The Rams are partnering with L.A.-based Social Media Sports Management (SM2) to "educate and train players on using social media," becoming the "first NFL team to use the company's services," according to Jim Thomas of the ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH. The concept "includes a 60-minute training and education program" with the theme, "Don't Be That Guy." The SM2 staff includes Rams assistant coach Dave McGinnis and former NFLer Will Witherspoon. Auburn and TCU also are using SM2's services "at the college level" (ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 6/16). SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL's Bill King writes SM2's curriculum "varies, not only from college to pro sports, but from sport to sport, based on the policies and issues that are germane to each property." The company "designed each course with the help of advisers working in that sport." SM2 Founder & President Carrie Gerlach Cecil said that the company "is in talks with five other universities, two speedways and a players association." She added, "When you look at traditional risk management, it wasn’t designed for minute-by-minute chatter." King notes one of the "hurdles SM2 will face is the acceptance that properties need to do more." Cecil said that college programs "must be convinced that the training is worth the expense, which typically is in the mid five figures annually." Former UNLV and Arizona AD Jim Livengood, who sits on SM2’s advisory board, said, "The people in these programs have an idea of what’s going on in social media, but unfortunately too often they don’t really dig in until something bad happens." King notes Cecil "landed the Rams as a client in part as a result of a family connection." Her husband, former NFLer Chuck Cecil, "coaches the Rams secondary" (SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, 6/15 issue).
