NCAA Lacks Text Appeal

The NCAA, unable to get a grip on technology, is about to ban text messaging in college recruiting. Yes, kids do get pestered to death with text messages and there have been complaints about costs by the end user, i.e. the so-called future "student-athlete."

But Gary Parrish of CBS Sportsline actually did some research into this cost thing and get this: Many cell phone providers, no matter what package you purchase, offer unlimited text messaging for an extra $20 a month. That comes to 67 cents a day! Granted, times are tough, but if you can't afford the extra 67 cents each day, you probably shouldn't have a cell phone in the first place.

The truth is that the change in rules has more to do with the NCAA's inability to keep pace with technology. Ever go looking for something on the governing body's website? Simply put, it's a mess. And without a doubt, the best site for college football statistics is not the NCAA, it's cfbstats.com.

The easy way out for the NCAA is to outlaw text messaging altogether. The new rules will limit electronically transmitted correspondence to recruits to e-mail and faxes. Yes, faxes. That is mid-1970s technology.

We will miss text messaging. Nothing released the inner scumbag quite like it. For example, there was the case of Notre Dame assistant Peter Vaas, who continued to pepper recruit Arrelious Benn with text messages after Benn committed to Illinois. Benn then supplied some of the messages to the Washington Post. Vaas is no longer employed by Notre Dame.

And who could forget Jeb Bush taking time out from his duties as governor of Florida to text message then-New Jersey prep Myron Rolle. It worked. Rolle is now a Seminole.

Text messaging, we hardly knew ya!