May 2, 2011

Twitter. It is used to share everything:  breaking news, pictures, messages to friends, funny anecdotes, UFL draft picks…

Wait, what?

Tonights United Football League draft will be announced by various UFL head coaches via the social media networking site, Twitter.  Continuing with the social networking theme, picks will then be posted on the UFL’s website, and subsequently on team facebook groups.

“We believe this will be a social media first as our head coaches announce their selections exclusively to their Twitter followers,” said UFL Commissioner MICHAEL HUYGHUE, who will announce the First Round selections from his Twitter account before the head coaches take over.

“The UFL Draft plays an important role in stocking our teams’ rosters and we hope fans enjoy this innovative means of communicating each pick.”

We’ve seen twitter heavily used during player drafts before (see: analysts discussion during the NFL Draft for example), but never actually used to announce the picks.  Its a progressive step, and especially for a league like the UFL, which doesn’t have the NFL’s popularity, its a great way to engage people in your sport, while seemingly using what has quickly become one of the more popular ways to communicate.

Adding a significant level of drama possibly to tonight’s draft, and definitely the UFL season overall, is the NFL lockout.  Players that were not chosen in last week’s NFL Draft have been given a free agent designation.  Due to the fact that the NFL is currently in a lockout, and no collective bargaining agreement is in place, those free agents are left without even a chance at employment for the foreseeable future.  For some, the UFL may certainly be a viable option.

For those looking to see how the drama unfolds tonight, the twitter handles of the various UFL parties involved in tonights draft are below,

UFL Head Coach Twitter handles:

UFL Commissioner                 Michael Huyghue                 @UFLCommissioner

Hartford Colonials                   Jerry Glanville                     @JerryGlanville

Omaha Nighthawks                Joe Moglia                               @UFLJoeMoglia

Sacramento Mountain Lions   Dennis Green                     @UFLDennisGreen

Virginia Destroyers                 Marty Schottenheimer     @DestroyersMarty

Las Vegas Locos                    Jim Fassel                                  @LocosJimFassel

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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