🏈 Nick Saban attends satellite camp

[Michael Casagrande |]

Nick Saban was spotted at a satellite camp in Tampa.

No fan of the satellite camp concept, Nick Saban made his debut at one Saturday in Florida.

The outspoken critic of these off-campus gatherings took part in one at the University of South Florida, according to the Tampa Bay Times. Saban didn't speak to the group as a whole, the Times reported, but had conversations off to the side with a few top recruits in attendance.

Alabama assistants Brent Key and Mike Locksley were also spotted at the satellite camp.

The controversy over these camps came to a head last year when the SEC's prohibition ended. Early last June, Saban said he'd send his assistants to satellite camps but didn't plan to attend any himself. Then-tight ends coach Mario Cristobal attended a few along with staffers like Rob Ezell, Charlie Weis Jr., and Locksley.

"Why would we be promoting somebody else's camp anywhere?" Saban said at the SEC spring meetings in May 2016. "Because it's the same thing I said before: this is the only sport where the high school still mattered. What they did at the high school mattered. 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."

A year before that, Saban called satellite camps "ridiculous."

Take a look at the Tampa Bay Times story for more details from his appearance at the South Florida camp

Continue reading...

 

[BAMANEWSBOT]

Nick Saban makes satellite debut at USF

With one casual step through the east gate of the Morsani Football Practice Complex, Alabama coach Nick Saban took a giant leap for satellite camp proponents nationally.

Previously an outspoken satellite-camp detractor, Saban made what is believed to be his first appearance at such a gathering Saturday afternoon, arriving in the waning stages of USF coach Charlie Strong's one-day mini-camp that attracted hundreds of state and local recruits.

Saban offered neither instruction nor a group speech, but sought out a handful of notable campers and met with them to the side. The first with whom he met: Armwoood ATH Jerome Ford and Hawks ATH Warren Thompson, deemed three- and four-star prospects, respectively, by 247Sports.

Crimson Tide OL coach Brent Key and WRs coach Mike Locksley were among the dozens of other college coaches from various schools on hand Saturday, arriving well in advance of Saban. Key got some quality face time with 6-foot-6 Berkeley Prep four-star OT Nicholas Petit-Frere.

Saban created a national stir this time last year, when he said he was against satellite camps because they incorporate third parties into recruiting.

The NCAA recently established some new guidelines on satellite camps, mandating they be conducted on university facilities or facilities used by universities for games or practices. The new rules also limit 10 days to be used for camps in both June and July.

Saban wasn't finished. He was believed to be slated for a satellite twin bill Saturday, concluding with a Butch Davis camp at FIU.

Meantime, Strong hosts another mini-camp Sunday featuring -- among others -- Ohio State coach Urban Meyer and Mississippi State's Dan Mullen. Mullen and Strong were coordinators for Meyer's 2006 and '08 national title teams at Florida.

Nick Saban makes satellite debut at USF

 

[TUSKtimes]

Successful coaches hate change, but they adapt to whatever strategy works best under the circumstances they are given. The only reason a lot of coaches want to change in the first place is that they feel they are behind and can't catch up with the rules in place.

Many of the wannabes really believe they'll benefit from an early signing period, but great coaches will adapt and figure out how to stay ahead of the learning curve. Saban may not like change in real time, but he's a quick study and the way he keeps making adjustments on the fly will keep the bottom feeders looking for the next big equalizer.

 

[Sid Youngleman]

Satellite Camp sounds too much like Space Camp, which sounds too much like Band Camp.

 

[BamaFan334]

Successful coaches hate change, but they adapt to whatever strategy works best under the circumstances they are given. The only reason a lot of coaches want to change in the first place is that they feel they are behind and can't catch up with the rules in place.

Many of the wannabes really believe they'll benefit from an early signing period, but great coaches will adapt and figure out how to stay ahead of the learning curve. Saban may not like change in real time, but he's a quick study and the way he keeps making adjustments on the fly will keep the bottom feeders looking for the next big equalizer.

Excellent point. Saban said himself a lot of coaches think these opportunities will give them more of a leg up on bigger programs, BUT the same powerhouses also get to play by those rules, so they will adapt and be on top with the new changes as well.