BOULDER - Forgive Dan Hawkins if his thumbs twitch for the next 36 hours or so.

Anxious for a ruling that might lift or at least soften the NCAA's recent ban on text messages to recruits, the University of Colorado football coach and many of his peers are awaiting a Division I Board of Directors meeting Thursday that will address the issue.

The board will have three options for dealing with the text- messaging controversy: It can reaffirm its initial decision, adopt other legislation based on the requests to override the decision or agree to rescind the texting ban altogether.

If the ban is not lifted, Hawkins at least is hoping it will be tweaked enough to allow texting - within reasonable limits - to prospects.

"I didn't expect it to get totally wiped out," he said Tuesday. "Hopefully, there'll be some modification."

Before the NCAA pinched his thumbs, Hawkins might have been getting more mileage out of texting than many college coaches.

"Sometimes I just pick (the cell phone) up and rub over it and wish I could text somebody," he said.

"I've just been so trained, that every time I have a break, it's, 'Who do I hit now? Who do I hit now?' "

In late April, the NCAA counterpunched, deeming coaches' texting to recruits had become invasive, too expensive and was a way to circumvent rules when telephone calls were not allowed during certain recruiting periods.

Under NCAA rules, a text message is not a telephone call and some coaches have estimated they were sending 50 to 100 daily.

But while agreeing text-ing in recruiting should be reined in, Hawkins and others cried overkill.

Under the current ban, he still can text his own scholarship players and walk-ons already on the team, but new walk-ons - CU has a dozen, with seven more expected when school starts - can't receive a text message from Hawkins until the fall semester begins.

"The rule hurts me because I like to stay in touch with guys," Hawkins said.

"Some guy has a tough practice, thinks nobody is listening, then gets a message from the coach at 11 o'clock saying, 'Hang in there. I hear you; you're going to be fine.'

"Maybe I'm overdoing that, but I just like doing that kind of stuff."

And his players apparently appreciate hearing from him.

Several last season said it was "cool" to receive his random inspirational messages during game week.

According to the NCAA's Web site, should board members Thursday elect to reaffirm the original adoption of the texting proposal, the matter would go before Division I delegates at the NCAA Convention in January.

If alternative legislation is adopted, there would be another override period and if override requests are supported by the board, the legislation would be rescinded.

ETC.: As expected, freshman receiver Kendrick Celestine arrived Monday night and practiced Tuesday morning. Celestine, of Mamou, La., encountered flight problems Sunday. Hawkins likes the deep dimension Celestine and fellow freshmen Markques Simas and Josh Smith bring to the position. "I love the long ball, I do," he said. "As I've kind of come along in this game, I think you've got to pound it and launch it. That's just my style." . . . Sophomore Cha'pelle Brown has returned to cornerback after a spring look at receiver. . . . Freshmen defensive linemen Lagrone Shields and Eugene Goree have worked intermittently with the offensive line during practices. . . . The Buffs aren't in pads yet, but Hawkins said Tuesday's afternoon practice was "one of the best since I've been here in so many ways - tempo, communication, understanding what we are tying to do." . .

. Hawkins also said senior tailback Hugh Charles is running "way better" than he has. "If he can run with a Walter Payton passion, he can be one of the better backs in our conference," Hawkins said.

brooksb@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-5466