It seemed as though the NCAA was lightening up to the idea of social media when it lifted an in-game tweet limit last month. But now the NCAA football rules committee has oddly decided to ban the use of hashtags on the football field.
Yep, that’s right: Schools can’t paint hashtags that promote their teams on the field anymore, like “#GoDawgs” for the University of Washington, for example.
Ironically, “NCAA” is now trending on Twitter.
Mississippi State was one of the first schools to use hashtags on its field back in 2011, and several other schools have followed suit. Colleges typically do this to generate more social media buzz around the team.
Earlier this year, the University of Akron tried printing its Twitter handle on the back of player jerseys, but the NCAA quickly rejected that request.
Not sure why the NCAA thinks that it should keep hashtags off its fields. What do you think?
Here are some funny responses on Twitter, naturally:
Any school looking to troll NCAA: Just spell out HASHTAG in all caps then whatever you want trending.
— D.C. Reeves (@_DCReeves) May 1, 2013
That same NCAA ruling to ban hashtgs? Also OKs sponsor logos being put on pylons.
— Chris Bahn (@cbahn) May 1, 2013
According to the NCAA, total operating revenue for 2012-13 is $797,598,000. Hashtags are banned though.
— Bryan Fischer (@BryanDFischer) May 1, 2013
What if a school changes the name of their mascot to include a hashtag? Could the NCAA stop the Centenary #Gentlemen?
— Kunk (@Kunk7) May 1, 2013
#Dear #NCAA, #how #do #you #plan #on #enforcing #your #hashtag #ban?
— Evil Sparky (@Evil_Sparky) May 1, 2013
#NCAA disallowing hashtag use on field. Why? Likely because they can't profit from it. #stupid #Igotyourhashtagrighthere
— Mike Solarte (@MikeSolarte) May 1, 2013
Not to get too deep, but that NCAA/hashtag thing is just a microcosm of an org that's become completely out of touch with the modern world.
— Sam Laird (@samcmlaird) May 1, 2013
Previously on GeekWire: Washington’s Steve Sarkisian is the 5th most popular college football coach on Twitter