the NCAA tournament. Later this year, he will step into the NCAA Division I men's basketball committee chair position.
• Joe Bryant Jr. was the lone HBCU player invited to play in the Reese's College All-Star Game on Friday afternoon. Bryant won the Co-MVP award for his 22 points, six rebounds, one assist, and a steal effort while playing with and against Division I players. On Sunday afternoon, Bryant is pulling double duty participating in the HBCU All-Star Game in Houston.
• Other HBCU outlets were granted coverage of the NCAA Final Four, which was great. Also, many black media professionals from Houston had courtside seating.
• I had a chance to meet CBS Sports media professional and fellow Morehouse Man Kyle Helm. He assisted in launching the HBCU All-Star Game coverage at CBS.
• Heat Check CBB's Eli Boettger was seated beside me at the Final Four. Boettger said Joe Bryant Jr. "has a chance at the NBA," and teams need to evaluate his "versatility."

Apr. 1, 2023; San Diego State player Lamont Butler answers media questions after sinking the game-winning shot over Florida Atlantic University in the 2023 NCAA Men's Final Four semifinals game.  Credit: Kyle T. Mosley, HBCU Legends

MY HBCU TAKEAWAYS AND LESSONS

NCAA Men's Final Four invited HBCU Legends to cover and experience the event and surrounding activities this week in Houston, TX. Thus far, the whole experience has been overwhelmingly positive for other media colleagues and me. The scheduling of events, resources, and information provided, professionalism, and coordination is outstanding.

First, with your credentials on the week of the games, you must download the Press Pass app that welcomes you to the NCAA Men's Final Four. The menu has:

1. Check for Updated Content
2. Mobile Notification History
3. Game Info/Contacts
4. Media Schedule
5. Media HQ/Hotel Info
6. Maps/Diagrams
7. Media Info/Links

Apr. 1, 2023; 2023 NCAA Men's Final Four semifinals postgame interview with San Diego State's guard Matt Bradley.  Credit: Kyle T. Mosley, HBCU Legends

FANTASTIC MOBILE APP

This app is FANtastic! Why? Each day, the Mobile Notification History allows the media to know what to expect and if changes occur. For example, a Media Party Reminder and how to access video recordings on the NCAA Digital Media Hub were posted on Thursday.

The two sections I use the most are the Media Schedule and Media Info/Links sections. In the Media Schedule, you have a daily breakdown of the scheduled press conferences of the coaches and players, team practice schedules, media workroom schedules, breakout sessions, events, media access, buffet times, and shuttle runs. As a media professional, it allowed me to schedule everything I desired to attend. Most of all, the schedule stayed the same, and events began on time.

The Media Info and Links section provided access to updated press conference transcripts, live stats, wifi info, advanced stats, media seating, video, audio, and more.

The welcoming media message says, "Please let us know how we can assist media in your coverage of the world's marquee basketball sporting event." The NCAA truly means it.

From an HBCU perspective, it gave me insight into how media coverage is welcomed, respected, and desired from all levels - event coordinators, personnel, teams, coaches, and players. At times covering black college and some professional teams' events, you experience an adversarial relationship between media and PR departments, event coordinators, conference personnel, athletic directors, sports information directors, and auxiliary personnel. 

The NCAA has an opposite approach to its relationship with the media. It's one of acceptance and understanding of the importance of the media's role in covering, promoting, and giving the event worldwide publicity. Media is not a nuisance, but we are the cog in the wheel that keeps the machine running.

Apr. 1, 2023; Dr. Charles McClelland at the 2023 Men's NCAA Final Four. Credit: Kyle T. Mosley, HBCU Legends

HBCU RELATED OBSERVATIONS

• HBCU Legends greeted SWAC Commissioner and noticed his engagement with the NCAA tournament. He will to step into the NCAA Division I men's basketball committee chair position after this season.
• Joe Bryant Jr. was the lone HBCU player invited to play in the Reese's College All-Star Game on Friday afternoon. Bryant won the Co-MVP award for his 22-point, 6 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 steal effort while playing with and against Division I players. On Sunday afternoon, Bryant is pulling double duty participating in the HBCU All-Star Game in Houston.
• Other HBCU outlets were granted coverage of the NCAA Final Four, which was great. Also, many black media professionals from Houston had courtside seating.
• I had a chance to meet CBS Sports media professional and fellow Morehouse Man Kyle Helm. He assisted in launching the HBCU All-Star Game coverage at CBS.
• Heat Check CBB's Eli Boettger was seated beside me at the Final Four. Boettger said Joe Bryant Jr. "has a chance at the NBA," and teams need to evaluate his "versatility."

It's plenty to learn and gather from an event of this magnitude. Out of the major black sports conferences, the CIAA Basketball Tournament closely parallels the NCAA Tournament regarding event coordination, scheduling, and granting media access. The black conferences pale in comparison because of the sponsorships, resources, personnel, and volunteers supporting the NCAA Tournaments' events.

Refinement of the conference championship games and tournaments begins with engaging more sponsors, providing fans with a better experience, and viewing media as the necessary partner of the SWAC, MEAC, CIAA, and SIAC. One of the conferences may develop a mobile app for media and fans. Hmm, is anyone taking notes?

We shall see.