I'm speaking to a group of student-athletes on Thursday, taking a more positive spin on social media usage.
One of the things I'm interested in communicating to them is what fans want more of, as well as any advice you have for them. You know, past the obvious "don't be an idiot".
Thoughts welcome!
Give the fans an inside look. Pics on road trips. Their opinions of the game, etc.
Represent your school, but don't be simply an arm of the PR dept.
For the most part, UAB athletes do a great job on twitter (only social media I mess with).
I don't expect your spelling and grammar to be perfect, but I do expect you to come off as literate.
Screw the fans because they don't put in work, will turn on you in a heart beat, most are clueless, and only care about you as an athlete. Focus on family, education, football, and friends because in the end that's all that matters in your teenage world. If someone tweets you about your spelling and grammar, simply tell them that they are number#1. Then ask them why a grown ass man is following an 18 year old kid that they don't know.
Why would a grown ass man watch a 18 year old play a game? Same logic.
They are providing entertainment. Like it or not, social media is now part of the package.
I agree with you that they should not worry about the fans when they post and be themselves, but be aware that they are not in a vacuum.
RE-lax in front of the camera. But remember, your grandma is watching. If you are not confident in your ability to speak in front of a group, take a public speaking course. And do it early in your career so that it will pay off for you over a long period of time.
(07-28-2014 08:43 AM)UAB?IAB Wrote: [ -> ]Screw the fans .
The question was what do what fans want more of.
Tell them before they post it...pause and ask, am I okay with my parents, coach, pastor and potential employer seeing this.
If the answer is no to either...don't post it.
As an athlete, you have a wider audience than your friends and family.
As an athlete, you have a wider audience than your friends and family.
As an athlete, you have a wider audience than your friends and family.
The moment you become a UAB Blazer you become a part of media relations, public relations, and recruiting. You are on the front line & can create positive change for the program through your tweets.
You want to be a winner? You want to be a champion? Tweet like a winner... show your pride in the work you put in, the education you're receiving, and the fun & exciting parts of being at UAB & living in B'ham. You chose to come to UAB because you thought you could make a difference... start by showing the Twitterverse how great UAB can be... you'll attract other winners to the program.
You determine how everyone else sees your school and your team... your job on Twitter is to make sure all your followers know that you made the right choice in becoming a Blazer.
Don't ever use the terms, "Roll" "Eagle" "War" or "Tide".
(07-28-2014 10:04 AM)Smaug Wrote: [ -> ]As an athlete, you have a wider audience than your friends and family.
As an athlete, you have a wider audience than your friends and family.
As an athlete, you have a wider audience than your friends and family.
As an athlete you should represent your family well, cherish your true friends, and screw the fans. Your family and friends were around before so called fans and will be around long after. Your family pay your dues, drive you to practice, pay for your training, drive you to training, pay for camps, drive you to camps, attend your games, support you when fail, lift you up when you're down, and celebrate your accomplishments and that's when the fan shows up.
You have NO responsibility to a fan, your responsibilities are with your family, your team, and your friends. Fans that think you have some type of responsibility to them have an overly inflated sense of self.
Yeah, fans should just write checks and shut their pie hole.
You understand this is an internet message board, right?
I'm reminded of a line of Rick Reilly's. "See that lady way up in the nosebleed seats? Section 300, Row X, seat 48? She's a single mother making $12 an hour, who just shelled out $75 for tickets, $10 to park, and $18.50 for three hot dogs and 2 cokes so her kids could see you play. You be nice to her. Without her, you're a 300lb bouncer with half a PE degree."
(07-28-2014 11:17 AM)Smaug Wrote: [ -> ]Yeah, fans should just write checks and shut their pie hole.
You understand this is an internet message board, right?
Fans write checks to schools not athletes, athletes generate a helluva lot more money for schools than fans donate.
I understand it's a message board, that's why I post my opinions the same way that you do. You understand what an opinion is, don't you?
(07-28-2014 11:24 AM)UAB?IAB Wrote: [ -> ]Fans write checks to schools not athletes.
Yep, and if there are no athletes, there are often no checks.
Quote:I understand it's a message board, that's why I post my opinions the same way that you do. You understand what an opinion is, don't you?
Sure, I know what an opinion is. I also know a deliberately inflammatory one when I see it.
(07-28-2014 11:17 AM)Smaug Wrote: [ -> ]Yeah, fans should just write checks and shut their pie hole.
You understand this is an internet message board, right?
I'm reminded of a line of Rick Reilly's. "See that lady way up in the nosebleed seats? Section 300, Row X, seat 48? She's a single mother making $12 an hour, who just shelled out $75 for tickets, $10 to park, and $18.50 for three hot dogs and 2 cokes so her kids could see you play. You be nice to her. Without her, you're a 300lb bouncer with half a PE degree."
Yeah, there's a lot of ignorance and prejudging going on in that quote, I can see why YOU would be reminded of it.
(07-28-2014 11:27 AM)UAB?IAB Wrote: [ -> ] (07-28-2014 11:17 AM)Smaug Wrote: [ -> ]Yeah, fans should just write checks and shut their pie hole.
You understand this is an internet message board, right?
I'm reminded of a line of Rick Reilly's. "See that lady way up in the nosebleed seats? Section 300, Row X, seat 48? She's a single mother making $12 an hour, who just shelled out $75 for tickets, $10 to park, and $18.50 for three hot dogs and 2 cokes so her kids could see you play. You be nice to her. Without her, you're a 300lb bouncer with half a PE degree."
Yeah, there's a lot of ignorance and prejudging going on in that quote, I can see why YOU would be reminded of it.
Heh, you've baited me far enough. I'm out.
(07-28-2014 11:26 AM)Smaug Wrote: [ -> ] (07-28-2014 11:24 AM)UAB?IAB Wrote: [ -> ]Fans write checks to schools not athletes.
Yep, and if there are no athletes, there are often no checks.
Quote:I understand it's a message board, that's why I post my opinions the same way that you do. You understand what an opinion is, don't you?
Sure, I know what an opinion is. I also know a deliberately inflammatory one when I see it.
Yep, the athlete is often a reason for fans writing checks but the revenue generated by athletes guarantees that they will be around, with or without a fans check.
(07-28-2014 10:49 AM)UABslant Wrote: [ -> ]The moment you become a UAB Blazer you become a part of media relations, public relations, and recruiting. You are on the front line & can create positive change for the program through your tweets.
You want to be a winner? You want to be a champion? Tweet like a winner... show your pride in the work you put in, the education you're receiving, and the fun & exciting parts of being at UAB & living in B'ham. You chose to come to UAB because you thought you could make a difference... start by showing the Twitterverse how great UAB can be... you'll attract other winners to the program.
You determine how everyone else sees your school and your team... your job on Twitter is to make sure all your followers know that you made the right choice in becoming a Blazer.
That's exactly what I don't like. If I follow someone, I don't want to feel like I am following the Team's PR machine. Be yourself.
(07-28-2014 11:27 AM)UAB?IAB Wrote: [ -> ] (07-28-2014 11:17 AM)Smaug Wrote: [ -> ]Yeah, fans should just write checks and shut their pie hole.
You understand this is an internet message board, right?
I'm reminded of a line of Rick Reilly's. "See that lady way up in the nosebleed seats? Section 300, Row X, seat 48? She's a single mother making $12 an hour, who just shelled out $75 for tickets, $10 to park, and $18.50 for three hot dogs and 2 cokes so her kids could see you play. You be nice to her. Without her, you're a 300lb bouncer with half a PE degree."
Yeah, there's a lot of ignorance and prejudging going on in that quote, I can see why YOU would be reminded of it.
I suspect that quote is directed more toward pro athletes than unpaid college kids.