"Just leave it on...we'll control it from the truck"

[MJT]

I have always controlled the mic myself, as not a D1 or NFL official but one thing I always do after I turn it off is tap it a couple of times to make sure it is off. That way I do not have to worry about the RFP whistle or anything else getting on the loudspeaker.

[PSU213]

My opinion is that you must have control of the mike. First, you don't want the media randomly listening in on your conversations. If they (or the viewers) only hear a part of it, they are likely to get the wrong idea about your conversation.

Also, if the mike is on all the time, it may not catch the officials saying something bad, but it may catch a player of coach in the middle of a tirade filled with F-bombs and whatnot. While the media might say "we can control that," what about the situation above where the new sound guy leaves the R's mike's volume on for the audience the entire game?

[Theisey]

If you can't manually control the audio with an on/off switch, then don't wear it. TV nor the stadium management can't dictate that you do.

[stevesmith]

I'd control it myself or not wear it at all.