Down at the SEC spring meetings in Destin, Florida Nick Saban went on a passionate rant regarding the recent reinstatement of satellite camps, and the unforeseen dangers that may cause college football
One particular area that football has done a decent job keeping at an arms length - at least in comparison to AAU and college basketball - is football has managed to keep third parties out of the recruiting process. But in Saban's eyes, satellite camps are going to become a Wild Wild West of sorts for those third parties that football coaches have managed to keep largely at bay for years.
At the AAU level, many high school basketball coaches take a backseat to the AAU coaches and other third parties and promoters involved with the team. Saban believes that satellite camps open that same door for football.
"Up until this satellite camp issue came up, which I really don't care to talk about, you still had to go to the high school, you had to go through the high school coach, the players came to your campus if they were interested in learning and having a good camp where they can develop. By doing what we're doing now, we're just doing what we've done in every other sport we complain about everyday - AAU basketball - and all this, because that's what happening out there."
"This is the only sport where the high school coach still matters, what they did at the high school mattered, so all you’re doing is allowing all these other people that we spend all of our time at the NCAA saying you can’t recruit through a third party, you can’t be involved with third-party people, and that’s exactly what you’re doing."
"Creating all these third parties that’s gonna get involved with the prospects and all that, and then who gets exposed in all that?"
As someone that has been a vocal proponent of satellite camps and the opportunities that they provide for a number of kids, Saban brings up a valid concern that I think a lot of college, and high school, coaches may also share.
“I mean, this is the Wild Wild West at its best. There’s been no specific guidelines relative to how we’re managing and controlling this stuff. It’s happening outside our normal evaluation window, which means we’re taking time away from our players.”
Hear more from Saban on the topic below, via AL.com.
https://youtu.be/sYorKjlSnEc