Social media a danger to OU players and, as of Norvell and Kittle missteps, coaches
Published: 12/20/2012 8:23 AM
Last Modified: 12/20/2012 10:35 AM
Players aren't the only ones who can tumble down social media's slippery slope. Take Oklahoma, for instance.
Tweets from the likes of Kenny Stills, Tony Jefferson and Jaz Reynolds have invited scrutiny or worse in the past. Adults have been quick to scold kids for their unsound judgment.
Now, in the case of one two OU assistants, the adults are scolding fellow adults.
The Associated Press' Jeff Latzke and Murray Evans reported Wednesday that wide receivers coach Jay Norvell was facing a one-game suspension for inadvertently tweeting scholarship offers to six high school juniors last February. Norvell had intended to send direct messages, seen only by the prospects, but instead sent tweets for all the Twitter-verse to see.
The NCAA suggested the one-game suspension in September, but then reconsidered just two weeks ago after OU had filed an appeal. So Norvell was off the hook regarding the NCAA.
He still, however, faced a little music in-house.
According to documents obtained by the Tulsa World through open records legislation, Norvell withdrew the scholarship offers. He was required to attend an NCAA Regional Rules Seminar. And the entire OU staff was kept from having any contact with the six prospects over a two-week period.
Social media hasn't just snagged Norvell among Sooner coaches.
Last March, according to documents, a high school sophomore used Facebook to ask OU offensive tackles coach Bruce Kittle to review his game film. Kittle, unaware the prospect was just a sophomore and off limits in terms of communication, agreed to do so in a direct message reply.
Last April, an unidentified OU signee who had not yet enrolled took an unofficial campus visit. In doing so, he attended a position meeting/film review with Kittle's permission. OU's compliance department found out when the signee tweeted he was going to watch film, something he could not do despite having signed his letter of intent.
There was one more Facebook violation involving Norvell last January. Six prospects were tagged in a photo of a banner hanging in the Sooners' practice facility, a photo posted by Norvell. The picture only appeared for a half-hour, but it was long enough that OU self-reported the secondary violation to the NCAA.
All of the social media violations were deemed secondary by both OU and the NCAA. This isn't case-building anywhere near the scope of Kelvin Sampson's excessive phone calls, Rhett Bomar's car dealership "employment," or Tiny Gallon's $5,000 loan.
If anything, these are the types of violations that show a university's compliance department is functioning as intended. It's embarrassing to the rule breakers for sure. Had Norvell been suspended, the story would have escalated some.
But more to the point is the nature of these specific violations, and how they involve what is becoming an omnipresent social media.
OU deemed Norvell's Facebook post a violation of NCAA Bylaw 13.10.2, prohibiting coaches from commenting about a prospect until that prospect has signed.
OU deemed Kittle's film review agreement a violation of Bylaw 13.4.1.2: "Electronically transmitted correspondence that may be sent to a prospective student-athlete is limited to electronic mail and facsimiles until after the calendar day on which a prospect signs a National Letter of Intent."
Kittle violated Bylaw 13.1.5.9, which regulates prospects' involvement in "practice activities," when the signee was included in the film session. But OU compliance discovered the violation when the signee sent his tweet.
Norvell's near-suspension was the result of another "electronic correspondence" bylaw breach (plus violation of Bylaw 13.9.2.2, which regulates scholarship offers before signing day).
In response, OU didn't just require the two coaches to attend that rules seminar, or self-impose two-week recruiting restrictions. Its compliance department also amped up rules education, so coaches could be more aware of social media pitfalls.
They exist. Players have stumbled onto them more often than coaches. But everyone, clearly, is susceptible.
Written by
Guerin Emig
Sports Writer
