Mike Gundy threatens local media

Mike Gundy might be a lot older than 40, but he's still beefing with the local media.

Apparently, he threatened to revoke player access if any of the local media asked players about a receiver who transferred earlier this week. Oklahoma State also made threats if the media reported Gundy's threat.

The person who reported it was an OSU professor. Was wondering what everyone's thoughts were. Even for college football, this seemed pretty bush league.

Here's the thread that shined the light on the debacle and a story via the student paper about it.

 

Typical tyrannical college football coach bullshit.

 

They ALL should have asked various players about the transfer.

 

Did anyone ask or report Gundy’s threat?

 

Nope. It didn't get out until the OSU professor tweeted about it. Even if I completely disagree, I get both sides from the local beat's perspective. You have a crazy coach threatening to pull access in an era when it's already at an all-time low. Colleges give you just enough access these days to keep writers in line but not give out anything substantial. It's the worst.

 

Let’s say the Oklahoman asks and loses access. It could send its Oklahoma State reporters to cover Oklahoma alongside its two Oklahoma reporters. Wouldn’t boosters or SIDs be so pissed at the lack of coverage (and Oklahoma receiving twice as much) that there would be enough pressure to back down?

 

In this climate where the media is the enemy? No way.

The fans, boosters and SIDs would all fall in line and say, "Why didn't you follow God Gundy's rules?"

 

Correct. As long as they have their fanboy, team-specific recruiting media to read, fans won’t care. And the fanboy media will certainly comply.

 

The problem with this is, you’re just hurting your readers. I get the stance in favor of it, but if you’re trying to serve your readers, this move doesn’t.

 

If I'm a reader of that paper, the first question better be about that guy who transferred.

 

So what would you do if you’re the Oklahoma State beat writer and this happens? And what do you do if you’re the editor and your reporter tells you this?