Brought to the forefront by the likes of Penn State’s James Franklin and Notre Dame’s Brian Kelly, the idea of guest coaching at satellite camps has been taken to new heights by the new Michigan boss. Over the past month or so, it’s been revealed that Jim Harbaugh & Company will be serving as “guest coaches” at football camps in, among a handful of other states, Alabama and Florida.
When Franklin first went camping in states like Georgia and Florida, it didn’t sit well with head coaches in the SEC. Not surprisingly, that remains the case today.
In light of the increasing number of northern carpetbaggers making their way to the South to set up camp, Nick Saban was asked about the growing trend. Let’s just say he isn’t jumping for joy (pictured).
“If we’re all going to travel all over the country to have satellite camps, you know, how ridiculous is that?” Saban said Tuesday evening according to al.com. “I mean we’re not allowed to go to all-star games, but now we’re going to have satellite camps all over the country. So it doesn’t really make sense.”
The so-called satellite camps sidestep an NCAA rule that prohibits coaches from hosting camps outside of a 50-mile radius around their respective campuses. As Harbaugh, Franklin, Kelly and others merely serve and are advertsied as “guest coaches,” there is no prohibition on the maneuver.
Saban would like to see that aspect addressed.
“I certainly think that we need to address this if it’s going to be a competitive disadvantage and other people are going to have these kind of camps,” Saban said. “So, I think it’s something that we’ll probably address as a conference, and I think it’s something we ought to look at from an NCAA standpoint because I think it’s best to have a rule where people come to your campus, they can come to your camp.”
Even Urban Meyer, the former Florida and current Ohio State head coach, is far from enamored with the idea, saying last week that those types of camps should be outlawed. He did, though, add that he and his OSU staff may try one in the near future if it means keeping up with the Big Ten Joneses.
Perhaps if the SEC coaches can’t beat ‘em with an NCAA bylaw, they could join ‘em? I’m guessing that Franklin wouldn’t enjoy seeing Saban and his coaching entourage setting up camp within shouting distance of Happy Valley. Or if Harbaugh would be so open to the idea of satellite camps if Les Miles were to “guest coach” on the outskirts of Ann Arbor.
Don’t think that sort of an approach hasn’t been broached by the higher-ups in Saban’s conference.
“I’m not sure that the others want our coaches going to places like State College, Penn.,” incoming SEC commissioner Greg Sankey said earlier this week. “Because very clearly, if we do take the approach that others have ... it will certainly, I would expect, change the tone of the conversation.”
Consider that the warning shot across your bow, Big Ten. Your move.