From Deseret News archives:
BYU plays host to 150 potential football recruits
Well, Michigan and Ohio State experience "it." So do Miami, LSU, Stanford and USC. Penn State coach Joe Paterno once complained when "it" didn't return to his campus, a place way out of the way.
"It" is called a Nike Training Camp and it's for high school football players, a key step in getting labeled as a two-, three- or four-star recruit. After 10 years of lobbying hard to host one of these, BYU finally got one on Saturday.
It's a coveted event. Nike schools like BYU are candidates. Reebok or Adidas or Under Armour schools need not apply. Sorry, Notre Dame.
This one in Provo was small by Nike standards. The Stanford or USC camp can draw more than 600 athletes. But the BYU camp is one of the last in the circuit, and because of that, it drew campers from all over the country who wanted to get noticed just one more time heading into their junior or senior years next fall.
"This just didn't drop in our lap," said BYU athletic director Tom Holmoe. "Our relationship with Nike goes way back with LaVell Edwards and Phil Knight. We earned it."
Like most things this side of Tiger Woods irons and golf balls, Nike decides things.
"They pretty much tell us where to go," said Brian Stumps, the national football director for Studentsports, a marketing firm contracted by Nike to stage such camps that draw the top high school players in the nation to various venues each year.
Recent comments
it really works to our favor because Bronco Mendenahll, has a special...
Cougar man | June 18, 2008 at 4:17 p.m.
I guess if you can't prove that Kyle is a better coach based on his...
To: U | June 18, 2008 at 12:06 a.m.
BYU has just produced another professional world championship. Danny...
BYU champs National & Intl. | June 17, 2008 at 10:40 p.m.
- Ex-Bear Stearns managers not guilty 1:54 p.m.
- Jeter, Teixeira win Gold Gloves 1:54 p.m.
- Obama salutes Fort Hood victims 1:53 p.m.
- D-Will, Price sit out Jazz practice 1:11 p.m.
- Utah Jazz: 2010 NBA All-Star ballot 1:09 p.m.
- Ex-astronaut pleads guilty in attack 1:01 p.m.
- Mo. governor's mansion lockdown 1:01 p.m.
- Clinton to Dems: pass health bill 12:55 p.m.
- Deseret Book moves from Orem mall 12:52 p.m.
- Ed chief wants to redo appointment 12:50 p.m.
- Utah group finds homes for orphans
- Senators want food tax restored
- Jazz blow big lead, hang on
- Y. tight ends talented tandem
- Utes get extra motivation
- Alta's Ohai is Ms. Soccer 2009
- Pratt pleads not guilty to sex charges
- Soccer MVPs know how to win
- Price injured; Miles has cast removed
- BYU soccer incident still popular
- House passes health care bill
242 - TCU showdown has big implications
185 - Lobo suspended
183 - Cougars crush hapless Cowboys
155 - Senators want food tax restored
136 - Utah Jazz fall apart against Kings
131 - Thousands protest health bill
120 - TCU 4th in AP poll; U. 16th, Y. 22nd
119 - No 'backlash' for pioneers, gays analogy
104 - RSL rallies to advance
103
BYU coach Bronco Mendenhall said this morning that placekicker Justin...
ESPN college hoops expert Andy Katz, formerly a WAC reporter during his...
Does this third bailout to Government Motors mean more of our limited tax...
I just want to say i have had the pleasure to coach Kealia. I so happy for...
I say, if we are going to pass a health care bill, let's be smart about it....
Should I be upset at my ancestors for coming to the USA from Britain? I had...
Were there any Muslims attacked? ============= Dude, where have you been?...
To "jackhp | 12:00 p.m. " so what you are saying is that it is better to for...
RE Looking Back | 6:50 a.m. You are only seeing the part of history that...
'Just what we need another law which duplicates law already on the books.' ...
We are cheering because we barely won in NY? Oh how far this franchise has...
They are like little kids licking popcicles and playing playstation vidio...

