AEC Cabinet proposes text message restrictions. At its meeting in Indianapolis last week, the Academics/Eligibility/Compliance Cabinet, which is comprised of more than 40 members from the Division I membership, proposed to restrict text messaging and other forms of electronic communication. The proposal will be considered by the Division I Management Council at the NCAA Convention in January. There’s no reason for a prospective student-athlete to receive text messages from coaches every day, and certainly not during the school day. Hopefully the membership will pass this legislation and provide kids with a reprieve from the recruiting ambush.

Former Washington and Jefferson kicker finds politics. Luke Ravenstahl, a 2003 graduate of Washington and Jefferson, was sworn in as the youngest mayor of Pittsburgh after the death of Bob O’Connor. Ravenstahl holds the school record for field goals made (27) and consecutive extra points (45). Like the ads say, there are a lot of student-athletes and almost all of them go pro in something other than sports. And some go on to become mayor of a major United States city before their 27th birthday.

Division II teams upend Division I programs. In the first week of the season, Montana State dumped Colorado in a huge upset of the Big XII program. On Saturday, Division II's Chadron State turned the tables on the Football Championship Subdivision team, winning 35-24 in Bozeman. In other action, North Dakota defeated Northern Iowa, Wingate beat Davidson, Newberry dumped Moorhead State and Delta State beat Stephen F. Austin. Division II posted five victories over Division I opponents, and on the Division I level, New Hampshire thrashed Northwestern. This proves the point that there are talented players, coaches and programs in all three divisions and there is probably some great competition taking place right around the corner from you.

Division II football on the Web. In a big weekend for Division II football, four games were broadcast on the Internet on Saturday. I was able to catch some of the game between Southeastern Oklahoma State and Tarleton State and look forward to watching more D-II football throughout the season. SE Oklahoma State won 37-30.

Syracuse can’t score from the one. I haven’t found much excitement in Syracuse football during the past few years, but Saturday’s loss to Iowa was particularly difficult for this fan to swallow. Needing a touchdown to send the game into a third overtime, the Orange failed to run it into the end zone from the 1-yard line not once, not twice…but six times. What could have been an upset win just ended up making me upset.