The 2016 masters of satellite camps are at it once more in finding ways to push the limits, and finding new benefits, to the concept. Always looking to think outside the box when it comes to satellite camps, Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh is not only making stops across the country and abroad for satellite camps, but a number of his stops will be about more than football.
When the Wolverines make a stop at Patterson Park in Maryland for a football camp on June 6, they are bringing the men’s and women’s lacrosse coaching staffs and the cheerleading staff, according to The Baltimore Sun. Two days later at Paramus Catholic High School in New Jersey, Michigan’s band staff will make the trip and work with the high school band.
This continues to be groundbreaking when it comes to selling a school’s brand across the country, and for now Michigan continues to be doing nothing wrong as far as the NCAA is concerned. The NCAA’s Division 1 Council originally voted to ban satellite camps out of state entirely, effective immediately, but the NCAA overturned that ruling. Many schools from all conferences have been busy lining up their summer schedules as a result, but no school has been as proactive in taking advantage of these opportunities the way Michigan has. It helps that Michigan has the funds to be able to arrange this sort of practice, but it also continues to push the boundaries, which could become a bit more restrictive in the coming year after the NCAA has a little more time to hash out this entire topic a little more thoroughly.
Paramus Catholic, where Harbaugh recently delivered a high school commencement address, has extended offers to other university band programs to join their summer activities. Michigan was first to accept (naturally). As far as other sports programs getting involved, that is where the NCAA will likely be pressured to check in and make sure everything is being done in compliance. This is also flirting with the gray areas so many seem to be overly concerned with in satellite camps.
Until the NCAA once again decides to slam the door shut on satellite camps, or places a structured outline of what may and what may not be done, Michigan should continue to go all out as long as they see benefits to its programs.