Steadfast: New Philadelphia Eagle Coach Rick Kotite...

Steadfast: New Philadelphia Eagle Coach Rick Kotite banned reporters from practices, earning himself a new nickname: Rich Uptight.

Kotite took the action, angered when a Philadelphia Inquirer photographer took a shot of safety Andre Waters hitting fungoes with a baseball bat after practice.

Asked what would happen when the network TV crews arrived, Kotite vowed: “I’m not going to let them in.”

Two weeks later, the Eagles got a call from the NFL office and Kotite was obliged to open drills on the day before games.

Said Kotite: “It’s no big deal.”

Progress? In the wake of the Ohio State scandal in which tailback Robert Smith alleged coaches counseled him not to let academics interfere with football, it is heartening to note that the NCAA has a new rule limiting schools to 20 hours of practices and meetings weekly.

It’s not heartening to note that many coaches don’t like it.

Georgia Coach Ray Goff says it complicates matters and creates a logjam of paperwork.

Pat Dye of Auburn says it goes against the American way.

Gene Stallings of Alabama says he has always enjoyed talking to his squad about everyday life, a luxury he may no longer have.