TCU has pulled the Fort Worth Star-Telegram’s credentials after the newspaper’s reporting on a locker room assault that led to senior safety Jacob Fields being dismissed from the team.
The school told the Star-Telegram that its access was revoked because “coverage resulted in threats to the victim.” The paper had not identified the victim by name until he later spoke publicly in a video on social media.
That video has since been deleted, but according to TCU Roundtable, wide receiver Dozie Ezukanma said he had been “sucker punched.” In the same video, Ezukanma showed a clip of Fields blocking him at practice and held up a text message from Fields apologizing.
Fields’ agent pushed back on the online chatter with a statement saying “much” of it was “false or purely speculative.” The Star-Telegram reported that Fields said:
“He is grateful for the opportunity the university gave him. While disappointed, Jacob understands that given the circumstances, it was in the best interest of all parties to move forward. He respects the decision and wishes his teammates and the TCU program nothing but success.”
TCU dismissed Fields last week for a “ violation of team rules.”
The Star-Telegram first reported that a source said “tensions began brewing between Fields and his teammates earlier this month in fall camp. The source said Fields felt targeted by teammates with insults and threats, including multiple moments when was allegedly spit on by a teammate.”
A few days later, another source told the paper that the situation escalated in practice after a hard block.
The credential pull drew attention beyond Fort Worth, with some media members suggesting it wasn’t the first time a Sonny Dykes-led program had restricted reporters without a clear reason.
Dykes has been at TCU since 2022. He won three bowl games and guided the Horned Frogs to the 2022 College Football Playoff National Championship Game.
Before arriving in Fort Worth, Dykes went 30-18 at SMU. He signed a contract extension with TCU earlier this year.
The Horned Frogs open their season Saturday against North Carolina in Ireland.
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