The NCAA may have a new text messaging rule to limit the contact coaches have with prospects, but there’s no rule against social networking…yet. And many coaches are taking advantage of that.

Division I and II coaches are allowed to contact recruits one-on-one using direct messaging services on Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, and other social networking websites. These types of messages are considered emails, which are permissable according to NCAA rules. Coaches can’t instant message or chat with recruits, but social networking opens new doors.

While public messages (such as posting on a Facebook wall) isn’t allowed, direct messages are often programmed to be sent directly to cell phones. The students have control over it, but if they set up their profile to have messages sent to their phones, it is almost like getting a text message from the coach.

Twitter has also been extremely helpful for coaches, who can update with general announcements frequently. By following recruits on Twitter, they can also get a sense of the student, learning how to better appeal to them.

Many coaches aren’t yet using Twitter, but on the other hand, some have embraced it. Tennessee coach Lane Kiffin uses Twitter because, essentially, other schools are using it. Illinois coach Ron Zook is pleased with the NCAA’s decision that Twittering is allowed. Of course, Pete Carroll is all over it, and has been from the start.

I think we’ll see more and more coaches joining the Twitter train, but the real question is this: will the NCAA further restrict using this technology?

Image via Twitter.com.

As a Twitter-oholic, I never could quite understand famous people who refuse to use the site. After all, wouldn’t sites like Twitter and Facebook give them yet another way to connect with fans?

But when I read Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s take on things, I began to understand his point-of-view. He says, “There’s tons of imposters out there. I don’t have a MySpace, a Twitter or none of that (stuff). There’s a bunch of imposters out there though that you have to beware of. I really would never get into social networking.”

I guess I can understand that. Then again, I think that’s only a problem if you don’t work the site regularly. I know celebs like Ashton Kutcher and John Mayer connect with people via Twitter. What do you think? Would you enjoy interacting with some of your favorite sports figures online?

Image: Bauer-Griffin

“Pack your social networks in one box”. That’s the apt slogan that The Cosmic Machine coined up for EventBox. This app puts together in one interface several popular social networking services. Facebook, Twitter, Flickr are some of the services that it integrates.

Instead of opening the several networking apps in several browser windows, EventBox packs it all for you in one neat interface. You just have one app open and it retrieves your data for you.

A great idea but the app is still in beta and there are some kinks that need to be worked out. I had a little trouble authenticating my Facebook account. But it seems to be working now.

One of the things I’m not so hot about right now is that there’s no slideshow feature for the pictures I’m viewing. Especially Flickr. You can scroll to the photos but there’s no automatic way to play them all. You also can’t view the bigger versions without it opening a browser window for you.

Right now as a beta release this is ok with room for improvement but so far I don’t see myself paying $20 ($15 during the beta period) for this.