2007 AutoZone Liberty Bowl Media Information
Schedule of Events
Sunday, December 23
4:00pm - 6:00pmMississippi State team check in at The Peabody
4:00pmMississippi State Coach Sylvester Croom will be available for media interviews in the lobby of The Peabody
Monday, December 24
11:00am – 1:45pmMississippi State practice at Rhodes College
Tuesday, December 25
11:15am - 1:45pmMississippi State practice at Rhodes College
Wedsnesday, December 26
11:15am - 1:45pmMississippi State practice at Rhodes College
1:00pmUCF team arrives at Wilson Air Center Media will have access for photos and brief interviews
1:45pm - 2:45pmUCF practice at University of Memphis Football Complex
3:00pm - 4:00pmHead Coaches’ press conference at Embassy Suites
5:30pm - 8:30pmTeam Welcome Party at Jillian’s – Peabody Place
7:00pmMemphis Grizzlies game at FedEx Forum
Thursday, December 27
8:35am – 10:05amUCF practice at University of Memphis Football Complex
11:00am-11:30amUCF players & coordinators interview session at Hilton Memphis Hotel
Noon-2:00pmAwards Luncheon at Hilton Memphis Hotel
After LuncheonMississippi State players & coordinators interview session at Hilton Memphis Hotel
3:45pm -5:45pmMississippi State practice at Rhodes College
7:00pm – 9:00pmMedia Dinner at Rendezvous (By Invitation Only – MUST RSVP)
7:00pmPro Rodeo at Agricenter Show Place Arena
Friday, December 28
7:00am – 9:00amFCA Breakfast at Hilton Hotel Guest Speaker – Bruce Matthews
8:30am – 10:00amUCF players visit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
10:30amMississippi State players visit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
Noon-12:30pmSylvester Croom press conference at Westin Hotel – Mississippi Ballroom
12:30pm – 1:00pmGeorge O’Leary press conference at Westin Hotel – Mississippi Ballroom
2:45pmMississippi State Walk-Thru at Liberty Bowl Stadium
4:00pm – 4:45pmUCF Walk-Through at University of Memphis
4:00pmBeale Street Parade
6:30pmMedia Hospitality Trip to Hollywood Casino Bus departs Embassy Suites (By Invitation Only-MUST RSVP)
7:00pmPresident’s Gala at Peabody Hotel
11:00pmMedia Hospitality Trip, Bus returns from Hollywood Casino
Saturday, December 29
NoonCredential pick up at Liberty Bowl Stadium, Press Will Call, near Gate 1
NoonPre-Game Buffet at Arena Building – Memphis Fairgrounds
1:30pmMedia Will Call Window opens at Liberty Bowl Stadium, near Gate 1
1:30pmPress Box opens at Liberty Bowl Stadium
1:30pmMedia pre-game meal service begins, 2nd Floor of press box
3:30pm49th Annual AutoZone Liberty Bowl Mississippi State vs. UCF
POST GAMELocker Rooms are CLOSED Press Conference and Awards in Arena Building, adjacent to Liberty Bowl Stadium


Credential Distribution:
December 26 to December 28 at Embassy Suites, Media Room, 9:00am to 5:00pm
December 29 at Liberty Bowl Stadium, Media Will call near Gate 1, Noon

Media Hospitality Events:
December 27 – 7pm to 9pm:
Media Dinner at Rendezvous restaurant in downtown Memphis. Located in alley across Union Avenue from The Peabody. By Invitation Only. MUST RSVP to AZLB media representative at the Embassy Suites
December 28 – 6:30pm to 11:30pm
Media Hospitality trip to Hollywood Casino. By Invitation Only. MUST RSVP to AZLB media representative at the Embassy Suites. Bus will depart Embassy Suites at 6:30pm. Seating is on a first-come, first served basis…limited to first 50. Bus will depart Hollywood Casino at 11:00pm for return trip to Memphis.

Practice Access, Interviews and Photo Guidelines
Mississippi State:
Practice will be open for the first hour. Interviews after practice
UCF:
Access limited to individual periods only, per UCF media relations. Interviews after practice

Directions to Practice Sites from Media Hotel:
To UCF Practice (Univ. of Memphis):
- Take a left out of hotel, then right on Poplar Avenue
- Travel west on Polar to Goodlett
- Take a left on Goodlett…Goodlett dead ends at Park Avenue
- Take a right on Park…and then immediately get in the left lane.
- Take a left at the light…which is Getwell
- The entrance to the Univ. of Memphis complex will be on the left…follow the road around to the left to the football practice fields.

To Miss. State Practice (Rhodes College):
- Take a left out of hotel, then right on Polar Avenue
- Travel west on Poplar in the right lane…then exit on to I-240 North (Nashville)
- After passing Walnut Grove exit….get in the left lane.
- Then take the Sam Cooper Blvd. exit
- Sam Cooper Blvd. dead ends at East Parkway...take a right on East Parkway…then get in the left turn lane.
- Take a left at the next light which is North Parkway/Summer Avenue
- Rhodes College will be on the right.
- Take a right on University Avenue…football complex will be on the right.

Satellite Truck and Live Truck Parking at Stadium:
No parking pass is needed for satellite trucks and tv live trucks. However, you must enter the stadium parking area at Access Gate 1, near the railroad tracks from Hollywood Street.

All other media vehicles will require a parking pass.

AutoZone Liberty Bowl Media Contacts:
Ron Higgins, AutoZone Liberty Bowl Media Liaison
(cell) 901-517-3089
Harold Graeter, Associate Executive Director
(office) 901-795-7700
(cell) 901-238-0812
e-mail: hgraeter@libertybowl.org

Mississippi State Media Relations:
Mike Nemeth
(cell) 662-418-7229

UCF Media Relations:
Ryan Powell
(cell) 407-405-5822
 
 
The first Liberty Bowl was played on Saturday, December 19, 1959, in Philadelphia, PA.