"He's got the fastest thumbs in America." This was the University of Kentucky’s Athletic Director Mitch Barnhart’s way of complimenting the new men’s head basketball coach, Billy Gillispie. Barnhart was commenting on Gillispie’s reported 8000 text messages per month to players recruited.

Text messaging has become a huge tool used by coaches throughout the country trying to initiate conversation with recruits. There are no limits on text messages sent by coaches and with restrictions to phone calls and personal visits, this is a way coaches can keep in touch with current prospects. NCAA rules give coaches 2 phone calls to a junior per month. With unlimited texting available, Gillispie can message a recruit to call him as often as he wants, which is legal. 

Apparently complaints have been filed, (not against Gillispie,) citing inappropriate use of text messaging. The complaint includes outrageous costs texting can be for the recruit. Three of these were heard by Lynn Dorn, the NDSU women's athletic director. "Unfortunately, there are stories out there of student-athletes ending up with significant cell phone bills unbeknownst to the parent or to them," Dorn said. 

All of this has led to a NCAA Management Council meeting on April 26th to determine a proposal that bans coaches from sending recruits text messages. If it gets past the council the ban will move to the NCAA Board of Directors for final approval. Coach Gillispie and others might just be wiggling their thumbs come August 1st. 

New technology gives coaches a long arm to reach prospective players. Email, faxing and now text messaging can overwhelm the NCAA’s ability to limit a coach’s contact with recruits. It can also overwhelm young men and women still of high school age. Not to mention the holes burnt in the parent’s pocket with the cost of texting landing on their wallet. 

So, the question is how much can the NCAA do or should they do anything at all as far as text messages go? As of now coaches are split 50/50 on the proposed ban. Some like it the way it is while others want more regulations. What do you think? 

 Bluegrass Lady