Freep disrespects Michigan State football, new CB transfer

The Freep didn’t even hide its disrespect toward Michigan State football and its new transfer cornerback.

Do you ever get the feeling that some teams get unfair coverage locally? Michigan State football fans have felt that way for about, well, ever regarding the Detroit Free Press (or Freep).

After landing a TCU cornerback transfer on Friday night, those feelings were only strengthened.

Right after MSU landed TCU transfer Kee’yon Stewart in the portal, the Freep posted its quick news article, but half of it was spent talking about Michigan and the featured image was just wildly disrespectful.

Just take a look.

Note: The Freep has since edited the featured image after dozens of replies urging them to do so. But this one is the original picture that they used below.

© Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

Let me be pretty candid here: as someone whose site is partnered with Imagn/USA Today (where it seems this picture is taken from) for photos, there are about a dozen that could have been used that are easily better than this one. Not only is it disrespectful to Stewart as he’s getting manhandled in the background, but it’s also a horrible image to use. Why use a picture in which the topic isn’t the focal point?

Really head-scratching stuff.

As if the featured image wasn’t bad enough, the Freep decided to bring up Michigan in the first paragraph and then Tunnelgate in the third paragraph before a quick edit three hours after posting.

Michigan State added TCU cornerback Kee'yon Stewart in the transfer portal.

Let’s throw it to the Freep for an update on Tunnelgate in the 3rd paragraph.

Take it away, @theford. pic.twitter.com/BaA0rXzGYV

— Justin Spiro (@DarkoStateNews) May 7, 2023

Just a horrendous look for a publication that is supposed to be well-respected locally. Not a great way to sell subscriptions to Michigan State football fans, if you ask me.

“Here’s a story about a new Michigan State transfer, but let me quickly talk about Michigan and then randomly bring up the tunnel incident for good measure.”

How does that make any sense?

I know, we all laugh about the “blue wall” every now and then regarding the local media coverage of Michigan State compared to Michigan, but this only strengthens that narrative. It’s hard to argue that the “blue wall” doesn’t exist when something like this happens.

Do better, Freep.