Jim Harbaugh follows up Nick Saban criticism, calls his satellite camp stance ‘hypocritical act’

Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh took to Twitter on Tuesday to respond to Alabama head coach Nick Saban’s statements condemning satellite camps.

Two days later, Harbaugh echoed those words in the heart of SEC country.

Harbaugh helped coach at Cedar Grove’s football camp at Maynard Jackson on Thursday and was asked to explain his issue with the words of Saban, who discussed satellite camps during the SEC’s annual meetings in Destin, Florida.

Harbaugh didn’t back off those comments Thursday.

“The issue was what I said it was,” Harbaugh said. “Someone who has even recently broken rules and has that in their history is lecturing us other coaches on potentially violating rules. I thought it was a hypocritical act.”

Harbaugh referenced former Alabama defensive line coach Bo Davis, who violated NCAA recruiting rules for contacting recruits during a non-contact period. He was relieved of his duties with the Crimson Tide on April 28.

Harbaugh initially responded on Twitter just hours after Saban criticized the use of satellite camps and the potential gray area they open up for coaches.

“ ‘Amazing’ to me — Alabama broke NCAA rules & now their HC is lecturing us on the possibility of rules being broken at camps,” Harbaugh wrote. “Truly ‘amazing.’ ”

Saban voiced his concerns about the camps, which had been banned by the Division I Council on April 8 but was reinstated 20 days later, while talking to reporters as part of the SEC’s meetings.

“I don’t know how much it benefits anybody because all the people that say this is creating opportunities for kids; this is all about recruiting,” Saban said. “What’s amazing to me is somebody didn’t stand up and say here’s going to be the unintended consequences of what you all are doing.”

Harbaugh’s camp, hosted by Cedar Grove head coach Jermaine Smith, was just the start of his Thursday in Georgia. From there, he was scheduled to fly by jet to Lee County for another camp that Georgia’s coaching staff is also scheduled to appear at. Georgia head coach Kirby Smart was present and coached at Cedar Grove’s camp but left before it wrapped up.

The two satellite camps are part of a series that Harbaugh said will take him to 22 different states.

Harbaugh repeatedly praised the players, college coaches and high school coaches who attended the Atlanta camp. He also couldn’t resist throwing another jab at those who have criticized the use of satellite camps.

“In my America, you’re allowed to cross state borders,” Harbaugh said. “Good to be here in Georgia.”

This story was originally published June 2, 2016 at 3:06 PM with the headline "Jim Harbaugh follows up Nick Saban criticism, calls his satellite camp stance ‘hypocritical act’."