Football: Talking smack on Facebook

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In the old days, before the Internet, a main worry for football coaches was a player saying something to a reporter that ended up being used as bulletin board material by the opposing team.

Now, the biggest concern has to be players making comments on social media sites.

‘They’ve been talking smack on Facebook,’ Westlake defensive lineman Johnny Stuart said of Oaks Christian, his team’s opponent in Friday’s Northern Division championship game.

Welcome to 2010.

Oaks Christian Coach Bill Redell, who’s not exactly tech savvy, said he has heard about Facebook but doesn’t understand how to monitor it.

‘I know what it is,’ he said. ‘I don’t know how to get into it. We don’t need to give them any ammunition.’

Of course, Redell is always trying to improve, so his players better be careful.

‘I do know what a computer is,’ Redell said. ‘My son, Randy, is trying to get me educated. I know enough about Facebook to stay off it.’

-- Eric Sondheimer