McElwain: Team will hold satellite camps
GAINESVILLE— Gators coach Jim McElwain has plans in place to capitalize on the NCAA’s recent decision to lift the ban on satellite football camps.
McElwain did not offer specifics, but he indicated he would serve as a guest coach at camps outside of Gainesville. The camps, previously blocked by the SEC, will allow high school recruits to stay in their home regions and potentially be evaluated by McElwain and his staff rather than paying to attend one of UF’s camps in Gainesville.
“We’re in the process of putting our traveling show together, and it should be fun,” McElwain said Wednesday during an SEC teleconference featuring coaches from the East Division. “Looking forward to it.”
Michigan coach Jim H ar ba ugh spotlighted the controversial workouts when he served as a guest coach at camps hosted by small schools in recruiting-rich states California, Florida, Texas and Alabama.
The SEC and ACC banned their coaches from participating in out-of-state camps.
On April1, McElwain said he hoped for uniform rules for all conferences but also praised Harbaugh’s initiative.
“It’s like with any other rule,” he said. “As long as everyone’s playing on the same field, you just go deal with it. So obviously, I kind of wish we’ d knock it off, but more power to them.”
The SEC asked the NCAA to review the policy, eventually leading to an April 8 ban of satellite camps. The NCAA Division I Board of Governors reversed the ban last week and plans to spend more time evaluating recruiting practices, including the impact of satellite camps. The SEC lifted its own restrictions to match the national standards.
McElwain and his assistants are ready to take advantage of the changes.
“The rules the way they are, we’ll use it to let our guys get out to places and instruct some camps and do some evaluation along the way,” McElwain.
Other SEC coaches also plan to stage satellite camps.
South Carolina coach Will Muschamp and Kentucky coach Mark Stoops said they plan to hold some in Florida.
Georgia’s Kirby Smart, a first-time head coach, said the Bulldogs will participate in satellite camps, but he still has to figure out the logistics and make sure NCAA rules are followed to the letter.
“You have to be selective about where you go; you have to be selective about when you go,” Smart said. “You have to jump through a lot of hoops to make sure these are done proper ... before you put your name on it.”
Satellite camps can be held only within the window when a school stages camps on its own campus - or around the first two weeks in June in UF’s case.
A camp in talent-rich Texas is one option for the Gators. The website Football Brainiacs reported Monday the Texas Longhorns coached by former UF assistant Charlie Strong plan to co-host camps with the Gators in Houston and Dallas.
“It’s a matter of making contacts and setting up a plan,” McElwain said. “I said it’s one of those deals where you’re going to do whatever you can within the rules to help you be successful and that’s what everybody is doing.
“I don’t get much caught up in that kind of stuff, just point me in a direction and we’ll do what we can.”
In the end, Muschamp, UF’s coach from2011-14, said the most important thing is to get players on South Carolina’s campus “and show them what we’re all about.”
Francis exit
Redshirt freshman guard Brandone Francis-Ramirez is leaving the UF basketball program, the school announced. The 6-foot-5 guard averaged 2.0 points and1.0 rebounds.