Jim Harbaugh blasts NCAA, ACC, SEC over satellite camp ban
It wasn’t a matter of it, just a matter of when.
Jim Harbaugh was going to have strong statements about the satellite camp ban. They didn’t, however, come out in 140 characters or less.
Instead, Harbaugh told Sports Illustrated’s Michael Rosenberg what he felt about the NCAA’s proposal and the conferences who voted to ban it.
“The incompetence of the NCAA has reared its ugly head yet again,” he told Rosenberg.
While it was the NCAA that passed the new rule that prohibits coaches from participating in off-campus camps or clinics, the four non-B1G Power Five conferences were the ones that made that happen.
But Harbaugh, who brought increased attention to satellite camps with his 10-camp, eight-day summer tour, singled out the two conferences who appeared to be the driving force behind the movement.
“It seems to be outrage by the SEC and ACC,” Harbaugh told Rosenberg. “They power-brokered that out … the image that comes to my mind is guys in a back room smoking cigars, doing what they perceive is best for them. It certainly isn’t the best thing for the youngsters. It’s not the best thing for the student-athletes.”
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That obviously isn’t the first time took aim at the SEC. Georgia coach Kirby Smart was singled out by Harbaugh in regards to his spring break practices in Florida, as was Tennessee coach Butch Jones.
This time, Harbaugh singled out Ole Miss coach Hugh Freeze, who said “I’m away from my family enough, and I just did not want to go,” and it did not sit well with him.
Harbaugh responded to that claim directly.
“You’ve got a guy sitting in a big house, making $5 million a year, saying he does not want to sacrifice his time,” Harbaugh told Rosenberg. “That is not a kindred spirit to me. What most of these coaches are saying is they don’t want to work harder.”
Harbaugh said that the decision-makers completely botched the decision and that it appeared to be of the “knee-jerk” variety.
“I mean, what’s it based on? A survey?,” Harbaugh told Rosenberg. “There wasn’t a lot of discussion or study. What are the facts? What are the perils and merits of making that decision? It just seemed lacking in that regard.”
According to Rosenberg’s story, Harbaugh continued to blast the NCAA and its use of the term “student-athlete.” He referenced the use of the term during the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament and how it isn’t in mind when making a decision like the satellite camp ban.
Harbaugh offered up an idea.
“I suggest we drop the term ‘student-athlete’ for consistency,” he told Rosenberg.
Harbaugh might’ve waited to air his opinions on the matter, but he made them count.