Penn State is apparently going to be sanctioned by the Rose Bowl for failing to meet contracual agreements regarding media obligations.
From a statement issued by the bowl:
There were two non-compliance matters. One involved the failure to conduct a pre-game interview with the Game Broadcaster, as required by contract. The other involved the failure to open its locker room to the media following the Game, as required by BCS Rules. In response, the Tournament of Roses met and discussed this matter with the members of the Rose Bowl Management Committee (RBMC). Based on these discussions, the RBMC determined that these violations had occurred, and then approved appropriate responsive actions. These matters will be addressed by the Tournament of Roses with Penn State. Details of those actions will remain private.
The open-locker-room part of this apparently came up because a “national,” writer, whom I won’t name even though he sat beside me in the press box at the Rose Bowl, made a fuss. It’s true, the locker room wasn’t open. But JoePa and a number of Penn State players (certainly more than a dozen, including most of the recognizable names) were made available in a tent alongside the stadium after the game, even though the tent was a long way from the locker room and a lot of frantic shuttling of people through crowds was needed.
It probably would have been easier for Penn State to simply open the locker room, and maybe Joe was just being obstinate. Still, no big deal.
Got to tell you, I’m something of a heretic within the profession on general issues of “access.” A lot of the time, I could simply do without it. Some of the best sportwriting ever, and I’m talking same-day game coverage, has been quoteless. Jim Murray almost never quoted anyone, and when asked why he came up with an answer I heartily endorse: What could anyone else have to say that’s more interesting than what I have to say?
There are usually only about three Penn State players worth quoting, and not (necessarily) because the others aren’t smart or thoughful. It’s just that few of them have the strange “skill” involved. Regardless, while it would be dumb and self-defeating for a big-time sports operation like Penn State football to refuse to talk to the press, it would also be well within its rights.
But, again, nobody had to cover the Rose Bowl without Penn State quotes. The squabble is about the specific venue in which the access took place. Whenever I hear this stuff I think of the journalists who have literally risked their lives for “access,” while writing about things (get this) somewhat more important than college football.
It should be noted that sportswriters have occasionally had to work in truly challenging conditions, such was when San Francisco was rocked by an earthquake during the 1989 World Series, and generally performed heroically. Still, I’m going to go out on a limb of guess that if Abu Ghraib has a locker room, Dubya never opened it to Seymour Hersh.
