Texas Fans Applying Social Heat to Demetrius Knox
As first reported by our own Derek Young last week, Texas commit Demetrius Knox is planning to take an unofficial visit to Ohio State next month. News of the visit has some Longhorn fans feeling salty:
Demetrius Knox reads the message boards and knows some Longhorns fans assume he's going to jump ship before signing day. The Fort Worth (Texas) All Saints lineman received scrutiny for taking a junior day trip to Oklahoma in February. After Texas coach Mack Brown announced that his commits can no longer take visits elsewhere without jeopardizing their spot in the class, Knox acknowledged publicly that he plans to take an unofficial visit to Ohio State next month.
At first, Knox used the name-calling he received from fans online as motivation. Now it's becoming an irritation.
"I got a tweet not too long ago, right after a camp, that had a picture of me and Daniel [Gresham] that said, 'The only way these two play in DKR is if they come and visit,'" Knox said. "I was like, 'Wow, OK.' And that was from a Texas fan."
To some extent, Knox can understand why the Longhorns fan base is uneasy and prone to jumping to conclusions. Five recruits decommitted from Texas' 2013 class. Knox gets why people fear he's, in his words, going to "pull an A'Shawn" and back out at the last minute like A'Shawn Robinson did last month.
Recruiting: bringing out the worst in social media fandom.
Comments
This is why I make comments about fans poor decisions on Twitter and other stuff.
This is why I refuse to comment toward recruits on Twitter. They don't need to be harassed by someone they don't know because they did something I may or may not approve of.
"Attack the Strong, Trample the Weak, Hurdle the Dead!"
-Former OSU S&C Coach Lichter
It's (dis)comforting to know that OSU is not the only school to have trolls amongst us. It makes me think there really are a few Gil Renard's out there in the world!
Every fan base has its trolls and delusional personalities that make the rest of the fan base shudder. OSU certainly has its fair share. Obviously, the bigger the fan base is the more yokels there are likely to be. But it also seems that the bigger the fan base is the more these goons are emboldened to be vocal and visible.
This is why I masquerade as a Texas fan on twitter. (I kid)
Stay classy Longhorns.
"if irony were made of strawberries, we' d all be drinking a lot of smoothies right now."
ESPN Reaction: URBAN MEYER CHEATING OHIO STATE CHEATING ROLL TIDE
/Duff'd It
ERBIN MEIJER IZ DA CHEETER NASHUNAL CHAMPEEONZ PAWWWLLLLLLLLLL!
"if irony were made of strawberries, we' d all be drinking a lot of smoothies right now."
Are they really capable of stringing together that many words?
"Attack the Strong, Trample the Weak, Hurdle the Dead!"
-Former OSU S&C Coach Lichter
you butter cum tuh texis or we'll be reeeel mad atchu.
Gesundheit
I like our chances but Texas will still be tough if he's friend goes there
What's the matter, Texas? Urban got you guys miffed too?
4-6 seconds from point A to point B and when you get to point B, be pissed off
The whole recruiting/committing gimmick is out of control and a lot of us on these boards all around the country are responsible .
I'm a friend of thunder is it any wonder lightning strikes me
Contact with kids that are not yours should only be done with their patients permission.
Here is just another reason why.
If they are under 18 stay the hell away and get a life.
Fitzbuck
Toledo - Ohio's right armpit
"A troll by any other name is still a troll".
"Demetrius Knox reads the message boards and knows some Longhorns fans assume he's going to jump ship before signing day."
^Good reminder that a lot of recruits read not only twitter, but forums like this one. "Fans" who insult 17-18 year olds on twitter and message boards are doing much more harm than good to the team. Always a need to keep it classy! When I'm posting about a recruit, I always try to remember, "what would I find appropriate/inappropriate for a stranger to say about my 17 year old nephew?" If you wouldn't say it to/about a young family member, it's not appropriate to post about a recruit.
I'd say the same's the case for comments about actual OSU players, as well. It's not the same as commenting about professional athletes in the NFL/NBA, etc., these are still kids. I slip up occasionally myself, but it's something to keep in mind.
I've never used it, but it doesn't leave much up to the imagination, so in my opinion twitter sucks, period, whether you are tweeting recruits like a creepy fanatic loser or not.
Watch out, last time I said something like this I literally got a creepy stalker who got angry and went on a tirade about wanting me to drive to Columbus so he can tell me how much better of a person he is than me (and maybe compare penis sizes!? Wasn't sure about that...). Just a warning, twitter creepers are creepy...
far too many of these young men,(and unfortunately their families,etc.)live for the attention.Adults who are not family members or coaches should not try to influence these decisions,don't you have more important matters in your life to attend to?
Hook 'em Buckeyes.
Why is ESPiN giving out his twitter account? :/
"YOLO" = I'm about to do something extremely ignorant/stupid & I need an excuse to do it.
So folks like that fine upstanding Texas fan can do what we are all saying not to do......
Battles are sometimes won by generals; wars are nearly always won by sergeants and privates. Football is no different, the guys down in the trenches win the games, not the coach.