swok34
11-08-2002, 11:47 AM
Hope Lady Raider fans don't mind my copying this information from the RP website, I think Marsha Sharp makes some really good points and perhaps, something we fans, need to keep in mind when we post our thoughts and opinions about what we see or hear.
JS: What do you think some of the pros and cons are of sites like Raiderpower.com?
MS: I think that the pros are that it gives our fans a way to stay in touch, and to be in a situation where they can hear some things about basketball. Honestly, from my perspective the cons are the fact that sometimes there's a lot of information on there that's not exactly accurate. That concerns me a little bit because sometimes our players read it, and they may think that something went on in coaches minds, or fans minds that actually never was part of our practice, or maybe a game situation. I don't think there's any question that it was really a negative with one of our recruits. She and her parents read a lot of things that were on the internet last year when we were struggling as a team. I think she chose another university based on some information that was on the web site, that was actually not accurate. That concerns me a little bit. Not just for our program, but for all women's basketball programs. Certainly you never want to be in a situation where you get on there and read negative things about kids on your team, or even members of your coaching staff. We do pay attention to that because our players read it. So we've got to make sure that we're able to calm any fears down, or settle anything from our perspective that they may be worried about or thinking about. I think it was a major factor in some of the things that went on with us last year. We spent a lot of time talking to our players about their involvement in reading that, and what they need to be able to sift through and look at. I'm always glad when there's attention to our sport, but I also want to make sure that it's accurate information, honestly.
JS: What do you think some of the pros and cons are of sites like Raiderpower.com?
MS: I think that the pros are that it gives our fans a way to stay in touch, and to be in a situation where they can hear some things about basketball. Honestly, from my perspective the cons are the fact that sometimes there's a lot of information on there that's not exactly accurate. That concerns me a little bit because sometimes our players read it, and they may think that something went on in coaches minds, or fans minds that actually never was part of our practice, or maybe a game situation. I don't think there's any question that it was really a negative with one of our recruits. She and her parents read a lot of things that were on the internet last year when we were struggling as a team. I think she chose another university based on some information that was on the web site, that was actually not accurate. That concerns me a little bit. Not just for our program, but for all women's basketball programs. Certainly you never want to be in a situation where you get on there and read negative things about kids on your team, or even members of your coaching staff. We do pay attention to that because our players read it. So we've got to make sure that we're able to calm any fears down, or settle anything from our perspective that they may be worried about or thinking about. I think it was a major factor in some of the things that went on with us last year. We spent a lot of time talking to our players about their involvement in reading that, and what they need to be able to sift through and look at. I'm always glad when there's attention to our sport, but I also want to make sure that it's accurate information, honestly.