First Barack Obama, then Ashton Kutcher and Shaq. Now Duke Athletics?

Twitter is the newest craze on the Internet that gives diehard fans access into the lives of celebrities, sports teams and even other Average Joes. And for Duke teams playing in the competitive ACC, Twitter has even become a recruiting tool.

Some of Duke's sports publicists tweet for their teams, and some coaches-including David Cutcliffe-tweet themselves.

Lindy Brown, associate sports information director, created Twitter accounts for the teams he works with to boost interest in the programs.

"We're just trying to create more excitement and more knowledge about what's going on," said Brown, who handles accounts for the women's basketball and women's soccer squads. "[I give] updates about different little things that maybe you won't find out without logging on."

The site allows its users to post updates, both from computers and text messages, for subscribers, called "followers." But there is one catch: All updates, including any hyperlinks, must be fewer than 140 characters. On Twitter, space is a pressing restraint.

Using his constant access to the women's basketball program, Brown has given his 175 followers-and anyone else who wishes to look-232 updates from his cell phone since March 12 under the handle @DukeWBBSID.

Some tweets tell fans about workouts, practices and the team's travels, and Brown even encouraged fans to e-mail him with questions to ask coaches and players. Some of Brown's updates even poke some lighthearted fun at the players he works with.

On March 23, just hours before Duke lost to Michigan State in the NCAA Tournament, Brown told followers: "Kathleen [Scheer] was doing a nice rapping session in the locker room following practice. Everyone got a nice laugh. The team is very loose."

Cutcliffe's tweets are more promotional. Under the name @DavidCutcliffe, he often ends his short messages with phrases like "We Are Duke!" and "Let's Go Duke!" and even has offered insight into the recruiting process. On April 15, the first day he could call recruits in the Class of 2010, Cutcliffe made his 409 followers aware that his staff had called 57 recruits, and then sent a follow-up text message just minutes later to up the total to 58.

More coaches and programs are getting in the act, too.

In an April 13 meeting about GoDuke.com, the official Web site of Duke Athletics, Brown spoke to head women's soccer coach Robbie Church about the possibility of using Twitter for his program. By 10:44 a.m., Brown had tweeted using the name @DukeWS. Duke's tennis program now tweets, and the men's soccer program has plans to make an account as well.

Rowing assistant coach and recruiting coordinator Jim Lister uses Twitter for an entirely different purpose: to recruit top talent. The site is attractive to Lister because NCAA rules prohibit phone calls to recruits until July 1 of their junior year.

Instead, he relies on the Internet. The rowing team has its own blog, a channel on Facebook for video content recorded on Lister's pocket-sized Flip Video Camcorder and, since January, a Twitter account.

"Every once in a while, I will put a personal note in there so that they know that I am a coach and not just spewing information," Lister said. "I have personal anecdotes in there so that they can get to know me as a coach as well."

Cutcliffe has a bigger base of followers than Lister, which allows him to use the service as Obama did during his campaign: He keeps Blue Devil fans up to date of the team's progress and sends out his own messages.

"I love it," Cutcliffe said. "You hope people that might play football in the future at Duke are out there listening.... You don't get to see everybody. There's only one of me and a lot of people, so it's a great way for me to share my voice or my thoughts with a large group of people."

Before Saturday's Spring Game, Cutcliffe sent out daily tweets to remind Duke fans to show up to Wallace Wade Stadium, all while offering some positive reinforcement.

"IT'S GOING TO BE BIG NEWS IN COLLEGE FOOTBALL!" he wrote. "DUKE IS DEFINITELY GOING TO BECOME A FORCE IN THE ACC! We need you there! 1:00 Saturday!"