Big 12 Team Bans Newspaper After it Reported on a Locker Room Assault
TCU revoked the media credentials of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram after reporting one of its players violently attacked another.
In a controversial move, the University of TCU has revoked the Fort Worth Star-Telegram's media credentials following a report on a locker room assault involving a senior safety, Jacob Fields. The assault allegedly led to Fields' dismissal from the football team. Jim Barnes of the Star-Telegram reported that TCU informed the outlet of its decision on Wednesday morning, citing the publication's coverage as the reason for the revocation.
According to Barnes, TCU stated that the newspaper's reporting resulted in threats to the victim, although the Star-Telegram did not identify the player until three days after the initial report, when junior wide receiver Dozie Ezukanma identified himself in a now-deleted Instagram video.
TCU maintains that the newspaper published inaccurate information, alleging that the incident endangered a student-athlete and resulted in threats to him and his family. The university offered an opportunity for the outlet to regain its credentials by engaging in further discussions with the sports reporting team to clarify the matter.
However, TCU denied the Star-Telegram's reporting on the attack and the events leading up to it. Head coach Sonny Dykes and athletics spokesperson Kyle Neaves declined to comment on the incident, citing a lack of comment from the university officials. TCU officials had previously disputed the source's account of what led to the assault in conversations with the Star-Telegram, but they have not provided their version of events for publication.
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