The University of Colorado has effectively decided to muzzle a journalist because of the critical commentaries he wrote about head football coach Deion Sanders.
The university confirmed Friday that it would no longer take questions from Denver Post columnist Sean Keeler at football-related events.
“After a series of sustained, personal attacks on the football program and specifically Coach Prime, 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,” the university said in a statement provided to USA TODAY Sports. “Keeler is still permitted to attend football-related activities as a credentialed member of the media and other reporters from the Denver Post are welcome to ask questions of football program personnel made available to the media, including coaches, players, and staff. 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?
The university didn’t respond to a question about whether this was Sanders’ idea. 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. He told him he was “always on the attack.”
“You don’t like us, man,” Sanders said on Aug. 9. “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. “Friday was Prime’s turn, and he didn’t miss. I had it coming, as the old song from ‘Chicago’ goes. That’s fine.”
Keeler then showed up to a Colorado football practice Aug. 13 and tried to ask a question to Colorado graduate assistant coach Warren Sapp. A university employee wouldn’t let him, however.
“Next question,” the employee said.
Keeler had been critical of Sanders previously. In February, he wrote a column that criticized Sanders’ bold statements about his team and potential. Sanders had recently suggested his team was capable of making a run for the College Football Playoff in 2024.
“Deion Sanders is a false prophet, the Bruce Lee of B.S., Harold Hill in designer shades. He’s also in the wrong business,” Keeler wrote then. “If Coach Prime wanted to run for governor, he’d kill it. Rallies for breakfast. Adoring fans for miles. No NCAA. No recruiting rules. No pesky Washington States to hammer you senseless in the cold.”
In a report published Friday, the Post said it asked for specific examples of how Keeler personally attacked Sanders and the program. The news outlet said a sports information staffer cited his use of phrases such as “false prophet,” “Deposition Deion,” “Planet Prime,” “Bruce Lee of B.S.,” “the Deion Kool-Aid” and “circus.”
Deion Sanders’ contract and history with critical media
The Post noted Sanders has specific language in his contract with CU that requires him to speak only with “mutually agreed upon media.” Such phrasing does not appear in the contracts of CU men’s basketball coach Tad Boyle or women’s basketball coach JR Payne. It also wasn’t in the contract of Sanders’ predecessor, Karl Dorrell.
The Post also noted that Sanders has done this before, when he coached at Jackson State. Rashad Milligan, a reporter for the Jackson Clarion-Ledger, was barred from reporting on the Jackson State football team at the Southwestern Athletic Conference Media Day in July 2021. This came a day after that Milligan wrote a story about a domestic violence charge against one of the team’s top recruits.
That recruit later reached a deal to plead no contest to disorderly conduct and received three months of probation and a $50 fine, according to court records obtained by USA TODAY Sports. Milligan told USA TODAY Sports that Sanders had other issues with similar coverage of his besides that story. He said he voluntarily left the Clarion-Ledger later that year before the situation was resolved.
Denver Post sports editor Matt Schubert addressed the situation on social media Friday..
“It’s well within anyone’s rights to not take questions from @DPostSports reporters + columnists,” he wrote on the social media site X. “The reasons listed here by CU, however, are entirely subjective. It would be more accurate to say, `We don’t like @SeanKeeler’s critiques of our program.'”
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. Next question.”
Sanders didn’t say what the issue was with CBS but extended an olive branch to that reporter a week later, indicating the situation was resolved. It’s not clear how long Keeler will be in his doghouse, however.
Sanders opens his second season at Colorado on Thursday against North Dakota State. Last year, his team finished 4-8.
Follow reporter Brent Schrotenboer @Schrotenboer. Email: bschrotenb@usatoday.com
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