One of the most difficult tasks facing every FCS commissioner is when to schedule media day. The challenge is finding a day to maximize your conference's exposure. 

The Southland Conference had an opportunity with media day this year to establish a new identity. Southland commissioner Chris Grant opened the show touting the conference’s re-branding with a new logo and a championship belt for conference champions instead of a trophy.

Since Grant took over as commissioner in December 2021, he has worked to change the image of the Southland Conference as a minor player in FCS. The logo received solid reviews from everyone, including some of the conference’s harshest critics. The championship belt is an excellent addition and will surely be welcomed by student-athletes.

“This isn’t your father’s Southland,” Grant declared towards the end of his opening remarks during the conference’s media day this week. Unfortunately, what followed during the virtual media day felt like more of the ‘old’ Southland.

At a time when some non-FBS conferences are discussing whether a virtual media day is the best way forward, those thoughts should be placed on pause after this week. The fact is a virtual interview misses the human element that makes for great television. 

According to multiple sources within the Southland conference office, the in-person interview with Houston Christian was when they realized that a virtual media day wasn’t the greatest choice. There is just something different about in-person human interaction. However, that was the only option left for the Southland this year.

Sources said the conference’s contract with the city of Lake Charles, La., to hold nearly every conference event in the city, and made to keep McNeese from leaving the conference, was only a one-year deal and was fulfilled with last year’s media day.

The conference office looked across Texas and Louisiana for the best place to hold this year’s media day. Not only do you need to find a venue, but you need that venue to be available on a day that will maximize the exposure the conference receives. This is only one of the many challenges facing FCS conference commissioners for media day. 

College football has a hierarchy, and an FBS conference will almost always dominate news coverage during media day. Group of Five conferences will avoid conflicting with the Power 5 conferences. An FCS conference in Texas trying to maximize exposure should refrain from holding its premier event to kick off the football season at the same time as a Group of Five conference.

According to sources, the Southland was scheduled to hold its media day at Choctaw Stadium as late as three weeks ago. The Southland was readying to have its media day on the same day that Conference USA held its event across the street at Globe Life Field, while the American Athletic Conference held its Media Day next to the Rangers ballpark at Texas Live! on Monday and Tuesday.

Some have speculated that money was an issue for the Southland. Sources inside the conference office indicate that Commissioner Grant had the budget to cover Choctaw's cost but ultimately decided that hosting a virtual media day was better than directly competing with CUSA and the AAC.

Another issue arose when many media covering the schools in Louisiana and Lamar said they would not attend a media day in Arlington, which would further reduce the exposure the conference would receive. Sources indicate the Southland will return to an in-person media day next year, with one possible location being Houston.

Another challenge facing each FCS conference commissioner is timing. It’s tough to find a day in the last two weeks of July to hold a media day that doesn’t conflict with an FBS conference. Another conflict a commissioner should avoid is with the Texas High School Coaching Association (THSCA) coaching school. 

The United Athletic Conference might have set a new standard during its media day on July 14 at Texas Live! While the UAC media day wasn’t perfect, it provided a look into what could become the future for FCS conferences. The location allowed fans to attend, which was an excellent opportunity for schools to offer donors inside access.

But July 14 may have been the UAC's best decision. It was the Friday before the THSCA coaching school and avoided conflicts with FBS conferences. FCS conferences should consider moving their media day up a week or two earlier. Sources indicate Grant will ensure a better experience for the schools and fans next year.

Texas College partners with Phenom Elite

Texas College announced a partnership with Phenom Elite on July 14. Phenom Elite is an apparel company based in Columbia, S.C. Sources inside the program indicate the Steers had a basic offer from Nike but is receiving an incredible deal with Phenom Elite. TC will purchase two sets of jerseys, while Phenom Elite will provide one set of jerseys, 150 pair of cleats, coaching gear, gloves, and compression shirts for the athletes free of charge.

The Steers also have an apparel line on PhenomFans.com, and the school will receive 10 percent of the profit. Phenom Elite started a clothing line to honor former Texas Tech head coach Mike Leach. Phenom Fans has a Texas College Air Raid and a Pirate flag t-shirt available for purchase.