NCAA bans Satellite Camps

wThe SEC and four other major conferences have voted against the idea of having satellite camps, securing dominance in some of the biggest recruiting lands in the USA.

The SEC, Big XII, Pac-12 and ACC all voted against the idea of the camps, which would see colleges be able to spread their wings to other states than their own in an effort to expand their footprint – like Michigan proposed doing with their satellite camp idea, which was going to host high school players around the states.

The new rule will not allow FBS schools to conduct camps ANYWHERE other than their “school facilities or facilities reguarly used for competition”, according to the Seattle Times.

The SEC wants to ensure the recruiting strongholds of Florida, Georgia, Louisiana and Texas are all focused towards them, while the Big XII also wants to make sure Texas will be virtually ‘safe’ from the recruiting attacks of a Michigan or Ohio State, as both schools look south to gain their advantages. The ACC keeps Georgia, the Carolinas, Florida and Virginia to themselves, while the Pac-12 keeps California.

A satellite camp by Michigan – and ones following up by an Ohio State would have hurt their strongholds – regardless of what the teams would have said.

Alabama head coach Nick Saban said at a press conference: “”I’m really not even thinking that it has that much value. What would be a more interesting question for you to research — and I can’t answer this — the teams that have done them, what value does it serve? How many players did they get? They had some players commit to them and some of those players decommitted, and I know they even wanted to drop some of those players when they found out they could get better players.”

He added: “”If everybody has a satellite camp, every player will have 62 camps to go to,” he said. “I don’t know how that works. The way it is right now if a player is interested and comes to your camp, he gets to see your campus, he gets to meet players, gets to work with your coaches a little bit more because he’s in your camp at your place. I think there’s a lot of value.”

Of course, you’d argue that if Michigan and Ohio State – and other B1G schools like Penn State and Maryland DID set up satellite camps – someone like Saban – would grudgingly get involved with an arms race….and probably win it. So would 13 other SEC schools, who have more money than any other conferences.

There has been the argument that the people who lose out on the satellite battle are the players – according to two Alabama high schools (Bob Jones and Prattville) that would have hosted Michigan camps. “Well, obviously it’s disappointing for us,” said Bob Jones coach Kevin Rose. “Because I thought it was a great opportunity for kids in north Alabama to get some exposure in front of the Michigan coaching staff. Maybe get an opportunity to earn a scholarship.” One of Bob Jones’ most famous recent alumnus is Alabama linebacker Reggie Ragland, who’s almost certainly going to be a Top 10 pick in this year’s NFL draft. Prattville had 13 players on Division 1-A rosters in 2015.