Satellite Camps: The Harbaugh Effect

The kids comments from the Georgia camp back that up. Some said they are now considering Michigan as a viable option. Another said, "they came in and painted everything yellow" (Maize). They certainly took notice. 

skill-building, about offering kids a chance to compete and see where they stand and get exposure to some high class coaches. But let's not pretend that they are anything more than an opportunity to be seen. They open the possibility of a possible relationship and future contacts based on the experience, but ultimately the camps are what they are, an opportunity for extracurricular football practice.

The coach, at this point, is going to do what needs to be done to build the program and compete. So the altruistic benefits resulting from his coaching acitivities will evolve naturally.  I mean this guy just loves football coaching as a business and a profession. And he likes people. So, that's a great combination in a business that requires selling at the most personal level to win, motivate and train others.

By that time tackle football won't exist anyway.   

I believe you are trying to give them a place of their own, and due to reactions from others - not Michigan fan base - they have, to a great extent caused consternation, dismay whatever, but on the part of others and that's basically the only reason Michigan satellite camps have taken on a life of their own. 

Originally, it was a good move, but part of his overall plan to re-establish the Michigan brand to the level he knew as a player. By virtue of all the whiners from a certain part of the country, they, along with all the other interest Harbaugh receives, in large measure for the same reason - things that have never been done or "foolishly" working through what should be vacation time - basically pissing other coaches off, that brand has already been re-established and may actually surpass the cache it carried in '86.

So I think you are wrong in that they are needless, especially now, after the child-like behavior of these geopraphically challenged coaches. This is just one of the reason he is resetting the bar for coaches. Recruits are going to expect the energy, the tireless devotion toward excellence, a coach willing to stop what he's doing to help explain something. 

The dividends that Gus said we'd never realize have already begun to come in and if players of the caliber of Nico start faxing their LOIs, revisit your post and tell me these camps are much ado about nothing. Young men from all over the country have a new interest in MI and its as much to do with the publicity surrounding the camps than the camps themselves, But about nothing???? Don't see it that way, not in the slightest. 

How dare you sir!

(pssst, I agree)

Spot on when you say, "Even if they don't interact, the high school coaches can have a better sense of how Harbaugh coaches and be more likely to support UM if one of their players were to get a scholarship offer."

It's my guess in addition to the high school coaches realizing the "real deal" when they see it, especially those in areas where football is king and even the h.s. coaches are excellent in their own right simply because they have to be. 

It's that realization, of trying to "one up" their main rival or simply coach's pride that will cause them to not only witness but to implement that which they can take away from their limited exposure to the Michigan staff. When that translates into one, sometimes two more victories per season for them the endorsement of Michigan will be done in all CAPS.

I know that when I went from close to "gotcha" was spending time with a couple of w.coach legends in the coaching field. Just minor things I was allowing, but I would never have even addressed, let alone correct if they would not have pointed them out. After these corrections were made I was a much better coach all around, and particularly with my assistants. I think they will realize the same.