If Colorado head coach Deion Sanders had a plan to alienate almost every major media figure in the country, then mission accomplished.
ESPN's Paul Finebaum was the latest to weigh in on the controversy surrounding Sanders banning Denver Post sports columnist Sean Keeler from asking questions on ESPN's Get Up hosted by Mike Greenberg on Aug. 26.
"Coach Prime is showing he is not ready for primetime, Greeny," Finebaum said. "I find this whole thing disgraceful ... treating reporters like this seems like we're in some autocratic country. This is not America ... I find him to be a bully and a hypocrite."
Keeler is an APSE Award-winning columnist who has been with the Denver Post since 2018. On Aug. 23, Colorado announced Keeler was banned from asking questions of Sanders or other members of the football program.
"After a series of sustained, personal attacks on the football program and specifically Coach Prime, the CU Athletic Department in conjunction with the football program, have decided not to take questions from Denver Post columnist Sean Keeler at football-related events," the athletic department said in a statement provided to ESPN. "Keeler is still permitted to attend football-related activities as a credentialed member of the media and other reporters from the Denver Post are welcome to ask questions of football program personnel made available to the media, including coaches, players and staff."
Colorado went 4-8 in Sanders' first season in 2023 after going 1-11 in 2022. The Buffs open the season on Thursday, Aug. 29 at home against North Dakota State.