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Harding to host Harbaugh
Raider football program hosts first satellite camp
By Brian Dzenis
WARREN
They called. They asked. They got it.
That’s how Warren Harding football coach Steve Arnold describes his school joining the list of satellite campsites for Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh.
Despite being the brother of former Michigan defensive back Dave Arnold and the Raider program’s penchant for producing Big Ten-caliber football players, Arnold has never been asked to host a college camp. Arnold said there was no given reason why Harbaugh wanted Harding, but he won’t turn any college coach away.
“We’ve had players go to Michigan and they must have figured it would have been the ideal location,” Arnold said. “It’s great for our kids, it’s good exposure for our young men and our school. I think it’s all positive.”
Harbaugh, along with a half-dozen of his assistant coaches, are expected to be in attendance at the school’s annual football camp on June 9. Arnold has enjoyed the uptick in attention from high school coaches and players near and far.
“We’ve received calls from coaches and players in the area. We got calls from players in North Carolina, Tennessee and Pennsylvania. We’re going to have kids from all over,” Arnold said. “We’re looking forward to it. It’s going to be fun. Anytime you have any collegiate staff on your grounds, it’s advantageous for promoting your school.”
The second-year Wolverines coach has made a few headlines this offseason for his choices satellite camp locations. In early April, the NCAA briefly banned satellite camps after schools in the ACC and SEC were rankled that Harbaugh was hosting camps in their recruiting territory, such as Florida, Alabama and Georgia. The ban was lifted by the end of the month after an outcry from coaches inside and outside the power five conferences.
In true Harbaugh fashion, he’s having a camp in Big Ten rival Ohio State’s territory. It’s no big deal to Arnold, he’s just happy to have a college coach at his school.
“Obviously, I’m not going to turn down any school that wants to come,” Arnold said. “Any school that wants to assist us at our camp is welcome to come. Our door is open.”