The role of social media in college athletics
With recent events being in the news:
1. Schiano deal to UT is pulled due to backlash
2. Mgoblog posts being disabled
I'm curious what everyone thinks about the role of social media (Twitter, message boards, snapchat, etc..) in college athletics going forward? I find it fascinating that backlash (right or wrong) essentially killed a coaching hire at a P5 school.
I'm certainly guilty of being an ass, posting stuff I shouldn't, etc.. If you were the coach of a big time university, would you outlaw social media with your team? Is there any benefit to Joe Schmo having a direct pipeline via Twitter to your team members?
Could you ignore it if you were an AD? Hell, even the talking heads full of hot takes in the media - is this a true game changer in how long a coach has to 'prove their worth'?
November 26th, 2017 at 9:13 PM ^
Social media is a tool that can be used poorly or wisely. The only thing that has changed over time is that we get more information faster. Some handle this well, some handle this not so well. I long for the days when I didn't know how Jim Bob from Columbus or Brad from East Lansing felt about anything.
November 26th, 2017 at 9:16 PM ^
Social media helped, but there were protests on campus over Greg Schiano. The school just settled a sexual assault lawsuit. Why the AD would think hiring someone with Schiano's background was a good idea is beyond me.
November 26th, 2017 at 9:17 PM ^
There were protests on campus...that were probably (at least partially) organized via social media.
November 26th, 2017 at 9:16 PM ^
I was not happy with all the O'Korn shitposting on this board and on my own facebook feeds. As you saw from his post game comments there is no need to pile on the guy. I'm sure he knew he was struggling going into the game and he didn't purposely play poorly and he took it hard that he did.
These are not professional players and do not deserve the social media scrutiny and blowback that they get. Grown ass men and women need to realize that and STFU. Social media sucks when we all act like teenagers.
November 26th, 2017 at 9:24 PM ^
then they'd be facing significant discipline and counseling in my household. i would also be greatly concerned about my failure(s) in parenting at that point. i'm not the only person here who thinks brian did the right thing by shutting this place down for a while. it was wisdom in practice to combat the lack of self control and foolishness that was running amok.
November 26th, 2017 at 10:03 PM ^
I generally avoid the place other than the pressers and real news after a loss. I doubt the rest was worth seeing.
November 27th, 2017 at 8:18 AM ^
Did he announce anywhere that that's what he was doing?
I didn't see anything, just a blog that did not appear to be working . . . which is not uncommon for this site.
November 27th, 2017 at 10:05 AM ^
only a dead board. then somebody posted in the diaries a title along the lines of, 'hey, the board is all messed up but i can post on the diaries' and that got wiped away soon after.
November 27th, 2017 at 10:34 AM ^
That's pretty dissmissive of the entire user base for the acts of a few people.
OK, do what you gotta do, but at least a notice would be nice.
The rest of us count for something. I hope.
November 27th, 2017 at 9:40 AM ^
I regret that I have but one upvote to give this post
November 26th, 2017 at 9:24 PM ^
November 26th, 2017 at 10:17 PM ^
November 26th, 2017 at 9:28 PM ^
I knew it would be bad, but it sounds like it was the worst of the worst. People just can't help themselves, I guess.
Glad I missed it.
November 26th, 2017 at 9:22 PM ^
Is an incompetent pussy. Incompetent because he hired a run of the mill coach who was mentioned in court testimony as being aware of Jerry Sandusky's child molestation at Penn State. That is breathtaking stupidity. A pussy because he folded up like a cheap suitcase when heat was applied. If that guy lived in imperial Japan he would have impaled himself on a sword by now.
November 26th, 2017 at 9:28 PM ^
I don't know in what way Schiano was mentioned or if he's guilty of anything, but being "mentioned in court testimony" is not convincing evidence that a guy should never get another job. Lots of things are "mentioned in court testimony," and they're not all true.
November 26th, 2017 at 9:41 PM ^
Not going to re-litigate the lengthy, complex Sandusky scandal but headline is very misleading. A document included non-specific allegation based on hearsay that attorney general (who investigated everything) didn't take serious enough to investigate. That's a big difference.
— Dan Wetzel (@DanWetzel) November 26, 2017
November 26th, 2017 at 9:41 PM ^
But would you hire someone linked to that awful situation? Not linked by rumor, innuendo or social media but by sworn court testimony? You are correct that it does not mean Schiano did actually know. But how can an AD ignore that? It would be very questionable if we were talking a rock star coach. But to go out on that limb with Greg Schiano?
November 26th, 2017 at 9:50 PM ^
I wouldn't hire Greg Schiano, anyway, regardless of what he had done previously. Even if he had a heart of gold.
November 26th, 2017 at 9:21 PM ^
November 26th, 2017 at 9:22 PM ^
Don't know but this is a huge embarrassment for UT and the AD. I mean, how do you let something like this happen? Craziest story I can remember on a coaching search.
And it sounds like they might actually be legally required to pay Schiano $20m.
November 26th, 2017 at 9:27 PM ^
Would be interested to see how the legal side shakes out. Seems this would certainly cause a bit of hurt feelings with your current employer - Hey, I got a new job! ... Wait, uh, I'm going to stay now.
I saw the rock being painted at UT on Twitter about Schiano, but it's interesting there was no outrage like that at his current employer. Neither here nor there. Heck of a time we are living in.
November 26th, 2017 at 9:57 PM ^
November 26th, 2017 at 9:25 PM ^
November 26th, 2017 at 9:25 PM ^
how I feel about what went down at Tennessee with Schiano. I am not supporting the guy, as he has his issues, but you can't tell me most of those fans would not be ok with this if he had a better resume.
And now, with social media and the ability to quickly spread info and organize things, it made it happen much faster. I'd be surprised if this doesn't start some kind of trend.
November 26th, 2017 at 9:30 PM ^
November 26th, 2017 at 9:35 PM ^
also be interested to know how many of those fans actually researched something, or just saw a post online and ran with it.
For instance, I just read a link to an article from someone (who mentioned heavy involvement in the coverage and trial at Penn State) and he believed that none of the claims against Schiano had any weight.
If UT fans had seen that, as opposed to the nasty articles about him, what happens?
November 26th, 2017 at 9:30 PM ^
The Good: Everyone now has a voice, and it also tends to "equalize" people's voices too (nobody necessarily important than others). It's great for disseminating information.
The Bad: 280 characters (or a few paragraphs on any message board) is RARELY sufficient for nuanced or sophisticated or in-depth opinions. Memes and one-liners are more often seen vs. the former. I feel that Social Media has increased occurrences of groupthink and virtue signaling.
Schiano ........ I do feel there's room for a nuanced opinion as regards what happened today. A nuanced opinion that says "I really don't know if he was guilty of covering things up, I really think he deserves more of a hearing than he's getting, and here's why I say that." Is there room for that opinion to get a lot of play on social media? Not really.
November 26th, 2017 at 9:49 PM ^
November 26th, 2017 at 9:28 PM ^
This might be just me, but the worst part of this for whoever eventually fills the position at Tennessee is this - say what you want about Greg Schiano, the allegation that he was complicit in what happened at Penn State and all that. Complain away.
That being said, everyone who might have thought about that job just saw that, your fanbase and its attitude that someone qualified (well, not the BEST candidate, so reasonably qualified) if perhaps damaged in a public relations sense was not up to THEIR snuff. Even a squeaky-clean guy (I know, how many of those are there really?) might even think twice...
This could be me talking out my ass again, but it is a thought that has been rolling around in my head.
November 26th, 2017 at 9:34 PM ^
I think you are right, and as another person mentioned, this could certainly be the start of a trend going forward. I mean, people are going to get put through the ringer in the court of public opinion before their initial press conference. It has always been like that to an extent, but again, information flies across the globe in seconds now.
November 26th, 2017 at 10:14 PM ^
Good. Put them through the ringer. Where else can you make millions of dollars and hop around getting paid by former jobs and current ones at the same time? I've seen some people (mostly the CFB journalists) acting like the fans shouldn't be a major factor in the hiring. I disagree. If the fans aren't at least a little bit on board, then the chances of it being a disaster later go up. Perception matters and if you're taking on an experiment that may take 3-5 years you're going to fail a bit here and there on your way up.
There was a real circling of the wagons today/tonight by the CFB press and insiders that was eye-opening. It was as if they were upset that one of their own was getting attacked. I guess it's a small fraternity but...
November 26th, 2017 at 9:52 PM ^
November 26th, 2017 at 9:30 PM ^
November 26th, 2017 at 9:36 PM ^
OSU already vetted him. It comes down to whether or not you think Mike Mcquerey was telling the truth or had a fuzzy memory. Personally, I don't think that's enough to bar someone for life from their profession. Maybe not the best idea to make him the face of your program though.
Schiano's name has come up for a bunch of coaching searches and this PSU stuff has been around for awhile now. UT fans think they can get somebody bigger. The PSU stuff is just a ruse.
November 26th, 2017 at 9:54 PM ^
You make it sound like this was just one incident. Sandusky has a long list of accusers going back decades, and Schiano served under him for six years. I'd steer clear of a guy with that kind of association.
November 26th, 2017 at 10:21 PM ^
Greg Schiano was the most hated man in the NFL. The guy is a huge scumbag without the Sandusky allegations.
November 27th, 2017 at 10:43 AM ^
Eh, the reason NFL players hated Schiano is because he treated them like college kids by yelling at them and shit. It's not because he covered up other cases of widespread child molestation while coaching the Bucs.
November 27th, 2017 at 6:52 AM ^
I'm curious about how thorough this vetting process was. Meyer also hired Larry Johnson Sr. straight off the PSU staff a few years ago - another defensive coach who served under Sandusky. And of course he hired Kevin Wilson just weeks after he was fired due to misconduct.
November 26th, 2017 at 9:31 PM ^
This whole Schiano thing is like something out of The Crucible.
November 26th, 2017 at 9:50 PM ^
Some posts suggest that the evidence that Schiano knew is thin. Is it?
I am asking seriously.
Has there been any reliable testimony stating that Schiano knew but did nothing?
November 26th, 2017 at 9:58 PM ^
namely --- in McQueary's deposition as regards a lawsuit between PSU and its insurance company. That depostion was 2 years ago, summer 2015.
Schiano is mentioned zero times in the Freeh Report, or in any of the various trials, or grand jury presentments, et cetera ....
Take that for what it's worth.
November 26th, 2017 at 10:32 PM ^
Is the McCreary testimony considered unreliable?
Becasue normally sworn deposition testimony is...well, it it something that has to be considered. Lying under oath about Schiano (or anything) would expose McCreary to a perjury charge.
Not saying that it is, or is not true, just becasue McCreary so testified. But normally that would be a whole lot more than rumor and inuendo from anonymous sources.
Anyway, thanks for providing the background info.
November 26th, 2017 at 10:44 PM ^
I really struggle to know what to do with it. I try to be honest as regards everything in this affair --- but the best I can really do as regards its truth is say "maybe."
(1) It's something McQueary heard from somebody else (Tom Bradley), so it's arguably hearsay.
(2) Prior to 2016 and the deposition coming out, you never heard anything else about this.
(3) It's not mentioned in the Freeh Report. But then again (rather bizarrely), Freeh never interviewed McQueary. Freeh did interview Bradley.
(4) Various organizations have either hired/retained both Bradley & Schiano in the years since. CBS Sports, WVU and UCLA (Bradley). Ohio State (Schiano).
(5) As a general rule of thumb, coverups work best when LESS people know about it. McQueary's testimony implies further knowledge.
November 26th, 2017 at 10:03 PM ^
and form your own opinion. I would be a hypocrit if I just told you the answer ; )
I
November 26th, 2017 at 10:42 PM ^
it is not conclusive proof. But it is not 'nothing' either.
No easy answer on how to deal with such a situation.
Outside of court, proof beyond a reasonable doubt is not the rule. Not even close. People are dismissed from jobs every day on accusations and evidence of wrongdoing that is far weaker. That is a fact.
Is it right? Open to debate.
But in my job and probably yours, discipline and firing can and very often does result from evidence that is far weaker than the sworn deposition testimony of one person.
Again, whether than is right or wrong is open to debate,
But you and I are subject to losing a job on weaker proof of less serious wrongdoing.
Should a football coach get a better employment deal than you of I?
November 27th, 2017 at 8:39 AM ^
The reality is that sports coaches in demand, as well as many other groups including politicians and top executives, have different employment termination parameters.
As far as legal issues go for you and me, it depends on if your state is a termination at will state or not - for starters. For Schiano it will also depend if both sides signed a memorandum of understanding. Probably will be a quick settlement out of court because this is a PR nightmare for all involved.
November 26th, 2017 at 9:34 PM ^
Brutal.
November 26th, 2017 at 9:42 PM ^
November 26th, 2017 at 10:36 PM ^
I never, with less than once a year exception, read a Snowflake thread. They're there for a reason and probably should be deleted 48 hours later.
November 26th, 2017 at 10:55 PM ^