Alabama High Schools Effectively Ban Satellite Camps

Submitted by EastCoast Esq. on

Harbaugh had to call off Michigan's scheduled camp at Bob Jones High School in Alabama because the Alabama High School Athletic Association passed a law limiting when local coaches can participate.

Are they really THAT scared of us?

 

Michigan's scheduled trip to Bob Jones HS in Alabama for a sat camp has been called off https://t.co/TqPiNzTwKz

— Nick Baumgardner (@nickbaumgardner) May 12, 2016
 

 

EDIT: I realize they didn't "ban" them. However, the restrictions are functionally a ban because the dead period starts on June 27th.

MoJo Rising

May 12th, 2016 at 3:02 PM ^

the power of a few college coaches and universities that probably do a great job at greasing the palms of those HS coaches. They are like commies!

PeterKlima

May 12th, 2016 at 3:03 PM ^

Hurtig their own kids out of fear of competition.  I hope it backfires on them....

MayOhioEatTurds

May 12th, 2016 at 3:30 PM ^

would commence.

Now to be fair, this down period does not outlaw satellite camps altogether--it just restricts 40% of students' summer break from participating in satellite camps. 

Nevertheless, present in the 40% ban is the tactic of an inchoate strategy to banish Harbaugh from the South altogether:  

If you can prevent high schools and/or students from participating in satellite camps for 40% of the summer break at the local level, then you can also prevent them from participating in satellite camps for 100% of the summer break.

Once our Southern brethren figure this out, Alabama (and other SEC states) may truly ban satellite camps from the bottom (high school) up, rather than from the top (NCAA) down.  If they are sufficiently influential, they may coopt high schools as a statewide prophylactic against satellite camps. 

What remains to be seen is how southern football players will react to this restriction on their visibility . . . . 

Wolfman

May 12th, 2016 at 7:57 PM ^

They're afraid of most outside colleges, but a school like UM, ND = would like to add Stanford, but Shaw is right, scare the hell out  of them. Look what UM did to the state of OH and that's in the same conference. When high schoolers learned they could  get the same football and one hell of an education to boot, they came and they came in droves. Those days will return.

Look at what Collins had to say:  "Michigan is different. They even have a plan for you after college." Imagine that. That's different? Yes they are afraid and they shoud be. Hell, he's already relayed that message to his friends.

They would like to keep em home and dumb, but some of those kids are bright as hell. They just haven't been exposed to outside influences. Look at att the hell that broke loose when Jim simply took a stroll through their state.

 

 

BuckNekked

May 12th, 2016 at 6:39 PM ^

Since the dead period starts June 27th and the first day they allow a camp is on June 27th,  they did effectively ban  them since college coaches arent allowed to attend even on the allowed days. What HS kid  with college ambitions cares about a HS camp run by only HS coaches? That is a waste of everyones time. Camps in Alabama will die a quick death through nonattendance.

What a shortsighted ruling. These people just dont get it and never will. This hurts the kids only. It wont stop Harbaugh. It wont even slow him down.

joeyb

May 12th, 2016 at 3:07 PM ^

Did you even read it? They aren't banned, just limited to a certain window and this camp was outside that window. There are similar rules in Michigan for HS coaches.

Pepto Bismol

May 12th, 2016 at 3:56 PM ^

The high schools said you can no longer have them until the week of June 27th at the earliest.

June 27th is the beginning of the NCAA recruiting dead period where no contact is allowed.  If you look at Michigan's satellite camp lineup, none are scheduled after that date.

 

They essentially outlawed satellite camps.

 

[Edit: I suppose they didn't outlaw camps.  They just prevented high schools from hosting and working the event.  Michigan will still be at South Alabama June 7th.  Harbaugh just needs to find college near Bob Jones HS (like Alabama-Huntsville) to host instead.]

 

ijohnb

May 12th, 2016 at 3:09 PM ^

Satellite camp talk has officially jumped the shark.  I know, I "clicked on it and commented so I must care, lol, burned" and all but it has just become too much.

phork

May 12th, 2016 at 3:11 PM ^

This is getting ridiculous.  Anything put in place to limit a kids options, outside of safety, is just plain dumb.  

MBloGlue

May 12th, 2016 at 3:26 PM ^

Let's not be so narcissistic as to villify every single restriction on satellite camps as aimed at Harbaugh.  According to the memo in the link, the problem with the June 6 date for the Bob Jones High School camp is that it takes place during the time period set aside for spring and winter sports.  Camps are permitted for fall sports in late-June and July.  I assume this restriction is, in part, designed to ensure that football does not squeeze out all the other high school sports.  This seems pretty reasonable to me.

MBloGlue

May 12th, 2016 at 3:40 PM ^

I see the OP edited his post to add the point you express.  The idea of segmenting the summer to provide facility time for both spring/winter and for fall sports seems pretty reasonable to me, althought there may be better ways to go about it.  The point about how they lined up the fall sport time to conincide with the NCAA dead period does seem short-sighted or manipulative.

EastCoast Esq.

May 12th, 2016 at 3:56 PM ^

I am the OP ;)

But yes, if the goal was simply to preserve spring/winter sports, that would be fine. I don't think that was the goal here. I think that's a pretext.

EDIT: Also, I gave you a +1 for acknowledging your error. It's a rare feat on the internet.

ThadMattasagoblin

May 12th, 2016 at 3:36 PM ^

The politics of football down there is insane. Does it really matter if they ban camps? We got like 3 kids from them last year that weren't highly recruited. Harbaugh can still go down there for regular recruiting trips.

McDoomButt

May 13th, 2016 at 8:06 AM ^

It's about increasing our presence in the minds of young recruits, especially in new areas. This is something that takes a decade to build.

We could be that "different" option for the 5 star who doesn't want to just go to the state school down the road. But to do that you have to change how these kids think of you.

Satellite camps are part of that.

LSAClassOf2000

May 12th, 2016 at 3:43 PM ^

The Wolverines had hoped to hold a camp June 6 at the Bob Jones campus in Madison. However, a bylaw passed April 12 by the Alabama High School Athletic Association allows its member football coaches to only participate in camps involving their players on the weeks of June 27, July 4, July 11 and July 25.

Do we know why those specific weeks are singled out? This seems like a really bizarre restriction without more information, even after reading the memorandum. I mean, I could buy that they think they are doing the SEC schools in their neighborhood, if you will, a favor somehow, but part of me thinks there is something even more weird afoot. I could be wrong there. 

Richard75

May 13th, 2016 at 4:55 AM ^

Seems pretty straightforward

The dead period begins June 26. The HS coaches are now barred from participating until right after the period begins. And the rule was passed in the middle of the sat camp furor. Not sure why July 18 was excluded, but the rest of it seems pretty clear.




Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad

Chiwolve

May 12th, 2016 at 3:43 PM ^

Short-sighted thinking... coming from Alabama? I'm shocked

Alabama is exactly the type of state that benefits from satelite camps and the additional exposure that they would bring. But, Michgian or Ohio State might get in on 5-10 recruits per season that Bama or Auburn would like to hold in their back-pocket until the end of the recruiting-season = Hide your pearls!

Dumb, dumb, dumb, dumb

RationalBuckeye

May 12th, 2016 at 3:46 PM ^

I don't agree with this measure but I think the guys they hold out on until the end are still going there if they (at least Bama) offer. Michigan or OSU could get 5 commits from Alabama a year, and as a general rule, if they come for them, they're gonna get them.

Richard75

May 13th, 2016 at 4:45 AM ^

So why the ban then?

I get your point, but the reaction of the Alabama colleges and now the HS association contradict that. If they weren't concerned about precisely the scenario that Chiwolve described—losing out on late-rising local players—then why would they react in this manner?




Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad

drzoidburg

May 12th, 2016 at 3:51 PM ^

so in other words they don't want the football players deciding where they can go to college. They all *must* enroll at alabama or auburn or retire from football

DualThreat

May 12th, 2016 at 4:48 PM ^

Of all the camps that have to get called off, it has to be this one.  Sigh.

My "woe is me" situation:

- I'm a Michigan alum that's been living in Madison, Alabama (right near Bob Jones High School) since 2005.

- I've been dying for Michigan football, in some capacity... any capacity... to come here to my area.  Alabama and Auburn fans are incessant.

- In 2011 I hear that Michigan will be playing Alabama next year.  Horray!  A home and home with Alabama means I can go to Tuscaloosa for the game!  Result = Dammit it's a neutral site game in Dallas.

- In 2015 Michigan does a satellite camp in Prattville, AL.  Horray!  Except Prattville is 6 hours driving round trip and I can't make that time commitment that day.  Result = Dammit again, so close.

- In 2016 Michigan announces a satellite camp in Madison, AL 3 miles from my house!  Finally, my luck as turned!  Please o' please o' please let nothing happen to this camp.  Result = Sattelite camps are banned.... 2 months before this event.  Dammit to hell.

- Later in 2016 Satellite camp ban is reversed!  HECK YEAH!  Nothing can stop it now.  June 6!  Michigan Football in some capacity!  Here I come!

- Today - You've got to be F****** kidding me.  The one camp that gets cancelled.

A Fan In Fargo

May 12th, 2016 at 5:45 PM ^

and close minded redneck hillbillies doing their normal bidding. If they lose their football what else do they have there? Swamp and land that is no good for nothing. Maybe a cotton field here or there. Why anyone would live in the southern states blows my mind. Besides Florida maybe. Even then I'll take my summer and fall over their's any day. A baby can sleep in a crib here and you don't have to worry about a huge spider or snake crawling in it. The rednecks probably don't even have screens on their windows.