You know Twitter has hit mainstream consciousness when the NCAA gets involved. The rule-mongerers than run the hierarchy of college sports has officially ruled on how coaches can use Twitter in recruiting. You can read details on this in a terrific blog posting by Brian Davidson of the Chicago-based National Collegiate Scouting Association here.

Bottom line, as more coaches begin to Tweet, the NCAA believes it needs to establish ground rules for what type of information they can share.  The NCAA has very specific rules on when coaches can contact recruits. Because Twitter is such an unfiltered form of dialogue, now censoring what is said on those Tweets is also necessary.

A quick survey of tweeting coaches finds some differing styles. Some coaches prefer a more conversational, stream-of-consciousness approach while promoting themselves/college:

1. 
   PeteCarroll cool photos of graduation, including many of our players who got degrees: http://bit.ly/t439n congrats to all once again! 15 May 2009 from web
2. 
   CoachUrbanMeyer Heading to the SW FL Gator Club Gathering in Bonita Spring. Events starts at 6:30 and autograph session around 7:30. Go Gators! 20 May 2009 from txt

Other coaches, such as Notre Dame’s Charlie Weis, are pushing a mixed message of X’s and O’s and motivation:

1. 
   NDHFC Down 13-7 in the 4th quarter, one big play can turn a loss into a victory. 20 May 2009 from web
2. 
   NDHFC Each year a few games will come down to this. Who will make that one big play to determine the outcome? 20 May 2009 from web

All tweets are legal, as none of them are directed at a specific recruit. Which is a better approach? It’s hard to argue with anything Urban Meyer or Pete Carroll do these days just as it’s easy to question Charlie Weis. What we do know is Twitter provides another platform of communication in the dog-eat-dog world that is college recruiting. The NCAA had to create a rule. Now it will be fun to see how coaches manipulate it.

Know of a tweeting coach? What are they saying? Pass it along to @BTsports.

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