Here are some of the highlights of a recent article in a Madison newspaper about the text messaging of student athletes from D1 programs.
Madison Capitol Times
February 2, 2006
(No Link)
"By the time Josh Oglesby opens his locker and retrieves his cell phone at the end of the school day, he typically has a handful of text messages waiting for him.
It makes his day, says Oglesby, a 6-foot-8, 320-pound junior at St. Francis High School -- located in the city south of Milwaukee -- who is considered to be among the nation's most highly regarded linemen in the 2007 recruiting class.
"It's really flattering," he said, "to know that they're taking time out of their busy schedule to text you....
....So while players like Oglesby have another seven months before their phones begin ringing off the hook -- or vibrating in their pocket, as is the case in the new age where every recruit seems to have a cell phone -- they're already feeling the love in the form of text messages.
A typical text message to Oglesby during football season is an inspirational message on game day.
"It's usually just something like, 'Have a great game tonight,' or 'Good luck tonight,' " he said....
....Text messages have a huge impact, at least if you ask Oglesby. He said he receives messages from the UW, Michigan, Ohio State, Notre Dame, Iowa, Illinois, Michigan State and Stanford. Better yet, he's gotten text messages from four head coaches -- Bielema, Notre Dame's Charlie Weis, Iowa's Kirk Ferentz and Illinois' Ron Zook.
"Whenever I get a text message from a head coach, that just sticks out so much in my mind," Oglesby said. "They're a head coach at a Division I program; they have so much more that they could be doing. For them to take time out of their more-than-busy schedule to text me is just phenomenal."