Good post, Jimmie. A few rebuttals, though.

1. As far as media being allowed in practices go, I say "better to be safe than sorry." You said yourself that reporters in the past have wrote about trick plays they saw in practice. Also, an educated media member may come out of practice and report that the corners are strong but the D-Line needs some work. If the opposing coach saw this, knew that the reporter has been to the team's practices, he may use that to his advantage. Whereas, if the opposing coach knew there was no media access he would brush it off as hearsay and therefore unreliable.

2. Readers do not feel cheated. Look at many of the comments posted. We believe in our head coach and if I have to sacrifice 10 days without "specific" practice reports from the local paper, then so be it. Besides, there are many more OSU topics to write about AND the "gag order" is only for 10 days. Not a month. Not a season. We'll live. If the writer isn't the one that is hurt by this, then why are so many of them taking it so personally and acting so unprofessional about it (see the last three Dave Sittler blogs)?

3. Yes, it is a coaches' obligation to answer questions. But his first obligation is to win games. If he feels that not answering questions for 10 days will better prepare his team to win the game, then that takes precedence. And again, it is only 10 days. He hasn't put a ban on the entire season or anything. In fact, he'll start answering more tomorrow (unfortunately, I feel the majority will be about the lockout instead of the practices).

I enjoy your writing, Jimmie. Even in this case, it is very objective and fair. I, and many fans, just happen to have a different view point.

Jimmie, I have seen writers grade certain position groups both locally and nationally. I know that the interior of the defensive line is the biggest concern on defense because I have read about it. Now imagine if a media member witnesses a starting DE sprain an ankle during practice or even just gets dehydrated and decides to mention it in a report. Don't you think that could cause a potential problem? Obviously this argument is based on a "what if" scenario, but like I said before: It's better to be safe than sorry.
I'm going to take a different angle with your "best Dez Bryant story" point. Maybe we missed out on that story, but maybe it was for the best. Maybe all of this media attention has gotten into the players' heads and they needed to be brought back down to earth. Maybe the Dez Bryant article feeds his ego too much (after all, he is a receiver) and he doesn't go quite as hard during the remaining practices. Game day arrives and his route running isn't as sharp, his legs are fatiguing faster, and his head isn't where it should be. OSU loses. The headline reads "We Let The Hype Get To Us." Obviously, this is just an isolated example but the point behind it is valid. Maybe a media lockout is exactly what these kids needed to keep focus. Who knows? What I do know is that if I had to choose between the best ever Dez article or a win against Georgia, I'm taking the win.