They Said it Couldn't Be Done

Two years ago when SNW was just breaking into the consciousness of athletic departments, the civil liberties crowd wailed that ADs could not tell their athletes to not be on websites like Facebook. It violated their rights. My counter argument was that we already restrict the freedom of speech and association of college athletes at every level, from league bans on comments regarding officiating to NCAA restrictions on association with agents and gambling interests.

Big story this past week in the Birmingham News about the bans and curfews now becoming common practice across the SEC. Just one of the many examples in the story:

For the Tennessee men's basketball team, "there are places we don't want them to go, there are times we don't want them to go out, and those are rules that are confined within the team," coach Bruce Pearl said. "That's why they're called team rules."

And where is the outrage? At least in this story, there isn't any.

Kerry Kenny, vice-chair of the Division I Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, said he personally has no problem with coaches placing restrictions on free time, even though it may seem politically incorrect.
"A lot of times coaches are put into positions to do something to get messages across to their team," Kenny said. "Before it even reaches that point, student-athletes need to hold themselves accountable. A lot of times student-athletes think they're invincible to some of the situations that have arisen over the years."

How about that -- a voice of reason speaks. It only reinforces the point -- whether they are places student-athletes should not congregate in person or on-line, athletic departments by virtue of the privilege of participation and representation of the institution has the power to enforce restrictions.