Using Twitter to report preps scores (a theory)
Expanding on my previous post on Twitter mailbots here’s an idea:
- Create a Twitter account for local high school scores.
- Create a specific email address.
- Identify who will provide you with scores (reporters/stringers/a school contact or a combination of all)
- Get the email address that each person will use to post scores
- Write a script that checks the from: email address against a list of email addresses on record
- If everything’s cool, post the score to the account
- Use the RSS feed from the Twitter account to create a list of scores for use on your web site
- Or, use the Twitter API to write something for inclusion into a web page.
Now, all I need is a newsroom who is willing to give this a shot 
This same system could also be used to post scores as they change, not just final scores.
SMS approach on a individual account basis:
You could have folks set up their own Twitter account JUST to report scores. This would allow them to tie their account to a SMS device (cellphone) and not use email. Because we trust this person and their account is just used for scores, we could follow them. There is a downside to this however… while what they post will be available in your Twitter/RSS feed (and therefore can be repurposed to the web site) it will not be available to the people who are following you (they can only see your posts).
SMS on a single account basis:
It would be possible (but possibly expensive) to set up your own dedicated SMS number for this purpose. I confess I don’t know how trade agreements work, but you might find someone who could offer the number for sponsorship?
I think the first approach is best because it serves both the browser and Twitter communities. The third would be awesome — but again — more costly.