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          College Football Nation Blog

          New Jersey satellite camp 'battle' sees massive turnout

          Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh attended a satellite camp at Paramus Catholic High School and will also speak at the school's commencement ceremony. AP Photo/Tony Ding

          Tensions were high at Paramus Catholic High School on Tuesday. As coaches set up for the Next Level Football Camp, they were also tasked with cleaning up hundreds of Rutgers magnets that littered the football field as a prank.

          According to Paramus Catholic president Jim Vail, the satellite camp was the biggest logistical project the school has taken on to date. More than 600 prospects signed up for the camp, which would be coached by more than 40 college coaches, including from Michigan, Pitt, Maryland and Syracuse.

          Vail said he wasn’t surprised by the litter at the school before the camp, but he didn’t understand why there has been such a pushback toward the high school as it relates to hosting the event.

          “Myself, my team, my school are being viciously and personally attacked for having a coach from another state speak at our graduation and as one of the 45 college coaches coming here,” Vail said. “It’s not the Michigan satellite camp, it’s the Paramus Catholic Next Level satellite camp. It got things off to a negative tone.”

          That coach from another state is none other than Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh, who has sparked somewhat of a battle with Rutgers. The Scarlet Knights held a camp of their own on the same day and same time as the Paramus Catholic camp after turning down an invitation to participate alongside Michigan and the other programs.

          Harbaugh said he respects Vail for sticking his neck out and dealing with the negative feedback. Harbaugh also said he doesn’t see a problem with Rutgers having their camp at the same time as the Next Level camp, as he wants what’s best for the high school prospects.

          “It’s really not competition at all,” Harbaugh said. “As coaches, there’s no competing going on. It’s just coaching the players, that’s all it is, so whatever’s best for them I think it’s great.”

          Rutgers’ camp was within 50 miles of its campus, so the university was able to promote and run it as a normal, on-campus event. The Rutgers staff hosted nearly 800 prospects at the Tri-State Showcase.

          Rutgers coach Chris Ash said it was the biggest camp he has ever organized and been a part of, and he was happy with how it turned out.

          While the day started off very tense, and the buildup to the two events seemed competitive, the coaches were all positive after the events finished. Most of the college coaches, including Harbaugh and Ash, said that it was a successful day for New Jersey's prospects, and it was a good day for football in general.

          “I was all for it,” Harbaugh said. “What’s best for the youngsters, ya know? The more opportunity for them the better, that’s my feeling on it.”