🔴 Yes, this is still a free country.
Sure, there is no government proscription against doing something imprudent, unwise, tacky or downright churlish. That said, the exercise of a freedom may
have unintended consequences, some contrary to the will of the party enjoying that freedom.
🔴 Yes, but only with the approval of the recruiting team.
That would almost certainly, in the eyes of the NCAA, make the fan an agent of the institution. Result: clear violation.
🔴 No, it opens the door to recruiting violations.
True. That's why most (all?) colleges and universities prefer to keep contact with potential recruits and their families limited to the coaching staff.
🔵 Absolutely not. It's in poor taste and borderline narcissism.
It may also be counter-productive. As another fan pointed out, the messaging may be inconsistent with that of the professional staff.
Speaking only for myself here, I trust Coach Harper and her crew to do the recruiting for UT. They have done a pretty good job so far. Enthusiastic fans, whatever their claimed credentials, should be humble enough to keep to the sidelines. Unless, of course, they have a proven track record of successfully recruiting topflight high school talent to SEC level programs, in which case they should have no difficulty landing a coaching job at a P5 school.
These comments are not directed at any individual fan, but at any and all who may think Coach Harper cannot succeed without their precious contributions.