Ad Disclosure
Rutgers coach Chris Ash does not like the concept of satellite camps, and he’s not afraid to voice his opinion.
According to NJ.com, Ash sides with Alabama coach Nick Saban — not co-Big Ten acquaintance Jim Harbaugh — and wants the NCAA to enforce more regulations on the new camp phenomenon.
“I’ve been doing this for over 20 years and there have been a lot of really good football players that get recruited and go to camps on campuses, and we weren’t doing satellite camps,” Ash said. “Am I for opportunities for high school players? I am. Absolutely. But right now there are a lot of things going on out there with satellite camps that they’re going to have to go back and take a look at them and review this whole process.”
Harbaugh, who has been at the forefront of the satellite camp debate since he took his Michigan team down to IMG Academy in Florida to practice during the school’s spring break, believes they’re a great opportunity for under-the-radar prospects to be seen as his camp tour has increased to 25 known camps in 15 different states.
Saban, meanwhile, has been the polar opposite; he thinks the NCAA needs to crack down and provide more regulations, at the very least. Ash agrees for several reasons.
“Why? For a couple reasons,” he said. “You’ve got your own players on campus. You’re gone for the whole month of May, and then if you’re going to be gone the whole month of June, when are you going to be around your players and developing your football team? Taking care of academics. Making sure they’re doing well socially. I think there’s a big part of that that’s getting lost.
“Okay, we’re giving opportunities to high school players, but what about the development of the players on your roster? You’re not around them,” Ash continued. “Right now I think a lot of football coaches are trying to find that balance, how to go out and compete in the satellite camp world but make sure you’re taking care of the roster on your campus.”
Tyler Waddell is a member of the Saturday Down South news team. He brings over five years of professional journalism experience and is closing in on a Bachelor's in sports management. Follow him on Twitter (@Tyler_Waddell).
