ESPN reporter compares Deion Sanders' media policy unfavorably to Joe Paterno's
ESPN's Heather Dinich is unimpressed with Deion Sanders banning questions from The Denver Post's Sean Keeler, a frequent critic of the Colorado football program but also of Coach Prime personally, at press conferences and claimed that Joe Paterno would never do anything like it while he was Penn State's head coach.
"This is petty," Dinich tweeted. "I used to drive Joe Paterno nuts every Tuesday, asking him why his QB wasn’t getting any better, etc. He never stopped me from asking, though. And they were 3-9. Hard seasons = hard questions."
Dinich isn't the only ESPN personality to criticize Sanders' stance on Keeler. Paul Finebaum said that Coach Prime proved he wasn't ready for prime time.
“He did this at Jackson State,” Finebaum said (h/t On3). “This is a trait of Deion Sanders. He wants to have it his way and I find him to be a bully and a hypocrite. And quite frankly, as someone who has been a fan of his throughout his entire career, even at Colorado, I am mortified by his actions.
“Coach Prime is showing he is not ready for prime time Greeny. I find this whole thing to be disgraceful. Deion may want to talk about love and joy, and that’s been the cornerstone of what he seems to be spewing out. But treating reporters like this seems like we’re in some autocratic country. This is not America, and the fact that it’s in his contract is really even more absurd.”
Deion Sanders and Colorado football will receive positive press from FOX and negative press from ESPN
If you're trying to make sense of who puts Coach Prime down and who props him up, just remember to follow the dollars and sense.
ESPN, the media partner of the SEC and ACC is anti-Coach Prime. FOX Sports, particularly CU alum Joel Klatt, is going to prop up the Buffs being that Colorado is back in the Big 12 after a decade and change in the Pac-12.
It's not always going to be exact, because sometimes everyone is going to condemn Coach Prime for his actions. ESPN will change their tune on Sanders once it's convenient for them.