RGVSports.com
For the first time, Rice University will be holding satellite football camps in the Valley early next week.
Rice head coach David Bailiff, the two-time Conference USA Coach of the Year, and his staff will host their “West Valley Camp” from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Monday at McAllen Veterans Memorial Stadium. They will also be conducting an “East Valley Camp” from 9 a.m. to noon on Tuesday at San Benito High School.
Registration is $45 and can be completed online, with access through the Rice athletics site. According to the registration page, “ The Rice Owl coaching staff will instruct campers on drills, fundamentals and technique training of individual positions. Campers will be broken down by individual offensive and defensive positions. This camp encourages each camper to develop new skills and achieve a new level of play and self-confidence.”
The two Valley camps are among 14 being held by Rice and its coaching staff throughout the summer. More information is available on www.riceowls.com, by phone at 713-348-6900 or via email to [email protected].
Satellite camps of this nature, in which college coaching staffs conduct camps outside of their immediate area, have been a major topic of conversation in college football this offseason. The NCAA banned satellite camps on April 8, only to reverse the ruling on April 28. The main controversy has stemmed from programs using the camps to sign athletes outside of their typical recruiting area.
McAllen Memorial quarterback Jonathan Sanchez signed with Rice in February.
South Texas Showcase is also hosting a camp today at Weslaco’s Bobby Lackey Stadium. Registration is $30 and begins 45 minutes prior to the camp, with grades eight and under starting at 12:30 p.m. and the high school camp beginning at 6:30 p.m.