Football Coaches Who Tweet (and Those Who Should)
NCAA posts
Texas Tech Football Coach Bans Twitter Over Team's Tweets
This bold pronouncement came just 24 hours after two players, offensive lineman Brandon Carter and linebacker Marlon Williams, tweeted critical comments about their head coach. After this week's loss to the Houston Cougars, Carter wrote, "This is not how I saw our season." Then, while in a meeting, Williams wrote, "Wondering why I'm still in this meeting room when the head coach can't even be on time to his on meeting." Both Twitter accounts no longer exist, and Carter is indefinitely suspended for violating other team rules.
St. John's Gives Basketball Tweeter Press Credentials
In a move sure to ruffle the feathers of more traditional sports journalists, St. John's University has granted a man press credentials to tweet from the sidelines of its men's basketball games. According to Mashable, this will be the first time a press-row credential has been given to someone solely for the purpose of using Twitter. Peter Robert Casey, the man who will draw the ire of some and the envy of others, is one of the most popular basketball-related users on the micro-blogging site. With almost 50,000 followers, Casey can hold his own with other Twitter heavyweights like Shaquille O'Neal and Dwight Howard. The Brooklyn native also has a popular blog that covers all things hoops-related.
Facebook Group for High School Athlete Draws NCAA's Ire
For the newest edition in our ever-expanding coverage of Facebook getting its users into trouble, we bring you the story of Taylor Moseley, a first year student at North Carolina State University. Ever the enthusiastic basketball fan, Moseley recently created a Facebook group titled "John Wall PLEASE Come to NC State" as an homage to the nation's top-ranked high school basketball player. The stodgy NCAA, the governing body of U.S. collegiate athletics (not known for being particularly progressive), considered the fan site to be an "intrusion" into the high school student's life, and, therefore, a recruiting violation. Facing possible NCAA sanctions, N.C. State subsequently demanded the Facebook group be dismantled. The university also issued Moseley a cease-and-desist letter threatening possible disciplinary actions, such as being denied tickets to future sporting events, or even being completely "disassociated" from the athletic program. He has since changed the name of the group to "Bring a National Title Back to NC STATE." Take that, NCAA.
N.C. State's NCAA compliance officer, Michelle Lee, sent Moseley the cease and desist letter, but she admits that she sees little merit in the NCAA's strict stance against Facebook groups aimed toward high school athletes. Speaking to AP reporter Justin Pope, she said, "I think nationally the NCAA needs to address further Facebook and how these groups play a part in recruiting." She wondered aloud, "What harm is a group like this causing?"
Computers Suck! People Rule! Final Four Edition
Victory!
We can still claim superiority over the machines! And as long as we continue to be better at picking winners during the NCAA's March Madness, we should be safe from the emergence of Skynet.
Computer scientists have been using statistics, databases, and computer models for years to try and predict the outcome of sports tournaments. Of particular interest is the NCAA's basketball tournament, which culminates in the Final Four.
This year, the computer models were handed their digital asses by human instincts when it came to more accurately picking bracket winners. Joel Sokol, a professor at Georgia Tech, told CNN that, generally, computers are better at picking Final Four winners than people. Yet, Sokol's own models only managed to choose one of the four finalists, although they did correctly pick the University of North Carolina as the overall winner.
Sokol did take some solace in the fact that his model and President Obama picked the same Final Four. Hey, whatever it takes to make you feel better, buddy. We're gonna go do a dance in front of our Macs and flip off our PCs while reminding them how much better we are than them. [From: CNN]
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Computers, iPod, iPhone, Mobile Software
Watch NCAA Basketball Live on Your iPhone With New App
Every moment of March Madness can now be experienced via iPhone, thanks to a new deal between Mobinet and CBS.
For $4.99, iPhone and iPod touch customers will have access to 63 NCAA basketball games through the new CBS March Madness app. The app can be purchased Thursday, although the games themselves don't start until next week. To actually watch games live, you must have access to Wi-Fi. Multiple games will be accessible during the earlier days of the tournament, so viewers will have the ability to choose between different regional battles.
We're sure bosses around the country are thrilled that their employees have another distraction at work. That is, of course, assuming they still have employees. [From: USAToday]
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Audio/Video, Cell Phones, Video Junkie, Jock/Sports Fan, Handheld Devices
Live NCAA Games On Your Cell Phone
In a move destined to give gadget heads with gridiron proclivities a reason to rejoice, Verizon has announced that its V Cast customers will have access to live, full-length NCAA college football bowl games on their cellular phones this season. While the major BCS championship bowls will not be offered, subscribers with V Cast-outfitted phones will be able to view 24 of the less-heralded contests, starting with the Poinsettia Bowl on December 20, which pits Utah versus Navy. BetaNews and the Silicon Alley Insider report that ESPN Mobile TV, CBS Mobile and Fox Mobile will provide live coverage of the games through Qualcomm's MediaFLO mobile broadcast service.
An indication that competition among service providers is in the streaming video sphere, the announcement is also another example of companies trying to outdo each other by offering exclusive, premium content. We also see it as a sign of the times, as consumers clamor for their cell phones to be do-it-all computers rather than relatively simple communication devices. But, alas, that notion is the stuff of a different post, as we leave you with a question: Will you be streaming the Auburn/Clemson Chic-fil-A Bowl or the Georgia Tech versus Fresno State Roady's Humanitarian Bowl?
From Verizon (via BetaNews and Silicon Alley Insider)
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NCAA Squashes Live-Blogging
When you can't be there in person, watch it on TV, or catch a live video stream of an event, live-blogging is your last option for catching up-to-the-minute updates of the action. Live-blogging, as it sounds, is when a blogger continuously updates his blog in real time as events unfold -- no doubt to the annoyance of everyone in earshot of his incessant keyboard tapping.One of the most feverishly live-blogged events is the annual keynote address Steve Jobs gives to kick off Apple's World Wide Developers Conference -- something Apple seems happy to allow.
The NCAA, however, isn't nearly as forgiving, as sports blogger Brian Bennett recently discovered when he was ejected from a College World Series game this past weekend.
Brian writes for Kentucky's Courier-Journal.com and had, before this past Sunday, provided live coverage on his blog of every University of Louisville baseball game in the tournament. But, in the fifth inning of Sunday's game against Oklahoma State, he was told that blogging violates NCAA policies and was promptly kicked out of the game -- minus his press credentials.
The Courier-Journal believes the policy being violated here is the First Amendment. Meanwhile the NCAA is countering by classifying blogging a "live representation of the game," akin to setting up a camera and letting anyone tune in -- something the NCAA charges hefty fees to broadcasters for.
But is the NCAA really losing any money? Let's be realistic: No one would choose reading a live blog over watching a game on TV unless they were in a place that didn't have a television –- like the office, or the office bathroom.
From CNET and Slashdot
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Future NFL Stars Talk Video Games
Video game giant EA was in New York during the NFL Draft to celebrate the not-so-coincidentally-timed announcements of its 'Madden 08' and 'NCAA Football 08' cover athletes. Titans chucker Vince Young will ham it up on the 'Madden' cover when it's released in August, but college honors went to Boise State QB, Jared Zabransky. We caught up with Zabransky, as well as some his fellow NCAA cohorts, to ask them about the upcoming video game.
Jared Zabransky (QB, Boise State -- signed with Houston)
What was it like when you found out you were going to be on the cover of 'NCAA Football'?
I was in Hawaii at the time. I got a call telling me that I'm the front runner and I was totally ecstatic. It was something you never really think about when you're a kid because you see all these people on the cover, but when it happens it's like a dream come true. It's like a dream you never dreamt of.
When you play this game, how many times are you going to run the Statue of Liberty play?
Every play, if it works.
What's the whole experience been like for you?
It's been a whirlwind. Ever since the Fiesta Bowl it's been a total 180 for me. I was under the radar the whole time and then that happens, you know, and Boise State and myself blow up and I'm just kind of soaking it all in. I'm totally humbled by the entire experience.
What's it going to be like for Boise State next season?
I think they're going do well. Every year we get doubted because they say we lose too many players to be able to regroup. But, we're getting more and more like a top five program to where we can rebuild and reload. So, I think they're going to be good.
What was it like when you found out you were going to be on the cover of 'NCAA Football'?
I was in Hawaii at the time. I got a call telling me that I'm the front runner and I was totally ecstatic. It was something you never really think about when you're a kid because you see all these people on the cover, but when it happens it's like a dream come true. It's like a dream you never dreamt of.
When you play this game, how many times are you going to run the Statue of Liberty play?
Every play, if it works.
What's the whole experience been like for you?
It's been a whirlwind. Ever since the Fiesta Bowl it's been a total 180 for me. I was under the radar the whole time and then that happens, you know, and Boise State and myself blow up and I'm just kind of soaking it all in. I'm totally humbled by the entire experience.
What's it going to be like for Boise State next season?
I think they're going do well. Every year we get doubted because they say we lose too many players to be able to regroup. But, we're getting more and more like a top five program to where we can rebuild and reload. So, I think they're going to be good.
Future NFL Stars Talk Video Games
Dwayne Jarrett (WR, USC – drafted by Carolina)
Are you a player of 'NCAA' and 'Madden'?
Oh yeah, that's what I play all day. 'NCAA' and 'Madden' -- those are the games that I played growing up and I'm still playing to this day.
How do you feel about your ratings in the game?
I don't even know my ratings to tell you the truth. They weren't that bad from what I can recall, so I'm happy with it. I don't take that stuff to heart at all.
What's your go-to play?
Deep ball, throw it long.
Do you throw to yourself every time?
No, I don't play with USC when I play.
Who do you play with?
Florida State, Miami. You know, South schools.
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Future NFL Stars Talk Video Games
Adrian Peterson (RB, Oklahoma -- drafted by Minnesota)
How often do you play 'NCAA' or 'Madden'?
I play the college game a lot. My roommate, he's a big gamer and he's always calling me out for the challenge.
Who wins?
You know, he's pretty good, man. We've had tournaments that he's come out on top of a majority of times -- but I'm able to squeeze in a couple wins.
Future NFL Stars Talk Video Games
What's your go-to play in 'NCAA Football'?
With my running backs I'm going to run the ISO or something like that because I've got speed in the backfield. JaMarcus, he might want to throw the deep ball or something because he's got a cannon. But my quarterback can't do that. You gotta use your talent.
What's your favorite team to beat?
Carolina, the rivalry game.
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