When a star football player at the University of Tennessee suffered a potentially career-ending injury last month, Tennessee received numerous requests from reporters to interview the player.

Dave Hooker, a sports reporter for The Knoxville News Sentinel, got the exclusive story—but only after he went around the university’s sports-information department to deal directly with the athlete.

Big no-no, apparently. Despite writing a flattering piece, the reporter received word on Tuesday that the university had suspended his press credential for violating a policy that requires reporters to schedule all interviews through the department.

In a letter to Mr. Hooker and the newspaper, John Painter, an associate AD at the university, said the athletics department was concerned about the precedent set by the out-of-bounds interview.

“Your action has caused not only the UT athletics department but also your colleagues to doubt your ability or willingness to follow accepted guidelines for access to Tennessee student-athletes,” Mr. Painter wrote.

What’s next—clearing articles through the university?