The NCAA’s decision to ban satellite camps has upset a lot of people—a lot being an understatement. Nobody is sure where to point the finger exactly, but coaches and executives in strong athletic departments are catching most of the blame. The ban will protect these programs from losing players to schools that don’t have established programs. It adds to the competitive nature of football recruitment, but many argue that it takes opportunity away from the players and coaches in areas without fruitful recruiting soil.
The satellite camps were a chance for recruits to be seen by coaches everywhere. It’s a chance for the players to come face-to-face with their future. Seeing the people you’re trying to impress poses as motivation; you can’t help but to work harder when they’re right there in front of you. Sure, these players can fly out to see these coaches, but people seem to forget about the players who don’t have the means. Satellite camps gave the players without money the same opportunity as the players who have it. Without the camps, not only will under-recruited players go unseen, but they may go unheard of altogether. These camps are often times the only way some athletes are exposed to college coaches.
People haven’t been quiet about their views on the decision either. Coaches and players have spoken out against the NCAA, many of them explaining how the camps directly benefitted them. Alex Barbir tweeted a personal testimonial admitting he’s only going to Penn State because of a satellite camp. Same for Deandre Pierce; he got Boise State because of a satellite camp. He wouldn’t have been able to afford a day camp elsewhere. Jim Harbaugh, coach of the Michigan Wolverines, has challenged leaders to fight against the ban. He believes the camps make the dream a reality to these players. Everything becomes tangible at satellite camps; he argues that the ban will make the players lose focus.
The SEC didn’t like the camps because it allowed coaches at far-away programs to connect with players on the SEC’s recruiting territory. The ACC also found that the camps hurt their chances of snagging the players they wanted. The camps allowed coaches from any and everywhere to holds camps in the Southeast and Atlantic regions, giving them a chance to recruit in these fertile recruiting areas. The ruling is effectively a win for the SEC and ACC, who obviously didn’t like their turf being infiltrated. Unfortunately, the turf war between groups has affected the future of these players, and will likely prevent many kids from reaching their full potential.
South Georgia/April 2016/Web Only
NCAA’s Ban On Satellite Camps May Jeopardize the Future of Football
Photo Courtesy of www.inthenetsportsacademy.com
By Njeri Mathis
