Chizik OK with Twitter, doesn’t believe in banning team

Trying to regulate the use of social media by players has been an increasingly difficult challenge for coaches at all levels.

Some teams have banned players using Twitter altogether. Asked what his views are regarding Twitter and social media with his team, Auburn coach Gene Chizik said he does not believe in banning the team.

“If we have a young man we feel like is getting out of control with (Twitter), then we’ll obviously take that away from him as an option,” he said. “It’s hard to control. Some guys have completely taken their teams off of that, I don’t believe in doing that unless there are individuals abusing it. I think it’s more in the education process and trying to be more upfront with that.”

Like any coach, Chizik said he does not want any players airing their dirty laundry in a public forum such as Twitter.

“It doesn’t matter what kind of year you’re having, nobody’s out there on anybody’s football team that should be talking about anything that sheds a negative light on anything that’s happening within anybody’s program,” he said.