RANTOUL – So much for the power of the press.
After having open practices his first year as Illinois football coach, Ron Turner decided to close them.
"I just want to try to minimize some distractions, just let our guys come out there and not worry about having the media there or anything like that," Turner said. "Just let them be themselves and not have to worry about something happening that's going to show up in the paper the next day. I just want to avoid distractions."
In recent years, most Big Ten teams moved toward closed practices. Of the other 10 schools, four have remained open to the media. And three of those have restrictions.
Indiana opens most of its practices to fans and the media. At Northwestern, Tuesdays and Wednesdays are open, but Thursdays are closed.
Minnesota allows the media to watch practices but bans fans. Purdue allows fans and media members in for most practices, except scrimmages.
Michigan State lets media in Monday to Wednesday, but only for 20-30 minutes. Turner will follow roughly the same plan. He also will give reporters access the final five minutes of practice for player interviews.
"I want these guys to get some exposure, and I want to be available to you, and I want them to be available," Turner said. "The more exposure we get, the better for us. I think we can work it out where you can get everything you need. I'm going to tell you the truth, and I'm going to give you information."
Turner said no specific incident caused the change in policy.
"I'm not saying we would have won some games if you weren't out there," Turner said. "If I did, I'd commit me to an insane asylum. We had enough problems, we didn't have to worry about that. It's just something I want to make sure, as we take the next step, all we're focusing on is football."
Any media members trying to watch practice will be asked to leave, Turner said.
"Hopefully, that won't happen because they'll know," Turner said. "We'll say you can be there at the start of practice and at the end of practice. That way, you get a chance to see who's out there and who's not out there. You can say, 'Why is so and so taped up?' "
The crowd at practice in Turner's first year was limited most days. Two or three regulars showed, but that was about it. The News-Gazette was represented at all but a handful of practices, producing daily reports.
Turner said he will have a list of guests who will be allowed into practices.
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