Hey folks... Rob here.

Gotta get something off my chest that has been bothering me since 1999 when I started in the media biz at Virginia Tech.  Why do NCAA athletic programs think they are the boss of all media?

Now I know you, the fan, may not know what I mean.... but let me take you to the "media side" of college football.  It all started on Tuesday when KTBS went to LSU practice in Baton Rouge ((( cue flashback harp music ))).

After practice, as the media (including myself) gathered around to talk to Les Miles, we found out from a LSU S.I.D. that Miles would not speak. 

(S.I.D.'s are the people who work for the athletic department at universities who arrange media interviews with coaches and players)

So Coach Miles doesn't want to talk on the day we find out ole' Ryan Perrilloux is in trouble again... that's fine, it's his business to do so, and I respect that.  But what got me is when the S.I.D. said, "Coach Miles already told the players not to answer any questions about Ryan, and also said you are not allowed to ask any questions about Ryan or any off-the-field issues."

Haha, what??!!!  Folks, I hope you see what I am trying to say here, and one day I'll write a book about my experiences with S.I.D.'s.  I totally understand and have no problem if Les Miles does not want the players to talk about Ryan Perrilloux, why create more distraction? Right?

But on the flip side, we the media, have a job to do to get you, the fan, information about these issues that you want to know about. 

This bugs me, and always will.  NCAA athletic programs have just about 24-7 access to their athletes to train and tell them what to say and not to say to the media.  The NFL, MLB, NBA, and NHL do it, and it works to their advantage (unless the player is a loose cannon, but you get my drift).

But for a division-I college football program to tell the media what they can and can't ask about?  Doesn't that raise a red flag for me, a reporter, and you, the fan?