KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — When players hear all week about the importance of playing with passion, sometimes they end up showing too much at the wrong time.
Waiting to catch them is a stadium full of smartphone-wielding fans, and millions of viewers snapping Vines of game broadcasts to share on social media posts.
Missteps are more public than ever before, and that's a lesson a few players learned the hard way last week. Oklahoma safety Hatari Byrd pointed a middle finger toward the stands, and linebacker Eric Striker shouted foul language while vocalizing his opinions on the Southeastern Conference following the Sooners' 31-24 overtime victory at Tennessee.