BLOG: Washington Wins Battle of Strictness With the Media - Spokane, North Idaho News & Weather KHQ.com

BLOG: Washington Wins Battle of Strictness With the Media

Okay, I get it. The new Pac-12 wants to be hip, happening and more exclusive than the six o'clock breaking news. I get the fact that teams want to win, and I understand that college athletics is a multi-gazillion dollar industry.

But, really?

The Athletic Department at Washington sent out a notice Wednesday that sets a new precedent. Reporters can observe practice, but they cannot report on strategy or injuries.

Here is the policy:

"As a condition of entry to UW football practices, all visitors and members of the media are hereforth prohibited from reporting on strategy or injury-related news observed during practices. No players or coaches will have any comments on injuries or any such information."

The Huskies took Mike Leach's "we don't have any injuries here" stratagem at Washington State and took it to an entirely different level. Congratulations, Huskies. You win.

Wednesday's announcement came less than a week after the Pac-12 came out with new policies restricting what TV stations can and cannot air. Reporters can enter Pac-12 arenas and shoot video of their football games, but they can only air three minutes of highlights on TV or online. And they have to stop running those highlights after 48 hours.

It certainly is a new day in America, isn't it?