Recently on a local radio show the topic came up about live tweeting from Southeastern Conference (SEC) football games. It is actually AGAINST the SEC’s new media policy to tweet from games. Details can be found on The Bleacher Report.

Why? Because the SEC has contracts with networks and media providers to deliver the action of these games. OK, I understand that, but as a caller to the radio program pointed out, public tweeters are not profiting in any way by tweeting game action. If anything, this is free publicity for the networks. To me this seems like another attempt to stop a snowball that’s already screaming down the hill.

Jeff Jacoby of the morning show Doc, Jeff and Heather on the Sports Animal wonders about the policy too. “I think they should embrace it and try to take advantage of it. You CAN’T control it…too big! Why make people mad when it really doesn’t matter. What harm does it do?”

I agree with Jeff. Let’s face it, fans will tweet anyway. Why not encourage tweeting to drive more attention to the games the media outlets are covering? What about the media having someone on staff to tweet the games and interact WITH the fans instead of trying to stop something that’s impossible to stop anyway?

Jeff also says the SEC in particular will try to stop you from tweeting if they catch you.  How will they do this? Will a mobile phone become contraband? Will they ask Twitter to suspend your account? I think this is one of the silliest attempts to halt new media I’ve heard in a long time. And like Jeff says, why make fans mad by prohibiting something so impossible to police? Someone needs to take a time-out and rethink this one.

Now imagine yourself at the game… Do you still plan on tweeting? Will you think twice before game-day tweeting? Do you agree with this SEC policy?

Image by Andy Beez

Update: It seems the SEC policy only applies to those with media credentials.  If there is further clarification by the SEC, we’ll update this post.