GeauxTo
08-06-2006, 06:06 PM
Internet boards heighten fan scrutiny of college football programs
August 5, 2006
By Scott Ferrell
sferrell@gannett.com (sferrell@gannett.com)
Steve Spurrier played college football at the University of Florida when a coach's harshest critics fired off a letter to the editor or a letter to the coach.
Three decades later, Spurrier is a legendary coach himself. Those letters to the editor have given way first to talk radio and now Internet message boards. Critics can assail a coach on the Internet behind only a screen name.
"That's the world we live in," says Spurrier, now the coach at South Carolina. "It's going to happen, so live with it. Just try to teach people you can't believe everything you read."
Of course, dealing with Internet fan message boards is just another way college football coaching has evolved in recent years. No longer are coaches just worried about wealthy boosters. There is a concern among coaches about the common man hiding behind screen names such as "Tiger Tommy" or "Bulldog Billy."
Some coaches have dealt with this development better than others.
Kentucky coach Rich Brooks, who has probably been under more criticism on fan message boards than most in the SEC, is among the most vocal critics of fan postings.
"I hope some players are smart enough not to go in there and read them because all you're going to get is aggravated, I think, for the most part," Brooks says.
Actually, ignoring fan message boards appears to be the way most SEC football coaches are dealing with the criticism.
Tennessee coach Phil Fulmer admits to being more confrontational in the past than he is today.
"You either fight it, maybe I tried to a little while," he says, "but it's the way of the world."
In recent years, Fulmer has come to accept the ranting and ravings of fans on Internet message boards to be more of a vocal minority.
"I don't pay any attention to it," Fulmer said. "I don't worry about it. But it's certainly out there."
Coaches don't discount the influence message boards can have.
Certainly former Florida coach Ron Zook's career in Gainesville was negatively affected by one message board in particular. That would be the one found on FireRonZook.com.
During Florida losses in Zook's tenure, the message board was home to Gator fans complaining about Zook and the direction of the Gators' program.
Zook was eventually fired at Florida. In the process, the Fire(Insert coach's name here).com Web sites sprouted up across the nation.
While FireRonZook.com may have emboldened fans to express disgust with their own coaches, it may have caused more coaches to avoid Internet message boards altogether.
Internet message boards can become distractions to the task at hand for coaches and players.
"I think they're only a distraction if you read them," Georgia coach Mark Richt says. "I don't read 'em.
"I learned a long time ago at Florida State not to get on those boards. You may feel good after reading them, but usually you get your feelings hurt."
Some of the coaches who have been bashed the most have the greatest understanding of how the whole Internet message board situation works.
"You can't control what people are going to say about you," Alabama coach Mike Shula says. "Don't worry about it."
Of course, it's easier for Shula to say that after a 10-win season and a bowl win.
For Brooks, whose Kentucky team finished last in the SEC East last season, the Internet message boards can be an annoyance that just won't end.
"It's a problem," he says, "absolutely it is a problem. It isn't going to go away. It's always going to be a problem. It may become a bigger problem.'
August 5, 2006
By Scott Ferrell
sferrell@gannett.com (sferrell@gannett.com)
Steve Spurrier played college football at the University of Florida when a coach's harshest critics fired off a letter to the editor or a letter to the coach.
Three decades later, Spurrier is a legendary coach himself. Those letters to the editor have given way first to talk radio and now Internet message boards. Critics can assail a coach on the Internet behind only a screen name.
"That's the world we live in," says Spurrier, now the coach at South Carolina. "It's going to happen, so live with it. Just try to teach people you can't believe everything you read."
Of course, dealing with Internet fan message boards is just another way college football coaching has evolved in recent years. No longer are coaches just worried about wealthy boosters. There is a concern among coaches about the common man hiding behind screen names such as "Tiger Tommy" or "Bulldog Billy."
Some coaches have dealt with this development better than others.
Kentucky coach Rich Brooks, who has probably been under more criticism on fan message boards than most in the SEC, is among the most vocal critics of fan postings.
"I hope some players are smart enough not to go in there and read them because all you're going to get is aggravated, I think, for the most part," Brooks says.
Actually, ignoring fan message boards appears to be the way most SEC football coaches are dealing with the criticism.
Tennessee coach Phil Fulmer admits to being more confrontational in the past than he is today.
"You either fight it, maybe I tried to a little while," he says, "but it's the way of the world."
In recent years, Fulmer has come to accept the ranting and ravings of fans on Internet message boards to be more of a vocal minority.
"I don't pay any attention to it," Fulmer said. "I don't worry about it. But it's certainly out there."
Coaches don't discount the influence message boards can have.
Certainly former Florida coach Ron Zook's career in Gainesville was negatively affected by one message board in particular. That would be the one found on FireRonZook.com.
During Florida losses in Zook's tenure, the message board was home to Gator fans complaining about Zook and the direction of the Gators' program.
Zook was eventually fired at Florida. In the process, the Fire(Insert coach's name here).com Web sites sprouted up across the nation.
While FireRonZook.com may have emboldened fans to express disgust with their own coaches, it may have caused more coaches to avoid Internet message boards altogether.
Internet message boards can become distractions to the task at hand for coaches and players.
"I think they're only a distraction if you read them," Georgia coach Mark Richt says. "I don't read 'em.
"I learned a long time ago at Florida State not to get on those boards. You may feel good after reading them, but usually you get your feelings hurt."
Some of the coaches who have been bashed the most have the greatest understanding of how the whole Internet message board situation works.
"You can't control what people are going to say about you," Alabama coach Mike Shula says. "Don't worry about it."
Of course, it's easier for Shula to say that after a 10-win season and a bowl win.
For Brooks, whose Kentucky team finished last in the SEC East last season, the Internet message boards can be an annoyance that just won't end.
"It's a problem," he says, "absolutely it is a problem. It isn't going to go away. It's always going to be a problem. It may become a bigger problem.'