Don’t tweet at recruits. You goofus.
Alright Pig fans…with National Signing day this week, it’s time to talk about this new-fangled thing called the Twitter. Ok I know by now it really isn’t all that new and fangled, and that most of us get the general gist of what Twitter and social media is.
Honestly, most of us know it as the thing that has increased our average restroom trip from five minutes to 30. Twitter has changed how we are connected to the world with unprecedented access to public figures, celebrities, professional athletes, and college coaches. Now if I want to know what that Coach Bert is up to, I can just reach in my pocket and look at twitter. We live in some amazing times.
As much fun as we can have on tweeting and trending, it can get serious fast. Especially when it comes to recruiting. A lot of fans have taken to Twitter to reach out and persuade kids that their school is their best option. Not only are you being all weird and creepy (remember this a 17-18 year old kid you have never met), it is highly unlikely to persuade them and it is an NCAA violation. Yeah that is correct, as soon as you click send on that tweet to your favorite 4-star strong safety that you are sure will bring the Razorbacks from good to great, you have become an Arkansas Booster.
Boosters are not allowed to have any contact with prospective athletes. It may seem innocent enough to, for example a kid on a visit to the Hill may say “Where my Hog fans at! #WPS” and you may see this and reply “Go Hogs! #WPS”. You are now a filthy cheater according to the NCAA.
While nothing may not happen to you, it is a violation. Even so, can you imagine how bad an exchange would have to be for the NCAA to bring down some punishment, and what if it was YOU that brought on some sort of Double Secret probation on the Pigglys? Can you imagine how bad we would troll you on twitter? Your phone will burn a well-deserved hole in your pocket. Your friends on Facebook will become not friends and your snapchats will forever be of middle fingers. Raznation will not be pleased, and make sure you won’t want to use social media again. You could try making false accounts as “Rusty Shackelford”, but the twittersphere never forgets and twitter karma will be sure to find you.
So remember with National Signing day next week you may get that urge to shoot some “woo pigs” at some undecided kid. My advice for you when you get that urge is pretty simple: DON’T!
As always Hog bless.