Deion Sanders Bans Denver Post Columnist Sean Keeler from Asking Questions at CU Football Events
The University of Colorado athletic department has announced that head coach Deion Sanders and the Buffs football program will no longer take questions from Denver Post columnist Sean Keeler. This decision stems from what the department deems “a series of sustained, personal attacks” in Keeler’s coverage of the team.
Key Takeaways:
- CU Athletics cites “sustained, personal attacks” by Keeler as the reason for barring him. This includes using phrases like "false prophet,” “Deposition Deion,” “Planet Prime,” “Bruce Lee of B.S.,” “the Deion Kool-Aid,” and “circus.”
- Keeler will remain credentialed for CU football events but will be restricted from asking questions. The ban is indefinite, and CU has not specified when or if it will be lifted.
- Sanders’ contract includes a clause requiring him to speak with “mutually agreed upon media.” This clause doesn’t appear in the contracts of other CU coaches, raising questions about its implications and the precedent it sets.
- This is not the first time a journalist has been barred from covering a team coached by Coach Prime. In 2021, a reporter from the Jackson Clarion-Ledger was barred from covering the Jackson State football team after writing about a domestic violence charge against one of the team’s recruits.
- CU’s actions raise concerns about media access and freedom of the press.
A Tensions Rise in Boulder
The CU Athletics department, in a statement provided to The Denver Post editors, asserted that the decision to restrict Keeler from asking questions was made in conjunction with the football program and was a direct response to perceived personal attacks against coach Sanders and his team. The department cited specific examples of Keeler’s language that they deemed "attacking." These examples included phrases such as "false prophet," "Deposition Deion," "Planet Prime," and "Bruce Lee of B.S.", among others.
The decision to exclude Keeler from asking questions was made the week of August 12th, following a column Keeler wrote criticizing Sanders’ behavior at the university’s fall sports media day. The Post and Keeler were not initially informed about the exclusion until after Keeler attended a football practice on August 13th. Despite not being informed beforehand, The Post sports editor Matt Schubert and editor Lee Ann Colacioppo subsequently contacted CU sports information to discuss the matter. A formal meeting with CU staff took place on August 14th, where The Post requested written parameters surrounding the action and submitted a list of questions. CU did not provide responses to the questions until nine days later.
The statement released by CU did not specifically cite any media policies that Keeler had violated. When pressed for clarification, a sports information staffer stated that Keeler, indeed, had not violated any specific media policies.
Contract Clause Raises Concerns
However, a look into Sanders’ contract reveals a potentially troublesome clause related to media access. The contract states that Sanders must speak only with “mutually agreed upon media” as part of his employment with CU. This clause does not appear in the contracts of other CU coaches including Tad Boyle (men’s basketball) or JR Payne (women’s basketball), nor was it in the contract of Sanders’ predecessor, Karl Dorrell. This discrepancy leaves many wondering whether Sanders himself requested the ban on Keeler’s questions, given the specific language in his contract.
CU sports information members refused to comment on whether or not Sanders requested this action, further fueling speculation. The department did, however, acknowledge that they have taken similar actions against journalists and news organizations at football media events in the past.
This action has drawn comparisons to a similar incident that occurred in 2021, while Sanders was coaching at Jackson State University. A reporter from the Jackson Clarion-Ledger was barred from covering the Jackson State football team at the Southwestern Athletic Conference Media Day, just one day after writing a story about a domestic violence charge against one of the team’s top recruits.
Implications and Concerns
The current conflict between the CU athletic department, coach Sanders, and Sean Keeler has ignited a debate about media access and the role of journalists in reporting on sports teams.
Critics argue that the decision to bar Keeler from asking questions constitutes a blatant attempt to stifle negative press and control the narrative surrounding the program. Furthermore, the inclusion of the "mutually agreed upon media" clause in Sanders’ contract raises concerns about potential censorship and its implications for future media access at CU football events. Many view this as a slippery slope that could create a dangerous precedent for other coaches and athletic programs, where critical journalists face being silenced.
Supporters of CU’s approach argue that it is necessary to protect the well-being of the football program and coach Sanders from unwarranted personal attacks. While acknowledging Keeler’s right to freedom of the press, they contend that criticism should be balanced and avoid crossing into the realm of personal attacks.
Regardless of the justifications presented, the situation underscores the complex interplay between sports, media, and public perception. The ongoing tension between the CU Athletic department and Sean Keeler is likely to continue to be a focal point for discussion, raising important questions about journalistic integrity, media access, and how sports organizations handle criticism and controversy.
