From Deseret News archives:

BYU plays host to 150 potential football recruits

Published: Sunday, June 15, 2008 12:00 a.m. MDT
 |  E-MAIL | PRINT | FONT + - 
How would you like 150 potential football recruits dropped right on your doorstop on a near perfect summer day?

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.

Story continues below

"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.

previousnext

Latest comments

Korver's knee didn't bother him in the off season. It didn't flare up until...

Much unknown about warming

You have 23,000 scientist who believe in climate change. We have Fox News who...

Boozer only played good because he wants to play for the Chicago Bulls, hence...

'Old Dogs' lacks any bite of comedy

was very funny and probably both Williams best performance and best movie as...

you're missing the point. the point isn't how much he gave, the point is he...

I am so sorry for your loss.

Republican ethics = contradiction in terms

Affluence abounds in Utah

Not one community in Utah ranks in Americans hundred wealthiest. Kansas and...

Don't the girls go for 18 months?

Jazz win with the guillotine ready to drop? Todd, i want a new position,...

Advertisements