Mark Blaudschun
By Mark Blaudschun
Deion Sanders is again making headlines.
The Colorado football coach who has faded from a shooting star to also-ran, yesterday's news status in four years has stirred the pot once again.
Sanders has been holding open practices--a rare occurrence at the collegiate and National Football League levels--with restrictions.
Only there is a hitch.
"Nothing observed at practice may be reported, published, posted, broadcast or otherwise shared in any form, on any platform, at any time,'' Colorado told the media in an email as practice began for the 2026 season. "If you are uncertain whether something is reportable, the answer is that it is not.''
OK.
Then there was this restriction: Any fans and media attending practice are required to surrender their phones.
Whoa? Fans? Good luck controlling that.
As for the media, with those restrictions, and in this social media world where every human reaction can be in a tweet or blog within seconds, it is not unreasonable if you accept the restrictions for access.
"Violations of these guidelines may result in removal from the facility, revocations of credentials of future access for the individual and the outlet, consistent with CU Athletics media policies."
Whoops.
We are close to crossing the Rubicon (Google it).
Sanders, who thrives on attention, creating his own "Prime Time" tag for himself, which crosses another boundary for the media who sometimes acquiesce when they address him as "Coach Prime.''
Please. It's Deion. Coach Sanders or Mr. Sanders.
Sanders has every right to put in informational restrictions during practice, including the turning in of cell phones.
This is a new world, where nothing is sacred.
One NFL reporter crossed the line by bringing a cell phone to the funeral of a prominent NFL owner and using it to enhance his story.
Sanders is trying to stir a pot which has gone from a boil to tepid simmer. Last year's team finished with a 3-9 record.
This year's team, after winning one league game in 2025, is projected near the bottom of the 16-team Big 12 Conference, hardly a forecast for a prime time production.
The solution for both sides is obvious, which many teams use as policy.
Open practice to the media for the first 15 minutes and the final 15 minutes of each practice and then close the gates.
Oh, there will be abuses. Intrepid reporters will do head counts of starters to make sure no one is missing and if there are any, Sanders will be asked where they are.
What Colorado and Sanders MUST NOT do is revoke credentials (including to REAL games) which is a reporters' livelihood.
Colorado and Sanders can limit access and refuse to acknowledge reporters' questions, but they can not deny that person access.
Reporters can report what they see in regular games. Make judgments. Criticize coaching decisions or players' performances. If Sanders doesn't like it, oh well.
Of all the sports I have covered in 56 years in this business, football coaches are by far the most paranoid, seeing conspiracy theories in areas which entice Oliver Stone to make a movie.
And the relationship between coach and media is often dicy.
As a young reporter in New Jersey, I covered the New York Football Giants with a young Ray Perkins as the head coach.
Perkins, who later coached at his alma mater Alabama, was often stoic.
In the middle of his second season, Perkins had revived the Giants.
The Giants media policy was that reporters were allowed access to practice with the usual restrictions of not reporting strategy.
There had been some rumors that the Giants were planning on switching from a standard 43 (four linemen, three linebackers) defense to a 3-4 scheme.
Perkins was asked about it at his luncheon press conference and denied it was happening.
A few hours later, I watched as the Giants' held their first practice of the week preparing for Tampa Bay (Monday was a light practice and Tuesday was an off day).
They were running a 3-4 defense.
I had a dilemma. Report what Perkins said at the press conference or report what I saw which was much different.
I decided to check back with Perkins, which happened a few hours later as he walked to his car at Giants Stadium.
"What are you doing here?" said a surprised Perkins.
"You put me in a bad position," I said. "Report what you said or report the truth.''
He looked at me with what was known as the Perkins' stare, which could last several seconds.
He said, "You're right. I won't do that again.''
And in my dealings with him, which lasted several years and numerous career stops for both of us, he never did.
I fudged the story about the 3-4 and said the switch was an ongoing debate.
Which leads us back to Colorado and Sanders.
Sanders can put in all the restrictions he wants with his practices and open or close them, but what he CAN'T do is prevent reporters from doing their job, even with severe access restrictions.
#30