Reporter is prohibited from asking Deion Sanders in Colorado due to "personal attacks" in earlier reports

Colorado football head coach Deion Sanders had a heated exchange with a reporter during media day on August 9. Sanders expressed his displeasure with some of Denver Post columnist Sean Keeler's past coverage of him and the football team.

"You don’t like us, man. Why do you do this to yourself?" Sanders questioned Keeler during the press conference. "I’m serious. Why do you do this? Like you know you don’t."

Two weeks later, Colorado announced that Keeler would no longer be allowed to ask Sanders or anyone in the program questions, citing "personal attacks" in his reporting.

"Due to ongoing personal attacks on the football program and Coach Prime, the CU Athletic Department, in coordination with the football program, has decided not to accept questions from Sean Keeler at football-related events," the department said in a statement provided to ESPN.

Although Keeler remains credentialed to attend football activities, other reporters from the Denver Post are permitted to ask questions at events.

According to the Colorado athletic department, some of Keeler's previous remarks about Sanders, including referring to him as "Deposition Deion" and a "false prophet," were problematic, along with phrases like "Planet Prime" and "Deion Kool-Aid."

The exchange between Sanders and Keeler lasted around 90 seconds, with Sanders pressing the columnist for an explanation. Keeler repeatedly tried to ask a "football question."

Sanders responded, "What did I do? … Why? … You’re always under attack. What did we do to you?"

Eventually, Sanders suggested they discuss the issue privately later.

Keeler wrote a column soon after the incident, describing Sanders as "a confident man who suddenly appeared afraid."

The Denver Post sports editor, Matt Schubert, defended Keeler, calling CU’s reasoning "entirely subjective," saying it would be more accurate to state, "We don't like Sean Keeler's critiques of our program."

This isn't the first time Sanders has banned a reporter. In 2021, while coaching at Jackson State, a Mississippi Clarion Ledger reporter was barred after writing about a court filing involving a recruit.

Colorado finished the 2023 season with a 4-8 record and will open the 2024 season against North Dakota State on August 31, marking their debut in the Big 12 Conference.

This site uses Google AdSense ad intent links. AdSense automatically generates these links and they may help creators earn money.