Report: Kansas suggests student reporter avoid Charlie Weis
Charlie Weis’ first season as Kansas head coach got off to a shaky start when the Jayhawks lost their second game to Rice, beginning what now stands as a four-game losing streak.
Weis is now feeling more heat for his treatment of a reporter for the university’s student newspaper. The contentious relationship with the Daily Kansan began last week with the newspaper’s cover article, penned by Blake Schuster, predicted a Kansas State win over Kansas.
Weis reacted to the cover and story with a tweet:
Team slammed by our own school newspaper. Amazing! No problem with opponents paper or local media. You deserve what you get! But, not home!—
Coach Charlie Weis (@CoachWeisKansas) October 04, 2012
The conflict escalated yesterday when Schuster reported that KU director of football communications Katy Lonergan discouraged him from asking a question at Weis’ press conference:
…Lonergan told him it would be in his best interest not to ask questions.
Before the weekly football press conference, Lonergan invited Schuster to a meeting in her office with Mike Cummings, assistant director of communications for KU Athletics. During the meeting, Lonergan warned Schuster about possible negative reactions to last Thursday’s Kansan cover art and story. She told him these negative attitudes could be directed toward him.
As the news traveled via Twitter, college football and national columnists weighed in on the story, as well as, Weis’ reputation and history:
Charlie Weis has been a fake tough guy and a bully for a long time.—
mike freeman (@realfreemancbs) October 10, 2012
Later, Weis will wonder why he has this reputation RT @tyduffy: Weis Had Underling Intimidate Kansas Student Reporter bit.ly/SMdyfy—
Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 10, 2012
There was time when SIDs had pulse of media & counseled coaches. There are coaches who intimidate younger SID staffers with no AD backup.—
Chris Pika (@BlogAndTackle) October 10, 2012
Student Reporter: Just go into Weis' office with a box of Krispy Kremes. Start eating one real slow, lick lips a lot, keep chewing. Dude will change his song and dance in no time and be YOUR FRIEND FOR LIFE, lol.