The University of Colorado has effectively decided to muzzle a journalist because of the critical commentaries he wrote about head football coach Deion Sanders.
Keeler is still permitted to cover and ask questions of other CU athletics programs and athletics administrators.” Why did Colorado do this to this journalist?
In a news conference earlier this month, Keeler wished Sanders a “happy summer” before Sanders expressed displeasure with him and wouldn’t take a question from him.
“Why do you do this to yourself?” Keeler wrote about it afterward, calling Sanders “Deposition Deion” but acknowledging Sanders had a right to push back.
“I’ve taken my swings at the pinata,” Keeler wrote.
“Deion Sanders is a false prophet, the Bruce Lee of B.S., Harold Hill in designer shades.
In a separate beef with the media, Sanders also recently expressed displeasure with the media company CBS.
When a local CBS television reporter tried to ask a question, Sanders said, “CBS, I’m not doing nothing with CBS.
Because of the critical articles he wrote about head football coach Deion Sanders, the University of Colorado has essentially decided to silence the journalist.
On Friday, the university announced that it would no longer accept questions at football-related events from Sean Keeler, a columnist for the Denver Post.
In a statement sent to USA TODAY Sports, the university stated that “the CU Athletic Department in conjunction with the football program, have decided not to take questions from Denver Post columnist Sean Keeler at football-related events” in response to a string of persistent, personal attacks on the football program, and specifically Coach Prime. “As a media credential holder, Keeler is still allowed to attend football-related events, and other Denver Post reporters are free to question coaches, players, and staff, as well as other football program personnel who are made available to the media. Keeler is still allowed to report on and interview administrators and athletes from other CU sports programs. “.
Why was this journalist treated in this way by Colorado?
Questioned about whether this was Sanders’ idea, the university remained silent. Before Sanders showed his disapproval of Keeler and refused to answer any of his questions during a press conference earlier this month, Keeler wished Sanders a “happy summer.”. He declared to him that he was “constantly attacking.”. “.
Sanders said, “You don’t like us, man,” on August 1. 9. . How come you treat yourself like this?
Even though Keeler acknowledged Sanders’ right to retaliate, he still referred to Sanders as “Deposition Deion” in his postmortem essay.
Keeler wrote, “I took my swings at the pinata.”. Prime’s turn came on Friday, and he hit the mark. Like the old Chicago song says, I had it coming. It’s alright. “.
Keeler then turned up for a football practice in Colorado on August. 13 and attempted to pose a query to Warren Sapp, a Colorado graduate assistant coach. Yet he was denied permission by a university official.
The worker said, “Next question.”.
Keeler had previously criticized Sanders. He penned a column in February criticizing Sanders’ audacious claims about his squad and future. Sanders had recently hinted that his squad might be able to contend for the 2024 College Football Playoffs.
Deion Sanders is a fake prophet, the B.A. equivalent of Bruce Lee. s. Harold Hill wearing high-end sunglasses. Additionally, Keeler wrote at the time, “He’s in the wrong business.”. Coach Prime would kill it if he wanted to run for governor. Cheers to breakfast. Miles of adoring admirers. Not one NCAA. There are no recruitment guidelines. No annoying Washington States to make you feel useless in the winter. “.
The Post stated in an article that was released on Friday that it was inquiring about particular instances in which Keeler disparaged Sanders and the show. He used terms like “false prophet,” “Deposition Deion,” “Planet Prime,” and “Bruce Lee of B,” according to a sports information staffer, according to the news source. s. ,” “circus,” and “the Deion Kool-Aid.”. “.
The agreement with and background with critical media for Deion Sanders.
Sanders’ contract with CU contains specific language requiring him to speak only with “mutually agreed upon media,” according to The Post. Neither Tad Boyle, the men’s basketball coach at CU, nor JR Payne, the women’s basketball coach, have contracts that contain language like this. Moreover, Sanders’ predecessor Karl Dorrell’s contract didn’t contain it either.
The Post also mentioned Sanders’ prior experience doing this as a Jackson State coach. It was announced in July 2021 that Jackson State football reporter Rashad Milligan of the Jackson Clarion-Ledger would not be allowed to cover the team during SAC Media Day. This happened the day after Milligan reported on a domestic abuse accusation against one of the team’s most promising newcomers.
Afterwards, according to court documents obtained by USA TODAY Sports, the recruit came to an agreement to plead no contest to disorderly conduct. He was also fined $50 and given three months of probation. Sanders had other grievances with similar coverage of him aside from that particular story, Milligan told USA TODAY Sports. He claimed that, before the matter was settled, he voluntarily quit the Clarion-Ledger later that year.
Matt Schubert, the sports editor for the Denver Post, commented on the situation on social media on Friday.
“It’s perfectly acceptable for anyone to decline questions from @DPostSports reporters + columnists,” he posted on the social media platform X. However, CU’s justifications are wholly subjective. More appropriate would be to state, We disagree with @SeanKeeler’s criticisms of our program. “.”.
Sanders has also recently voiced his discontent with CBS, a media company, in a separate spat with the press. Sanders responded, “CBS, I’m not doing nothing with CBS,” to a question posed by a local CBS television reporter. Next query. ****.
Although Sanders withheld the details of the problem with CBS, he did offer the reporter an olive branch a week later, signaling that the matter had been settled. However, Keeler’s stay in his doghouse is unclear in the short term.
North Dakota State is the first game of Sanders’ second season at Colorado on Thursday. His team had a 4–8 record the previous year.
Accompany reporter Brent Schrotenboer on Twitter at @Schrotenboer. Bschrotenb@usatoday.com is the email address.
