CoachJ

One of those where it just "fit" the first time he stepped on campus. They loved him as much as he loved it there. Kid is still growing so Ball St. got a steal...will be one of those guys later people will say, "how is that guy not in the Big 10?"

I'm loving what I'm seeing from Coach Brohm and WKU. Hope they take Ky. kids and do extremely well. Is interesting to me that EKU and Murray EACH signed only 3 Ky. kids on signing day last year yet WKU is finding hidden talent and offering scholarships to them. Hopefully we'll start seeing the same from the in-state FCS schools. (**In addition to the 6 who signed at EKU and Murray, 12 other Kentucky kids signed letters-of-intent with out-of-state FCS schools. I'd be interested to know how many of them had offers from EKU or Murray and if any of them were asked to walk on?)

A magician never reveals his tricks! Seriously though, we knew the only way to have a chance to beat you guys was to trick you. Couldn't have won straight-up. What really made that play (and the rest of it) work was not using that single-wing stuff for 5 games before playing you guys. It's hard to deal with the misdirection even if you know it's coming all week. Was VERY tough not to do that stuff earlier in the season. Thank you for the kind comments...

I appreciate that, Ram. But I definitely take every criticism as feedback on ways we can improve. Good is the enemy of great and that's all I want our camp to be for our two stake-holders: small college coaches and kids wanting to get seen by them. I want to make sure our format (limited manpower or not) is structured in a way to help BOTH get what they want in the most efficient, affordable, and effective way possible. To that end, I think Justafan's right -- so I'll contact the colleges that come every year to narrow down to only the measurables they want most so we can maybe only have 2 stations of those and get going more quickly on the instruction, agility, and 1on1's. A big concern is the number of people helping--this year is an anomaly in that we're breaking in a whole new staff and some had previous engagements they couldn't put off. That'll not be an issue next year. Another big concern is finding a more all-weather surface without having to pay so much in rent we'd have to raise our rate for the kids. We are already exploring some options toward that end. Keep the comments coming though (maybe in Direct Messages to me to keep this thread from getting too lengthy); it's like I tell my guys: 'It's normal to enjoy praise and dislike criticism. True character is using both to make you better and preventing either from affecting you negatively.'

For those who asked about camps to still attend, I don't want to list another HS sports website on here, but there is a good list of camps on a site that specializes in Ohio HS sports. If you search the tweets of @Mark__Porter (I think that's TWO underlines), you'll eventually find it if you scroll to a tweet on March 31, 2014.

My apologies to Justafan -- a lot of what we do is in response to what colleges have wanted when they come. I don't disagree with you on the measurable drills, but they want something to quantify each kid at the camp. If up to me, we'd only time 40's, do height/weight, & vertical jump. However, with 100+ kids and a very small staff available to help this year, we needed to split them into 4 groups to keep standing around to a minimum. I'm looking at doing only those two measurables with Sr's while Jr 1on1's are going on, then switching. As to the agility stations, we MUST do a certain percentage of "instructional" drills or it'd be classified a "Combine" instead of a camp -- for whatever reason, you can't insure a Combine but you can a Camp. Plus, I know some kids are at schools that don't teach the finer points on how to do these drills so we want to have then do it & give them some tips (this camp is usually in May before they go to any college camps--where they ALWAYS have agility/movement/flexibility/quickness drills). The rain plan was to have drills for the kids to do inside to let coaches evaluate their movement & keep kids loose for when we get the all-clear. There's no way to do passing 1-on-1's in a gym without risking injury (running into walls); unless it's Texas there's no chance to get an indoor situation where you could (and NCAA rules won't let us use UofL). It's 30minutes mandatory inside when lightning is seen--nothing we can do about weather. Luckily, we got 40 straight minutes of 1on1's once we could get outside. It almost never fails, whatever day we schedule it, we get a thunderstorm (and somehow, the days before & after are perfect!). We're looking at a different location for next year that might allow a better indoor situation b/c rain/lightning is basically inevitable. Your feedback is GREATLY appreciated and hopefully with yours and others, we can figure out a way to have the best Plan A, Plan B, & even Plan C.

All great suggestions. Definitely could use more help -- we're at a time of transitioning several new coaching staff members onto our staff and a few were unable to help due to prior obligations. Small amount of time in 1on1's was unfortunately unavoidable because of when we got lightning -- mandatory to get indoors for 30 minutes so we had to go to our "Plan B" to keep the kids doing something coaches could evaluate. (When we get that 100yard indoor facility we'll be set!) College coaches seemed to get some good leads on kids though and I could've kept going with the 1on1's all night. Will be working on the video that was taken of the kids during our dead period and sending that out. Someone there last night (bball guy?) asked a question about camps kids could still go to. I'm doing research on that and will post what I find on here, but I got a spam email today about one (not an endorsement--just something for anyone to check on for themselves if interested. I'm not sure of location, but email came from Maryland). www.FootballCamps.com

Unless they were involved in a bowl game that switches opponents each year, their schedules should be the same as last year with the home/away reversed. (Kentucky High School Athletic Association | KHSAA ? Student-athletes of Today, Leaders of Tomorrow -- click on Riherds scoreboard). This is the 2nd year of a 2-year scheduling cycle. So schedules for all schools should change at least slightly next year (with re-alignment happening, it'll be dramatic for some).

Yeah, that's a touchy one. I include it because they DO have to compete w/ scholarship schools and they don't just give out offers to anyone who wants to come there.

Loved the list Ram put together last year around signing date of all the Ky. kids who signed. Actually, I USED that list to convince colleges that came to our school this spring that Kentucky has way more full-ride-ability kids than is the conventional wisdom. So, to that end, was wondering if we could get a thread going where people respond with kids they know have ACTUAL offers (not just 'being recruited heavily') from D1 or 1AA (FCS) programs. Then, maybe someone with time could eventually compile all that into one post showing everything. I'll start with our SEAN HAMMONDS '15: Ball State, Morehead St., Tennessee State

Since Bingo stopped being used to fund athletics at my school (happily, the same year I took over as head coach), our guys have been "strongly encouraged" to all raise their part toward what was needed to give our program beyond the 'basics' the school would provide. That included Tshirts, 7on7 competitions & weight meet travel costs, camp, feedings before games, & banquet costs. Today it includes hudl.com subscription costs. Those who choose not to fundraise the amount can get their "obligation" (notice, not "requirement") in other ways. Have done that system since 1997--with obligation going from $150 to $250 depending on the needs of that year--and have seen no decrease in numbers (peaked at over 100 in program at Oldham Co, had 70-80 each year at Single-A Pikeville, and had our largest group in last 5 yrs at 125 last year at Ballard. It certainly could "kill the sport," (or at least hurt quality & quantity of players) but to keep that from happening it does require an ENORMOUS amount of organization, work, & holding kids accountable in the off-season and even IN-season by coaches and Booster (parents, basically).

In regards to "preying on the ignorance..." I think it's important to help parents of the kids at our camp w/ some of the most basic details of this recruiting game. Following registration, from 5:15 to 5:45 (while campers warm up) I give a brief overview (along with a handout with tips--including Ram's great letter posted on BGP previously) of what parents/kids need to know about recruiting process. Then, the college coaches field general questions about recruiting at their level -- some things are different than what they might know about D1 recruiting. These coaches are great also about entertaining questions individually about their own school's program. Really makes it almost like a "college fair" situation. To your point, I'd love to see these pop up in different areas of the state; maybe that's something I can work on during the Dead Period...

New LB coach is tops. Football smart and kids will love playing for him.

We're going to do our best. 3 years in a row with 65-75 and then last year having over 130 (not to mention a lightning storm+monsoon 5 minutes after we started) really tested our preparation. I thought it was a fiasco but ended up getting great compliments from campers, their parents, and the college coaches. Limiting it this year to ONLY rising Juniors and Seniors should help with the numbers, allow us to give a little more individual attention, and let the college coaches focus a little better. We truly had back then (and currently have) a tremendous group of coaches on staff and parents who really do the hardest work in putting it on. Our guy doing the film doesn't even have a child on the team -- completely volunteers. Ballard's a special place and I'm a lucky guy to be there.

The two of us have completely different reasons for the camps we run. And don't worry, they're making money hand-over-fist so I doubt they'll be out of business anytime soon (while 100% of anything we 'make' goes directly back to help our players who need help with paying the cost of camp, and other required expenses).

It was developed completely with the needs of Small Colleges (D2, D3, NAIA) AND kids in mind. It's a win for the colleges with, as you said, recruiting budgets too low to get to see many kids play live. Also, consider that most of these small schools don't host their own camp. It's a win for the kids: instead of traveling to 10-15 different camps (impossible due to time/$$ restraints) they can get a big bang for their buck at one stop. We do send the results to colleges that usually attend but cannot this year due to some kind of conflict. This year, we're going to try and do more FILMING of the drills and 1on1's to then upload into hudl and send out.

$25 per individual. If 8 or more from same school, $15 per individual. Form should be accessible from http://www.facebook.com/louisville.combine (you have to click on NOTES under "MORE" in header). OR... Print from the PHOTOS uploaded at http://www.facebook.com/kyfootballprospects Got confirmation today that Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology (rated #1 in the country by US News & World Report for "Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs"...**West Point & the Naval Academy are #3 & #4 respectively on the same list) and Georgetown College (soon to be NCAA Division II) will have coaches at the camp.

Played them last year week 10. Beat them in closing seconds. They have a good passing system -- QB from last year was very effective hitting receivers if standing in pocket but also as good at finding 'hot-receiver' when pressure was sent as any I've seen (really puts you in a quandary). Not sure who'll play QB there this year but I know they have two stud receivers returning. Very rarely ran the ball--may have had best RB hurt vs. us.

Loving this thread. But a little concerned that 1991 is now considered "old."

Appreciate all the kudos for our camp on this and other threads. I think it's gone well in the past, but we really think we can do it better than we have.

Very respected guy in Ohio who keeps tabs on/advises college prospects tweeted this out today... https://twitter.com/Mark__Porter/status/478864480785686528 "Class of 2015, if you don't have a Division 1 offer by now its time to register for a Division 2 or D3 camp and earn a scholarship there." Just heard today from another small college program coming to add to the list: Wabash (IN). Almost all the Kentucky small colleges have said they're coming and we'll have several from Ohio, several from Indiana, and new attendees from Missouri and Illinois this year. Guys: if you're coming, be working on FLEXIBILITY and MOVEMENT drills (cone drills, shuttle runs, etc.). I've noticed that coaches are just as interested in how you LOOK going through a drill as they are your time in the drill -- for that reason, we'll have some stations that aren't "timed" but are meant mainly to let coaches see flexibility in the hips and how you look when changing direction.

I really like watching this kid play. ...just not from the opposing sideline.

I got a question from a parent recently about ages/grades allowed. We've allowed Sophomores-to-be in the past, but this year due to what looks to be a greater level of interest, we're going to suggest it be for Jr's/Sr's only (2015 & 2016 grads). This will hopefully allow those closer to graduation get more personalized attention.

Another adjustment to the list (date change for the Louisville-area camp run by Indiana State)... ATTENTION: June 14 Indiana State football camp - CHANGE of location = Clarksville HS in Clarksville, IN due to field conditions. Sorry for the inconvenience but we wanted the best environment and conditions for your players. We are excited and jacked up to evaluate your players. I sent an email as well. I put a link in the email with the address to Clarksville HS. Here it is again = 800 Dr. Dot Lewis Drive, Clarksville, IN

Don't get discouraged...yet. June is the time of year kids will be evaluated in-person by college coaches at camps. Only those with outstanding 'measureables' plus great Jr year film (for OL--6'5+, 280-ish or better) or those marginal kids (6'4 basically) who went to camps and stood out as rising Juniors in front of college coaches would likely be receiving offers before June on-campus camps start. I know it's been beaten down a little on this board recently, but this is the EXACT example of the importance of going to college 1-day camps (NOT the spring 'showcases' put on by non-college organizations -- b/c there can be no D1/1AA college coaches there to evaluate them). If they're marginal size-wise, but prove to the coaches in person they have GREAT (not just good) feet and technique, someone will offer them. These coaches' careers are on the line if they go to bat to the head coach to recommend Billy Joe at XYZ County HS who is 6'3 when the head coach wants his OL 6'5 or taller (meaning, they can put on more mass without affecting their ability to move well). So, if they INVITE a marginal kid to their camp, they're often wanting the kid to perform in front of the head coach or coordinator so HE can approve, thus taking some of the pressure off the position coach. Be ready then for kids who are marginal to the coaches, that--even after getting 'seen' by the coaches and having a good camp--that the 'offer' is as a preferred walk-on.