NCAABy Sean Keeley on

On April 8, the NCAA ruled that FBS schools could only conduct camps and clinics at their school’s facilities or at a facility nearby that is already regularly used for practice. In other words, they banned satellite camps.

The move was made in the wake of Jim Harbaugh’s boundary-testing antics to hold Michigan football camps across SEC country all summer long, not to mention the blowback from SEC and ACC officials. Almost immediately the ruling was met with disdain by Harbaugh and many others. The walls began to crumble when the Pac-12 admitted it’s representative didn’t vote correctly and the Sun Belt said it would actually change its vote afterward. It was also said by many that the true victims of the ban were un-recruited student-athletes looking for an opportunity since it severely-limited their chances to get in front of as many football coaches as possible.

Bowing to pressure, the NCAA’s Division I Board of Directors re-voted this week and have rescinded the ban on satellite camps.

The council now plans to “conduct a broad assessment of the FBS recruiting environment” especially when it comes to satellite camps in order to determine next steps and any follow-up rulings.

Actual recruiting activities at camps and clinics remains prohibited but the skills and instruction provided as well as the access coaches have to the athletes who attend makes it an informal recruiting opportunity that both parties currently appreciate.

Specific conferences can continue to enforce their own rules regarding satellite camps. For instance, the ACC does not allow coaches to work at any camps or clinics outside of a 50-mile radius of their campus. Meanwhile, Big Ten coaches like Harbaugh are now free to continue doing what they were doing. That is, until the NCAA is swayed once again.

As for the SEC…

[NCAA]

About Sean Keeley

Along with writing for Awful Announcing and The Comeback, Sean is the Editorial Strategy Director for Comeback Media. Previously, he created the Syracuse blog Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician and wrote 'How To Grow An Orange: The Right Way to Brainwash Your Child Into Rooting for Syracuse.' He has also written non-Syracuse-related things for SB Nation, Curbed, and other outlets. He currently lives in Seattle where he is complaining about bagels. Send tips/comments/complaints to sean@thecomeback.com.

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