The University of Akron is trying to move its basketball team into the 21st century. This does not mean, say, ensuring the players graduate or changing how they’re compensated but, rather, changing their jerseys. At least it tried to change them.
According to a piece at The Verge:
Photos leaked on Twitter show that the Akron Zips’ new black Nike jerseys will feature the team’s Twitter handle on the back; CBS Sports reports that the ads will be placed on both men’s and women’s basketball jerseys for a “social media night” on February 2nd. It’s not clear if the addition will be permanent.
It turns out it won’t really be happening, but Akron is really into social media. The same piece explains that:
An announcement from the school notes that fans will see hashtags like #ZipsGameday and #ThinkBigger on sidelines and basket supports.
Well good for the school for trying to be current. The university responded that the jersey change will not be happening, however. Akron explained that,
We feel it’s important to set the record straight about our @ZipsMBB Social Media Night promotion and the jerseys we will wear for our next home game, as some incorrect information has been reported. Our Men’s Basketball Twitter handle, @ZipsMBB, will not be on the backs of our jerseys when we play on @ESPNU at 5 p.m. Saturday at James A. Rhodes Arena. We had asked the NCAA if this was permissible and were told it is not.
So Akron asked and the National Collegiate Athletic Association refused? Why must you fight progress, NCAA!
But then, maybe the association has a point; if you’re at the game (or watching it on television) do you really need to follow it on Twitter, too?
What might be more fun, and what surely another school will do eventually, is put the players’ own Twitter handles on their jerseys instead of their names. [Image via]
