Air Force Football: Players Unavailable To Media 'Indefinitely'

The relationship between coaches, programs, and the media has grown ever tenuous with the proliferation of easily available platforms (see: social media). In college football, each coach is free to set rules for media availability and open practices, unlike in other leagues such as the NBA, where the national association sets media rules for all teams.

But today, Air Force announced that its players will be absolutely unavailable to the media for an "indefinite" period of time in a move that further restricts Colorado media access to the Falcons' program. As reported by Frank Schwab of the Colorado Springs Gazette, a conflict has arisen due to military and academic responsibilities to which the players were already committed.

So for now, head coach Troy Calhoun and his assistant coaches will be available for interview after fall camp practices -- but when the season starts, the assistants will also become unavailable. While the academy did say regular player availability will continue once the conflict is resolved, there is the strange potential that if the conflict continues long enough, it is possible only Calhoun will be available to the media.

At this time of the year, loyal fans are sustained by the hopeful quotes that emerge from camp. So for fans of the Air Force Falcons, fall camp just got a lot less interesting.