NCAA Upholds Ban on Texting Recruits

Move to override derided rule finds little support
By Sam Biddle,  Newser Staff
Posted Jan 13, 2008 1:37 PM CST
NCAA Upholds Ban on Texting Recruits
NCAA President Myles Brand, left, delivers the State of the Association address during the opening business session of the 2008 NCAA Convention in Nashville, Tenn. on Saturday, Jan. 12, 2008. 78% of the delegates at the convention voted to uphold the text messaging ban. (AP Photo/John Russell)   (Associated Press)

The NCAA has upheld its ban against coaches text messaging high school prospects as a means of recruitment, ESPN.com reports. Though the rule was criticized by coaches and athletic directors when it was passed last year, the motion to overturn barely got enough support to bring the issue to a vote. The ban was overwhelmingly upheld with support of 78% of the NCAA delegation.

The issue is still divisive, the New York Times explains. Coaches and athletic directors embraced the technology that is often the best way to stay in contact with recruits. “I’m sorry, it’s 2008,” said one athletic director. Some students, though, claim the texts can be intrusive, expensive, and bad for communication. “What kind of relationship can you build in 160 characters?” asked the chair of a student-athlete committee. (More NCAA stories.)

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