Interesting article from the Montgomery Advertiser re: Prattville camp

Submitted by Victor Hale II on
On iPhone so apologies for the format. Anyway this reporter talks about what sounds like some politics/agendas that prevented some nearby/in-state kids from attending. Anyone have any insight on that? Also, some Harbaugh pics (what's up with his left arm?) and an embedded video of Coach addressing the campers at the end of the day: "I can't talk about recruiting but..." http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/story/sports/college/2015/06/05/har…
MGoBoard
Football
Harbaugh
Summer swarm
Prattville

evenyoubrutus

June 7th, 2015 at 8:17 AM ^

So local high schools were not sending kids because SEC schools told them not to?  Talk about spineless.  Did the SEC coaches actually tell those high schools they weren't going to recruit from their high school anymore if they showed up to Harbaugh's camps? And they believed it?

Joined: 11/04/2008

MGoPoints: 178179

Bodogblog

June 7th, 2015 at 9:21 AM ^

no mandate was necessary, it could simply be HS coaches ingratiating themselves to the local colleges ("yeah we didn't have any of our kids there, Coach Saban, we didn't think insert joke about northern schools not being able to teach football > anyway!") He gets a smile from Saban and maybe an invite to some thing down the line. Could also be simple bias on the part of that coach, he may realize his kids aren't M level and why not engage in a little provincialism. I think a few of us would smile if Saban had a camp and Wilcher kept his Cass kids home

Joined: 06/08/2010

MGoPoints: 26674

gustave ferbert

June 7th, 2015 at 8:26 AM ^

I realized that these camps are the best way Harbaugh can recruit.  Coaching and being on a football field is where he is at his best.  If his speeches are any indicator, it's not in a kid's home at the dinner table. 

 

I love the writer's attitude about it being critical about the local high schools that didn't send kids and pointed out that it's the kids who missed out. 

Joined: 06/21/2011

MGoPoints: 46362

LSAClassOf2000

June 7th, 2015 at 8:30 AM ^

In talking with those at the camp who know Harbaugh, they say that's who he is. They say he wasn't doing it for show and frankly took offense to anyone who thinks he was putting on a show for publicity.

As we've discussed in other situations, this really is a "no extra effort required" moment for Jim Harbaugh. It really seems to be just how he is, and it is a great thing to behold. Then again, if the "it's just for show" cynicism is coming from his SEC detractors, talk about a conference where basic things like "sincerity" and "actual human behavior" are sometimes just for show....

Joined: 01/07/2011

MGoPoints: 130603

One Armed Bandit

June 7th, 2015 at 8:49 AM ^

Once again, Jim has beaten other coaches to the punch. First with the camps and then with the disrobing of the shirt. Saban wouldn't have done that and run around with the kids. Urban wouldn't have either. Dantonio - just no. Now if they do it down the road, they're just copying Harbaugh. It's another gauntlet thrown down.

Jim's like a teenager in a 51-year-old's body. That's why he can connect with them on a different level that other coaches can't or won't. He just does what he feels like doing.

Joined: 12/23/2010

MGoPoints: 5016

Victor Hale II

June 7th, 2015 at 9:11 AM ^

That writer did a nice job covering the camp and has several articles posted. He said that 475 kids showed up. The term "epic" is often overused these days, but I think it applies here, and probably will continue to apply to the things Harbaugh does.

Joined: 12/28/2011

MGoPoints: 8846

Victor Hale II

June 7th, 2015 at 9:18 AM ^

Just checked in The Fort to see Spath saying he's never seen so many people (at the Easton, PA Summer Swarm camp). If anyone would like to check his Twitter and post the pic he took, you'll see a huge crowd of kids ready to go this morning.

Joined: 12/28/2011

MGoPoints: 8846

Mr. Yost

June 7th, 2015 at 9:18 AM ^

But I hate that picture of Harbaugh with his damn shirt off...I need to lighten up, I know. But put on a damn t-shirt man. He looks like a hillbilly and if he was any other coach, especially at MSU or OSU we'd have a FIELD DAY with it. The fact that they're now using that picture in actual newspaper articles is weird.

Joined: 07/25/2011

MGoPoints: -9898220

BlueCube

June 7th, 2015 at 9:35 AM ^

I'm sure many would laugh at other coaches doing this but to me it depends who it is. There are other coaches who I think can pull it off and Harbaugh can too. It's because it's real and he doesn't believe in sitting on the sidelines and watching. I don't get the heavy long sleeve shirts in the morning unless they are deceiving and aren't that heavy but it's part of Jim being Jim like the khakis.

I wonder what's happening next. Magnus was probably to first call that Harbaugh wouldn't break the rules but he was going to push them to the limit and these camps are a good example. I think year after year he is going to be doing things like this to stay ahead of the rest and this will be part of his success.

Bo did a lot of great things for this school but I'm beginning to think one of his greatest achievment may have been bringing Jim Harbaugh here, both for what he did on the field and what he will do as coach.

Joined: 12/12/2013

MGoPoints: 45965

1329 S. University

June 7th, 2015 at 9:42 AM ^

weren't the high caliber athlete that Harbaugh was and still remains. If Steve Young had gone into coaching and was out there running like that for BYU with his shirt off we'd not be making fun of him. Kirk Ferentz, sure.

Joined: 01/01/2010

MGoPoints: 2343

Vote_Crisler_1937

June 7th, 2015 at 12:00 PM ^

^^^this. When you are the athlete Harbaugh was/is you can take your shirt off, twist it around your head and wave it like a helicopter. He also can run around with them and get in drills and throw passes and everything. It's the same for any legit pro veteran, coach or not.



Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad

Joined: 11/07/2011

MGoPoints: 15502

93Grad

June 7th, 2015 at 10:39 AM ^

Yeah it's goofy and yes we would mock a rival coach for doing the same but you have to appreciate the genuine enthusiasm. He may be like a crazy uncle, but he is our crazy uncle and he's an excellent football coach.



Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad

Joined: 07/26/2011

MGoPoints: 13569

Walter Sobchak

June 7th, 2015 at 2:15 PM ^

He doesn't look like a hillbilly at all. He looks like a former athlete who still likes to mix it up with people less than half his age. Yeah, he's not a visual 10/10 with his shirt off from a sex appeal standpoint, but the important part is he has the confidence to do it anyways. That's what people love.

Joined: 03/12/2010

MGoPoints: 10663

Chaz_Smash

June 7th, 2015 at 7:01 PM ^

The no shirt was inspired genius. On a busy sports weekend, Harbaugh carved some space in the sports/social media world for Michigan. It was probably something he thought about before the camp. The kids that were there apparently loved it. Win-win all the way.

Joined: 01/08/2011

MGoPoints: 1966

MBloGlue

June 7th, 2015 at 9:25 AM ^

and I'm guessing around a half dozen had any realistic shot at a Michigan scholarship. This alone flies in the face of the notion that it is just about recruiting. Imagine if admissions counselors from the elite universities did a similar camp to help kids in the rural South (or Midwest, urban areas, etc) with the college application process.

Joined: 01/09/2013

MGoPoints: 1872

GoBLUinTX

June 7th, 2015 at 9:35 AM ^

You have to wonder about the sports media which was insisting Jim Harbaugh would never leave the NFL in large part because of the recruiting grind and having to build his own roster of players.  Did they get it so wrong because they were regurgitating the NFL line, or did they sincerly believe they could influence his decision by pointing out what they believe he had seemingly forgotten?

Joined: 12/02/2013

MGoPoints: 5895

Rodriguesqe

June 7th, 2015 at 10:27 AM ^

Saban/ SEC coaches preach competition and earning your spot. They just don't want to do it themselves. If its true that schools were told not to let their kids camp the kids see that hypocricy.

Joined: 12/29/2013

MGoPoints: 4222