The Sound Mind, Sound Body Football Camp was created in 2004 to increase the number of football student-athletes graduating high school and earning college scholarships in the Metro Detroit community.
“Sound Mind, Sound Body helps players and their futures. It gives people opportunities that do not really have them,” said Cass Tech alumni and Ohio State running back Mike Weber.
Players come from the surrounding states of Michigan as well; Indiana, Ohio and Illinois. The camp gives players the opportunity to showcase their athletic abilities and talents as well as get discovered by college coaches, until recently a new rule was established.
“I met a lot of new faces, new coaches, and it gave me a lot exposure to coaches outside of my state,” said Michigan State commit Demetric Vance Jr.
On April 3, BIG12, Sunbelt and MWC conferences voted not to allow Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) coaches to come out and watch players during the camp. The policy change was set to go into effect this summer, but with the help of coaches, parents and students, the ban was lifted.
Many players used social media to express their concerns and feelings about the new policy. CT five-star wide receiver and top recruit Donovan Peoples-Jones mother created an online petition against the NCAA’s ban of coaches on the website change.org.
Peoples-Jones said, “The major goal of the petition was to have at least 50,000 people sign. By promoting this, we are publicizing the issue on why the satellite camp ban needs to be overturned.”
On April 28, the NCAA Board of Directors voted to rescind its ban on college football's satellite camps. This decision is a win for the players, coaches and most prominently Michigan football coach Jim Harbaugh and rising seniors.
“I am excited that the ban has been lifted because now I get another opportunity to showcase my talents. The ban being lifted is a great thing because I am going into my senior year and myself and the other seniors will get more exposure,” said Cass Tech defensive end Zach Morton.
This camp gives players that do not get as much exposure a time to shine. Those players who are not four-star and five-star athletes would have suffered most from this ban. Now that the ban has been lifted players and coaches will be returning to the camp this summer.
