The University of Colorado has prohibited Sean Keeler, a Denver Post columnist, from asking questions to head coach Deion Sanders and other members of the football program.
The school confirmed the news Friday in a statement provided to ESPN: “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. 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.”
The Post reported that a sports information staffer in the Colorado athletic department cited his use of phrases such as “false prophet,” “Deposition Deion,” “Planet Prime,” “Bruce Lee of B.S.,” “the Deion Kool-Aid” and “circus.”
The statement did not specify how long Keeler would be prohibited from asking questions, but a school spokesman clarified that the action was indefinite.
In a news conference earlier in August, Sanders accused Keeler of “always being on the attack” and asked, “What happened to get you like this?” In the discussion, Keeler asked multiple times if he could ask a football question and Sanders declined before moving on.
The Post reported that Sanders has a stipulation in his contract that requires him to speak only with “mutually agreed upon media.”
A Colorado sports information staffer told the Post that “Keeler had not violated any specific media policies” when the paper asked for clarification.
Sanders is set to begin his second season as Colorado’s head coach Thursday night against North Dakota State. The Buffaloes finished last in the Pac-12 after going 4-8 last season.
–Field Level Media