Bye Bye Twitter

[gmartin]

Urban Meyer has banned all OSU football players from posting on Twitter. Is this legal? I am sure some lawyer is already trying to find a way to put a few millions on his pocket using the 1st Ammendment Freedom of Speech. Putting your OSU likes/dislikes aside, is this a good idea or a bad idea.

[BGDrew]

It's perfectly legal. If a player chooses to utilize Twitter than they've decided that's more important than their scholarship.

[factman]

I'm sure legally, they can still twit, but Urban still determines who plays and who doesn't! Make a choice.

[TG1996]

Also apparently not true. That, or Urbie is backpedaling. Not that he'd ever do something like that....

[tiznow]

Let them tweet, and when they say something dumb I will laugh. I have seen some tweets by BG players...

[gmartin]

Well it was true earlier this morning....... And now reported on NBCSports.Com and USAToday.Com, so I believe it still is in effect.

The coaching transition at Ohio State might not go off without a peep from players, but it will definitely go off without a tweet. New football coach Urban Meyer is banning players from tweeting, beginning Wednesday. Player mourned the decision Tuesday via -what else --Twitter. Fullback Zach Boren (@ZBoren44): "Last day on Twitter for OSU football players." Tight end Reid Fragel (@Fragel88): "New staff new rules. No more twitter, not a big deal and probably for the better Go Bucks #2012" Tight end Jake Stoneburner (@StoneyEleven): "Twitter=Done. Me=back for senior year, leading this team, and shocking the world!! #gobucks #12-0" Meyer also has a Twitter account, but it hasn't been updated since March.

[transfer2BGSU]

Urban Meyer has banned all OSU football players from posting on Twitter. Is this legal? I am sure some lawyer is already trying to find a way to put a few millions on his pocket using the 1st Ammendment Freedom of Speech. Putting your OSU likes/dislikes aside, is this a good idea or a bad idea.

Let's see if he makes all of them turn in their automatic weapons or if the NRA comes calling for Urban to rescind that ban.

[Flipper]

I hate when coaches pull this kind of crap...It's twitter...like there aren't 5 gazillion other ways players can say stupid things online? Is he going to ban them from all computers and smart phones?

[FortWayneFalcon]

A little bird once told me that Gregg Brandon had a similar policy. I don't wonder where he got it from.

I'm sorry kids, but this social media stuff is not helping your social skills.

[Globetrotter]

The flagship radio station of the Buckeye football team reported it as untrue.

[vwfalcon]

playing football there is a privilege not a right... if that is his team rule so be it. It is the same as a dress code in my eyes. A dress code infringes on someones freedom of speech too doesn't it? Our country has become too soft and lenient if this goes to court over a team rule.

[Redwingtom]

I saw a great tweet about this yesterday. Something to the effect that we'll now have to find out about OSU player happenings the old fashioned way...through the newspaper blotter

[hammb]

In no way, shape, or form does this policy infringe upon the players' freedom of speech.

Freedom of speech is an amendment right that guarantees us the right to voice our opinions regarding the government without fear of arrest/punishment by that establishment. It does NOT say we have the right to say whatever we want, however we want, to whomever we want without backlash from other entities. As an American I have freedom of speech, but I'm pretty sure if I told my boss to f**k off I wouldn't have a job tomorrow.

I'm not sure when the idea of freedom of speech got translated into "I can say whatever I want and nobody is allowed to punish me for it." Sure they won't face legal consequences for tweeting, but if Urban says not to, they probably won't be playing OSU football much longer if they disobey him.

[kdog27]

He should probably spend a little less time worrying about them using the internet and a little more time worrying about them ending up in jail.

[1987alum]

hammb:

Spot on.

The First Amendment doesn't mean you can say whatever you want whenever you want without any sort of fallout. The government (federal, by the direct wording of the amendment, and other local/state governments by Supreme Court interpretation) cannot make a law restricting your freedom of speech.

Your example is spot on.