TCU has rescinded media credentials for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram after a dispute over the paper\u2019s reporting on a locker room incident that led to the dismissal of senior safety Jacob Fields from the football team.<\/p>\n
The\u00a0Star-Telegram revealed the university\u2019s decision in its own report<\/a> on Wednesday.<\/p>\n \u201cIn a phone conversation Sunday, a TCU athletics spokesman said the Star-Telegram\u2018s credentials were being pulled because the coverage resulted in threats to the victim,\u201d the paper\u2019s report read. \u201cThe Star-Telegram did not identify the player, junior wide receiver Dozie Ezukanma, until three days after the initial report, when he identified himself in a now-deleted Instagram video.\u201d<\/p>\n Fields was dismissed from the team on Aug. 18 for what the school described as \u201ca violation of team rules.\u201d The\u00a0Star-Telegram subsequently reported that evening that the dismissal came after a physical altercation in the locker room the prior week. The paper\u2019s initial report cited \u201ca source close to Fields\u201d that said he \u201cfelt targeted by teammates with insults and threats,\u201d which ultimately led to the altercation. The source added that the TCU coaching staff made \u201cno attempts to de-escalate the brewing tension.\u201d<\/p>\n Three days later, the\u00a0Star-Telegram filed another report with a new source that clarified Fields\u2019 actions came from \u201ctensions brewing from competitive football and some questionable plays in practice,\u201d rather than bullying. After the follow-up report, Ezukanma posted his now-deleted Instagram video that included his version of events. Ezukanma claimed Fields hit him from behind, and another person in the video said the hit caused Ezukanma to fall unconscious. \u201cHow you gon\u2019 sucker punch me, bro? That\u2019s your teammate,\u201d Ezukanma said in the video, per the Star-Telegram.<\/p>\n In a statement\u00a0to the\u00a0Star-Telegram on Tuesday, TCU blamed the paper for endangering the well-being of its student-athlete, which the university says justifies revoking the paper\u2019s credentials.<\/p>\n \u201cOur primary focus is the health and well-being of our student-athlete,\u201d TCU athletic director Mike Buddie said in a statement Tuesday. \u201cUnfortunately, an unnamed source without first-hand knowledge of the incident provided inaccurate information cited in initial reporting by the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, which we strongly disputed.<\/p>\n \u201cThe inclusion of the misinformation advanced a narrative that endangered a student-athlete and resulted in threats to him and his family. These actions led to the decision to withhold the media credential until additional conversation can be held between athletics and the sports reporting team. We remain dedicated to restoring our student to health as well as focusing on the game that\u2019s ahead.\u201d<\/p>\n The\u00a0Star-Telegram is the only publication with a dedicated full-time staff covering TCU football, the paper says. Steven Johnson, a reporter for the paper, was set to travel to Dublin, Ireland, for the Horned Frogs\u2019 opener against North Carolina on Saturday, but his credential has been revoked. TCU, as the designated home team, has the right to determine who is credentialed for the game.<\/p>\n Shehan Jeyarajah, the president of the Football Writers Association of America, came out in defense of the\u00a0Star-Telegram on Wednesday, demanding Johnson\u2019s credential be reinstated.<\/p>\n As president of @TheFWAA<\/a>, I strongly disagree with TCU\u2019s decision to ban the Star-Telegram from coverage.<\/p>\n Steven Johnson has covered TCU with class for years and his credential to cover the game in Ireland should be reinstated immediately.https:\/\/t.co\/ZhDc4lIhXe<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/JH0P9knHKc<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Shehan Jeyarajah (@ShehanJeyarajah) August 26, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cAs president of [the Football Writers Association of America], I strongly disagree with TCU\u2019s decision to ban the Star-Telegram from coverage,\u201d Jeyarajah wrote. \u201cSteven Johnson has covered TCU with class for years and his credential to cover the game in Ireland should be reinstated immediately.\u201d<\/p>\n \t