Coaches Twitter Ban

[APieperFan3]

In the article, it says Jay Wright has banned it for his players. Is that just "during the season"?

I wonder if other BE coaches will do the same - would Buzz?

I follow quite a few players (although have unfollowed a few in the offseason) and I have definately thought "Wow - doesnt this kid think before he 'tweets' "?

What do you guys think?

http://www.cbssports.com/columns/story/15416882/coaches-twitter-ban-isnt-stunting-players-its-protecting-them

[GGGG]

I think coaches are excessive control freaks...but I also think kids say stupid things.

If I were Buzz, I would strike a balance and about what is appropriate, and not appropriate, and what the consequences would be if they cross the line.  And out and out ban is ridiculous.

[APieperFan3]

...and what's that line...?

And what if DJO makes a questionable tweet before we play UW...? Then what? Does 140 characters or less cost him a start and 3 or 4 minutes?

(I'm playing devils advocate, Sultan.)

[brewcity77]

I don't think it's a bad idea. While most of the guys aren't tweeting anything that's really out there, I've definitely seen some stuff that makes me think "I want nothing to do with this kid". It was primarily reading Jarion Henry's Twitter account that made me really, really, really happy that he decided to become New Mexico's problem...err...player rather than ours. Honestly, he may have been the entire reason that Steve Alford was the first major coach I saw to ban Twitter.

I think that when you're young and in your late-teens/early-twenties, it's easy to say something stupid that you don't realize is stupid. I hate to think of what kind of crap I might get today if my entire stream of consciousness from that period of my life suddenly became public.

I like following MU guys on Twitter, and for the most part, I don't think our players are saying much that's really out-of-line. I credit Buzz for that, because I have to imagine that like all other kids that age, they have stuff that crosses their minds that they don't Tweet, and that's a good thing. But if he did ban it, I wouldn't blame him. It's really protecting them from themselves more than anything.

[GGGG]

...and what's that line...?

And what if DJO makes a questionable tweet before we play UW...? Then what? Does 140 characters or less cost him a start and 3 or 4 minutes?

(I'm playing devils advocate, Sultan.)

If that was his only offense, that seems a little harsh, but eventually yeah...lose some minutes...lose the "right" during the season...

Look, this is how 18-22 year olds communicate.  I have two kids in that age range - I find it far more effective to teach them how to be responsible in life, and set reasonable guidelines, rather than to ban things.  (One of the reasons I wasn't hung up on Facebook when it first came out like a lot of my fellow parents were.) 

And what might those guidelines be?  Don't taunt an opponent or an official....don't give up any secrets...be appropriate about what you share about your private life...  It really isn't that hard to be reasonable.  And if you cross the line, you've created a "teachable moment" that Buzz seems to like to emphasize.

[Lighthouse 84]

I thought this was a ban on coaches using Twitter.  I was wondering what I4 was going to do......use Joanie's account?

[APieperFan3]

And what might those guidelines be?  Don't taunt an opponent or an official....don't give up any secrets...be appropriate about what you share about your private life...  It really isn't that hard to be reasonable.  And if you cross the line, you've created a "teachable moment" that Buzz seems to like to emphasize.

I agree. If you have to think to yourself "Is this tweet okay to post?"...then it probably isn't.

[TallTitan34]

There was a guy on the score awhile back who worked for a company that monitors various social media websites of athletes for schools. 

The school gives the company a list of their athletes and the company monitors their Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, etc. and whenever something "questionable" comes up the company flags it and informs the school.

Not a bad idea to make millions.

[T-Bone]

There was a guy on the score awhile back who worked for a company that monitors various social media websites of athletes for schools.  

The school gives the company a list of their athletes and the company monitors their Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, etc. and whenever something "questionable" comes up the company flags it and informs the school.

Not a bad idea to make millions.

A lot of large corporations subscribe to these services as a method of brand management.  To me it's big brother-ish.  For example, if I were to tweet: "Zig-o-Mania gave me food poisoning, don't go there."  Ziggy and his swarthy henchboys would be informed by the company providing the service.  At which point Ziggy could respond/ignore/request a takedown of my tweet.  

[ZiggysFryBoy]

A lot of large corporations subscribe to these services as a method of brand management.  To me it's big brother-ish.  For example, if I were to tweet: "Zig-o-Mania gave me food poisoning, don't go there."  Ziggy and his swarthy henchboys would be informed by the company providing the service.  At which point Ziggy could respond/ignore/request a takedown of my tweet.  

Hey now, I'm not swarthy.  I'm Irish.   

[mu_hilltopper]

If I'm a coach, I ban it and all other social media outlets.

Lots of items go into making the Marquette Basketball Brand .. especially your players.  Unless you have a bunch of erudite kids who can well communicate with the public .. the downside is far bigger than the upside.

[kmwtrucks]

If you make basketball no fun for the players why would they want to come?  If you are Duke you can do this and not effect recruiting MU it probably would.  Teach them that they are role models and represent MU but let them have fun and be kids.  That is what recruits see. 

[NYWarrior]

If I'm a coach, I ban it and all other social media outlets.

Lots of items go into making the Marquette Basketball Brand .. especially your players.  Unless you have a bunch of erudite kids who can well communicate with the public .. the downside is far bigger than the upside.

It is a question of Education vs. Enforcement.  MU works to educate its student-athletes about social media and media in general.  Smart decision, IMHO.

[GGGG]

If I'm a coach, I ban it and all other social media outlets.

Lots of items go into making the Marquette Basketball Brand .. especially your players.  Unless you have a bunch of erudite kids who can well communicate with the public .. the downside is far bigger than the upside.

If you want the message to be massaged and not "real."  I would rather have the players say what is on their mind...within the boundaries of what is acceptable of course.

[muhoops1]

What if they continue to reference recent events in thinly veiled "tweets"?

[mu_hilltopper]

"I was totally going to go to Villanova until I found out they ban tweets.  I gotta talk to my fans, yo."

[MUMac]

If you make basketball no fun for the players why would they want to come?  If you are Duke you can do this and not effect recruiting MU it probably would.  Teach them that they are role models and represent MU but let them have fun and be kids.  That is what recruits see. 

So you are saying that a school that enforced this would potentially lose a recruit because of a team rule?  Seriously? 

[MUMac]

If you want the message to be massaged and not "real."  I would rather have the players say what is on their mind...within the boundaries of what is acceptable of course.

You as in a "fan" or you as in the "coach"?  As a fan, I might agree.  As a coach, not so much. 

Social media has changed how coaches "police" or monitor their program.  How many times has someone said something that the second it left their lips, they wanted it back?  Unfortunately, so much of the social media is a quick, reactionary comment - which is captured for a lifetime.  It is also interpretted by the receiver and not necessarily as the sender intended. 

I fully understand why some coaches would want to ban twitter.  They become responsible for the actions of their players.  Some just don't want the potential headache.

[foreverwarriors]

So you are saying that a school that enforced this would potentially lose a recruit because of a team rule?  Seriously? 

We're talking about high school juniors and seniors here...16 and 17 year olds. If you don't realize how big a part of their lives facebook, twitter, and other social media is, you're kidding yourself. These are the same type of kids as Ryan Boatright, who originally committed to USC because he liked the movie "Love and Basketball."

[GGGG]

I understand why they ban it, I just think the better move would be to teach them how to use it appropriately....that's all.  It's kind of like a coach from the 20s not allowing their players to use the phone.

[MUMac]

We're talking about high school juniors and seniors here...16 and 17 year olds. If you don't realize how big a part of their lives facebook, twitter, and other social media is, you're kidding yourself. These are the same type of kids as Ryan Boatright, who originally committed to USC because he liked the movie "Love and Basketball."

So, using your example, even though Boatright liked the movie, he might not have attended USC if the coach banned Twitter for the team?  Seriously?

I have 5 teenagers ranging from 16-19 years old.  I think I have an understanding of the importance of social media to them.  They also have been recruited for athletics at a D1 level and I can say that if a coach banned twitter, but they loved the program, coach, school and players, the last thing that would impact them is the ban on twitter.  The VERY last thing that would influence their decision.

[MUMac]

I understand why they ban it, I just think the better move would be to teach them how to use it appropriately....that's all.  It's kind of like a coach from the 20s not allowing their players to use the phone.

I agree that the sound approach would be to teach them to use it.  Many programs do have etiquitte type programs for their athletes.  Most universities view the players of their sports as ambassadors of their university.  The PR image comes, like it or not, to a large degree by the image of some of their athletes. 

How many coaches put limitations on the press' contact with their players.  They want to control the message to a degree.  Limit the "crisis managment" after the wrong message comes out.  Keep the right message publicly.  Avoid the distractions with that a "weak" moment may create. 

Twitter is unfettered.  It is meant for quick, instantaneous sound bites.  Some coaches are uncomfortable with that vehicle for their players.  I am not saying that I agree with their position, but I do respect their reasoning and rationale.

I don't buy the correlation with the phone.  A phone conversation is limited as to who can hear it - even in the '20's.  Twitter is out there for all to see and run with.  Therein lies the difference.

[77ncaachamps]

Agree with the "teach them" crowd.

They'll need to know how to manage social media while at MU and once they leave.
Sounds like a topic for "Buzz's Life Lessons".

[MUUWUWM]

Hey now, I'm not swarthy.  I'm Irish.   

Ever hear of Black Irish?...and no  I don't mean the kind that plays football for Notre Dame.

[MUMac]

Ever hear of Black Irish?...

Ziggy thinks that is an Irish into the goth lifestyle.