Michigan Football Camps in TX, FL, CA
I just wanted to update my post from 16 days ago. Rivals has confirmed that Michigan will hold multiple football camps outside the state of Michigan this year. Two are confirmed in Texas and one in Florida. The California camps have yet to be confirmed. You really have to like the creativity of this staff! They are putting significant effort in trying to get elite players in the south to come to Michigan. Those are fertile recruiting gounds that our staff has put a great deal of emphasis on this year and next.
P.S. Old post from March 8th follows so you don't have to search for it.......
March 8th, 2015 at 10:57 AM
Michigan Football Summer Camp in CA?
I read a very interesting topic this morning on a Rivals message board regarding summer camps for Michigan Football. The poster is very credible. A University of Michigan graduate that has built a very successful company around building and developing databases of H.S. athletes for universities and recruiting services. He stated that a source indicated that Michigan was in the process of setting up a summer camp in CA much like Penn State did last year in GA with Georgia State as the host.
There was some speculation that it could be The University of San Diego where Harbaugh used to be the head coach. Additional speculation was the possibility of a LA school where there is some of the best talent in the state or the Bay area which would draw many of the top prospects in Northern CA. He also noted that a person close to the program indicated that he would not be surprised if 50% of the '16 recruiting class would be comprised of TX and CA athletes. He went on to say that the current staff has the most connections in the following 5 states: CA, TX, FL, MI, & OH.
Some of you may recall that the SEC was not very happy with Penn State's James Franklin and his tactics last year with regard to co-hosting a camp in GA. I have linked a couple of those articles. In addition, I hope JH does set up a camp in CA and draw some elite talent from the state.
http://recruiting.blog.ajc.com/2014/05/03/georgia-state-and-penn-state-to-do-football-camp-together/
March 24th, 2015 at 12:32 PM ^
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March 24th, 2015 at 12:34 PM ^
Until the loophole is closed it looks like this staff is taking it to the next level!
but this is fantastic!
but Harbaugh can still maximize his street cred in California and collect another revenue stream from out of state! (I'm sure he gets most of the money from his camps).
This guy never ceases to impress me!
"Well, we had a good week of practice"
March 24th, 2015 at 12:52 PM ^
This might be what shuts it down. A major midwest power having multiple camps in other states will have a number of big schools hollering. I bet this is made illegal within a year.
Until then, camp away!
The whole camp thing is sketchy at best-it is essentially a try-out and recruiting opportunity. This is a logical extension but may be ultimately a step too far.
I remember quite a bit of outrage when PSU pulled this off last year on these boards. But it is a cool loophole now that we do it. ;)
I thought most liked it but thought it would never last because the NCAA would bow to the SEC and stop it. The NCAA has no power anymore so I don't see this ending soon.
There are others who have been doing it like Boise State and Penn State and they haven't stopped it.
This should be encouraged to help recruits that can't afford the travel costs to see how the staff operates. The coaches travel to the kids all the time.
Michigan coaches are also joining other coaches in a one day camp in Pennsylvania. Harbaugh is the keynote speaker. It sounds similar to the Sound Mind Sound Body camp.
Very interesting honorary Board of Directors for this camp if you go to the website.
March 24th, 2015 at 12:52 PM ^
March 24th, 2015 at 12:55 PM ^
When I find out I will update it here.
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Interestingly, I think this should exist (ie the NCAA should not close the loop hole).
I think allowing others schools to come to an area and meet kids/teach the game is a good thing. Yes, it hurts the regional schools (since it gives other schools a chance to meet local kids and "recruit"), but it helps kids. Kids in TX who don't have enough money to travel to Michigan (or any other school that does this) for an unofficial can meet the coaches, learn more about the school etc. [I assume these camps cost money but also have a scholorship program for those who can't afford it]
Also, it allows more high school kids to attend more camps and recieve top level instruction (hopefully inproving their game- the goal of a camp). It is certainly beneficial to all high school players to get more high level instruciton - even if they aren't of the ability to play at UM or the like.
I actually would like to see lots of schools do this (although that would lessen Michigan's advanatage of doing it]
Since I am pro this and think it helps kids, the NCAA will certainly shut it down.
There are also networking opportunities. A kid might attend one of these camps that won't get an offer from Michigan, but Michigan might be able to recommend him to a coach at Central or Western.
Bottom line - it can open up otherwise untapped opportunities for the kids. That makes it worth it.
Regional schools be damned.
Expect the unexpected.
Any idea where in Texas? Have truck. Will drive.
expose as many kids as possible to the greatness of Michigan and its coaching staff.
Even if we don't land a single kid that attends these camps, they'll all go back to their schools/teams talking about how awesome it was.
Harbaugh is clearly playing the long game.
Can we hold a camp in Columbus?
Did Rivals really confrim this?
All I see is someone posted, "rumor has it ..."
Then Brandon Brown said that they have heard about it, but he didn't confirm it is happening.
It's probably because I've never looked or paid attention to it, but has this type of thing been around for a while? I don't remember hearing about things like this until the Penn St. thing and now these.
It just seems like slimy SEC schools would have been doing this all along.
No. It seems to be something recent led by aggressive staffs such as Franklin at PSU.
If that's the case then I can't see this lasting very long, especially once major programs like Michigan start doing it. However, they may be able to reap the rewards of it for a short time.
The NCAA has no power to stop it.
You could hold five camps in the SF bay area, Los Angeles, Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston, and Miami. One in late April, one in mid May, one in mid June, one in early July and one in late July. boom profit
March 24th, 2015 at 10:13 PM ^
Late April early May - San Diego, Houston, Miami
Late May early June - L.A., Dallas, Tampa
Late June early July - San Fransisco, Austin, Orlando
Late July - Harbeque at the Big House.
why can't we hold camps there too? The SEC schools should be flattered that we admire their weather so much.
Of course when California and Texas run out of water, we'll price gouge them horribly on bottled Lake Michigan.
If they want our water they can move here.
Never understood why Michigan (the state) doesn't market itself to out of state businesses as having plenty of water and no natural disasters. Seems like it would be a good pitch.
this shady? Ill hang up and listen...
schools may grumble this is opportunity for local kids. I don't see it being shut down.
Colleges recruit academically talented students all over too...
The Sun never sets on the Michigan empire.
Prattville High School Elite Football Camp with @JimHarbaugh49 & @umich Coaching Staff June 5th 2015. Be There!! pic.twitter.com/2gCbeKbugV
— Coach Jackson (@CoachJack10) March 24, 2015Whoa, just seen this too. JH going into Alabama's backyard.
Is this legit? that is not Harbaugh's twitter handle...
I assume it's legit. I think the coach grabbed the wrong twitter account.
Does anyone know if the support staff is able to work on these camps? If they can, this is a huge advantage for the current staffing because you can spread the support staff out with a few of the coaches. They have top quality people behind the scenes.
Shots fired! Saban is going to have a heart attack over this
Keith Washington's HS and also 2016 recruit Kingston Davis.
Harbaugh era in two words.
They're powerless to stop it. On the other hand, if they are so inclined, there's nothing stopping the big time SEC or California schools from setting up a camp somewhere in Ohio, Pennsylvania, etc on their own accord as well.
Let everybody poach everybody's back yard. The kids get more coaches coming to them and more exposure. Everybody wins.
If the SEC, Big XII, or Pac 12 get pissed off that we're hosting a camp on their turf, tough shit. What's stopping them from hosting a camp in Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, or any other Big Ten state? Harbaugh's not going to make any apologies for trying to go out and get the best talent.
That all being said, its great to see these camps being set up. At this point, this is all about relationship building. Once the program gets back on the right track, the relationships will already be there and more top kids from those states will start wanting to come here.