Okie State "streamlines" access for media

Interesting move in wake of the SI series. OSU apparently is cutting out 1-on-1 interviews or the small huddles that have always gone on at the weekly media luncheon. I imagine postgames will be the same this week. Thoughts? Anyone know if any other FBS schools do this these days?

http://www.tulsaworld.com/article.aspx/After_SI_report_OSU_officials_keep_closer_tabs_on_players/20130924_93_B1_CUTLIN591660

 

In other words, they are eliminating real interviews and turning media availability into fluff-filled gang bangs because they're deathly afraid of what Billy Bob might say if left on his own.

"We take boys, build their character and turn them into responsible young men at Oklahoma State. Of course, we can't trust them as far as we can throw them, we don't want them having an original or controversial thought and we don't want them saying anything without the coaches jerking their puppet strings."

 

They probably realized they were violating decency standards with the local media nut-licking the players.

 

Increasingly common at a lot of places, unfortunately.

 

Access at BCS schools (at least generally speaking) is terrible and it's getting worse at a rapid pace. The past two or three years, I've really noticed it go downhill.

 

And the fans don't care, unless there is a cutback on the reporting of "good news".

 

Sounds like a typical media session in Gainesville, Fla.

 

Yeah, no shit... Florida is legendary for only making a backup kicker and some other reserve available during Florida State week in the late 1990s.

 

Yeah, as a former SID, I understand that angle too. How much trust do you have in a 19 or 20-year-old when the lights are on that he/she won't say something that will be spun as controversial and then YOU and the head coach have to spend the rest of the season cleaning up the mess?

The day is coming, and will soon be here, when all media access is regulated. Wanna cover the game? Buy a ticket. Wanna talk to someone? Put in a request in advance and we'll monitor the interview.

To some extent, the media has itself to blame for this. How many times have one of our colleagues talked to someone 1-on-1 and gotten what the subject thought was small talk, only to have it plastered across the front page the next morning "Backup quarterback rips coach"? Well, that happens a few times and causes enough waves and you start taking measures to prevent it from happening again.

 

Maybe the coach should recruit mature athletes who wouldn't do such a thing or do a better job of teaching athletes how to be personally responsible in interviews. I find it strange a college athlete needs more "protection" during an interview than a high school athlete.

 

A lot of schools do have media training programs in place. Heck, I've sat through a few of those seminars and even advised our athletes on certain matters. Still, we gotta remember we're dealing with 19-20-year-old kids. It seems like it takes moving heaven and earth to get them to attend class, say no to drugs and stay away from nightclubs at 1 in the morning.

In a perfect world, you're right, we could trust anyone to talk to anyone and print anything they wish. But both sides have abused that trust and that's where we are now.

 

Every athlete should go through a media training session, and the first thing they should learn is EVERYTHING they say to the media is on the record, small talk or not. A reporter using something isn't abusing trust. It's simply doing his job.