The SEC has gotten its way as the NCAA approved the proposal to ban college football satellite camps, effective immediately.
The rule will prevent FBS schools from hosting camps or clinics at facilities that they do not use regularly for football practice or play. It also prevents coaches from working as guest instructors at another school's camp.
"The Council approved a proposal applicable to the Football Bowl Subdivision that would require those schools to conduct camps and clinics at their school's facilities or at facilities regularly used for practice or competition," stated the NCAA. "Additionally, FBS coaches and non-coaching staff members with responsibilities specific to football may be employed only at their school's camps or clinics. This rule change is effective immediately."
This has been the change SEC and some ACC schools have been hoping for, after Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh's recent run through the Southeast. Harbaugh was not bashful in his efforts to expand Michigan's recruiting footprint nationally, and his presence in SEC and ACC country ruffled enough feathers to ask for them to push for this rule change.
Harbaugh had plans to work camps at Baylor, Iowa State and South Florida this year, and Ohio State coach Urban Meyer was scheduled to appear at a camp in Georgia this summer as well. This new rule will put a halt to those plans.
The reason the SEC fought so hard to prevent satellite camps was to maintain their natural recruiting advantage that comes from their geography. SEC schools are already in the most fertile recruiting area in the nation, so they don't need satellite camps to expand their footprint to those areas. This rule ensures that SEC, and ACC, coaches keep that advantage and get the most opportunities to be in contact with top recruits in the Southeast.
