Penn State alumni gathered yesterday afternoon at Beaver Stadium's media room for a panel discussion to promote the College of Communications' Center for Sports Journalism.

Panel members included Detroit Lions' President and CEO, Matt Millen, San Francisco Chronicle NFL reporter Ira Miller and USA Today sports columnist Jon Saraceno.

Discussion centered on issues in modern sports journalism.

"If you want credibility and want better access [to players] make sure what your writing is right, and don't cross the facts up," Millen said.

"Don't do it at the players' expense."

Millen, a second-round draft pick in the 1980 NFL Draft, retired in 1991 with the distinction of being the only player at the time to win four Super Bowls with three different teams in his career.

Millen's football knowledge took him from the gridiron to the press box, becoming a TV football analyst before taking over his duties with the Detroit Lions.

One of the first things Millen learned as a game analyst for FOX and CBS Sports was to ask a question on a subject you are familiar with to avoid an embarrassing situation at press conferences, which he said he learned from John Madden.

One of the issues addressed was the increasing number of women in sports journalism. All three panelists agreed that today it is commonplace for female journalist to be in locker rooms.

"There's always going to be issues of credibility for both sexes, because there have been some guys who don't have a clue to what they're talking about and some women who are really good," Millen said. "It doesn't seem to be an issue anymore."

With the increased professionalism in collegiate sports, Saraceno, Class of 1979, former Daily Collegian staff member, and 1995 Pulitzer Prize nominee, discussed the blurred line between professional and collegiate athletics, and the amount of criticism appropriate for athletes at each level.

He believes that even though some college athletes are paid with a free education, a fine line can be drawn toward the amount of criticism writers can report on a college athlete.

"As long as you're fair, you can be biting," he said. "Pro athletes are fair game."

A problem all three speakers acknowledged is the lack of relationships between sports writers, players and their coaches. Ira Miller, Class of 1966, discussed how access to players and coaches has diminished since he began to cover professional football in 1977. The award-winning journalist said it's a full-time job to develop relationships and it requires visiting and talking to coaches and players during their offseasons.

All three speakers, whose paths have crossed throughout their careers, could not leave Happy Valley without offering advice to up-and-coming sports journalists. Saraceno feels that one need not get into the field to achieve notoriety or for the money, but to find a passion first and the money will follow, as well as seriously consider why you want to enter the field.

Miller's final thoughts were similar, yet straightforward.

"Be persistent," he said. "It's hard to break into the business. You're all in a point in your lives where you have everything out there ahead of you. This is a time to go off and don't limit yourself, go into [writing] because you love to write not because you love sports."