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S.E.C. Gives Fans OK to Tweet and Facebook During Games

by Caleb Johnson on August 20, 2009 at 04:02 PM


The Southeastern Conference (S.E.C.), one of the most powerful organizations in college athletics, had to rethink its Big Brother-esque social media policy due to an outcry from fans and media alike. Although done so begrudgingly, it's significant that a conference rooted in decades-old traditions is willing to accept change.

According to al.com, the S.E.C. reversed a policy Wednesday that would've prevented fans from sending any tweets or updating a Facebook status during a conference sporting event. The old policy stated that fans weren't allowed to "produce or disseminate any material or information about the event." This included any account or description, video or audio. With the advent of smartphones and social networking, though, it was unclear exactly how S.E.C. officials planned to continue enforcing this archaic rule. Well, fans need not worry about that anymore; a new policy released yesterday limits the ban to material that could be used as a "substitute for radio, television or video coverage of such event." That means, don't go posting videos from this year's 'Magnolia Bowl' game on Youtube, folks.

This revised policy is sane and understandable, as the S.E.C. this year signed a television deal with ESPN and CBS that's worth about $3 billion. The policy is still a little controlling, though. Would it really hurt the conference that much for a Georgia fan to post a clip of a game-winning catch on his blog? Probably not, but it's best not to ask too many questions. Or else, you might find yourself in former Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville's shoes -- jobless and forgotten. [Ed. note: Or, like that one hapless guy (whose name we forget) that coached Bama between 1996 and 2006. Oh, wait. That's five hapless guys.] [From: al.com]

Tags: college football, CollegeFootball, facebook, football, sec, smartphone, social media, sports, top, twitter

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