PRATTVILLE, AL — Michigan football coach Jim Harbaugh caused some commotion Friday, and not just from going shirtless at a football camp.
Harbaugh and his Michigan staff were guests at Prattville High School’s satelilte football camp that hosted 475 players. His presence in Prattville caused some controversy, due to the fact SEC and ACC coaches can’t be guests at football camps outside of 50-miles of their campus. However, Harbaugh can.
” Because it was this day, and we had a chance to be together and work on football,” said Harbaugh to the players. “So I was like a pig in slop today. Man you guys are in shape. You’ve got a heart for football. I love being around you guys. that was fun fun fun.”
The Michigan coach was not allowed to speak to the media about the camp due to NCAA regulations.
Harbaugh’s appearance isn’t so much fun for coaches like Nick Saban and Guz Malzahn, who can’t do anything about the Michigan coach recruiting in their backyard. However, local high school coaches like the camps, because it could help their players get scholarships.
“You know anybody who wants to recruit our kids and promote them and give them an education through athletics, I’m all for them,” said Prattville football coach Chad Anderson. “I’m a fan of any of those schools. We don’t hold any favoritism or anything like that. We make it the kids choice.”
The coaches and participants in attendance came from all over the state of Alabama.
“I really like them,” said Greenville football coach Josh McLendon. “I think it’s great exposure for the kids. It’s great exposure for our program. It’s great exposure for the state of alabama to sxpose what they have.”
Players and camp participants expressed that they like the camps because of the opportunities they bring.
“To know that they are coming to recruit me and just know that I’m in their favor,” said 5-star Greenville recruit Marlon Davidson. “And to play at their school, and they are recruiting me as hard as they are, it just feels great to know that.”
Former Prattville quarterback Keith Washington signed with Michigan on National Signing Day. He was in attendance at Friday’s camp as well.
“I love it,” said Washington. “He’s giving a lot of kids who are from the south a look. Giving them an opportunity to show what they got.”
Michigan commit and senior running back from Prattville, Kingston Davis, echoed Washington’s sentiments.
“The biggest thing, coming in here, i wanted my players, my teammates to get scholarships,” said Davis. “You know have an opportunity to have them play at the next level”
While there are already talks of bringing Harbaugh back to Prattville next year, the controversial issue of satellite camps will be debated in upcoming NCAA meetings. Where those in charge can decide who is actually benefiting from the camps.
