Stupid Twitter rumor of the weekend: LSU football coach had affair with student

Sam McGaw, a student reporter in Bowling Green, Ky., tweeted a rumor about LSU head football coach Les Miles Saturday night that caused a national stir.

https://twitter.com/sammcgaw/status/308019364123258880

Reputable college football reporter Bruce Feldman confirmed that the rumor was not true.

Talked to a source at LSU tonight.. there is no truth to that wild rumor.

— Bruce Feldman (@BruceFeldmanCFB) March 3, 2013

McGaw had to face the music.

https://twitter.com/sammcgaw/status/308024103934259201

https://twitter.com/sammcgaw/status/308033918496538624

https://twitter.com/sammcgaw/status/308036995849015296

https://twitter.com/sammcgaw/status/308045357785423872

https://twitter.com/sammcgaw/status/308090410713116672

But he benefited from the whole ordeal. He started the evening with 238 followers and is now well over 30,000.

The guy who started the false Les Miles rumor went from 200 followers to 30,000 in about 14 hours.

— Dan Wolken (@DanWolken) March 3, 2013

https://twitter.com/sammcgaw/status/308119978245255168

The recent Les Miles rumor represents the dark side of social media.

— KO (@Kasey_0wen) March 3, 2013