BearcatReport.com - Kelly goes camping

June 14, 2009

Scott Springer
BearcatReport.com Staff Writer

Knowing there would be a number of candidates to interview, I made a drive to campus Sunday afternoon to take in part of UC's "prospect camp" for high school players. While Tim Adams was hot on the recruiting trail in full Panama hat, I had a chance to take in the workout and talk to some coaches.

Without getting specific, I can tell you that there was a lot of talent and SPEED evident in the drills I watched. It's also amazing how these camps have gone from more of a recreational/educational thing for players, to being "showcases" for players still "on the market".

On this Sunday potential Bearcats were strewn all over Nippert, Sheakley Lawn and the Gettler Soccer Stadium. And while UC no doubt has "first dibs" on these guys, other college were in attendance for a "look see" as well (I noticed Ohio University, Mt. St. Joseph, Thomas More, and Hanover and there were probably others).

As with everything UC football these days, success has led to great popularity and attendance.

"Obviously, when you play for an Orange Bowl and play for a Big East championship, you're going to get a lot more exposure," Coach Brian Kelly said. "I think these camps are also a change of format that allows more evaluation. The weeklong camps have kind of outdated themselves, so you're seeing a lot more of these one-day camps. These kids get out and get exposed to a number of different camps. Before, you went to one camp?now, these kids are 'on the circuit' and can go to five, six, seven different camps."

The evidence also shows, it pays to be seen by the right people.

"We signed six players from these one-day evaluation camps last year," Kelly revealed. "Again, it's an opportunity for these kids to get out and show their talent level and it's an opportunity for us to sell Cincinnati."

The camps benefit both coaches and players. I watched as Coach Kelly, TE/OL coach Mike Elston, DC Bob Diaco, DB coach Kerry Coombs, RB coach Tim Hinton and WR coach Charley Molnar stood in a line on a deep pass drill. They didn't stand silently.

If you didn't know better, you might have thought this was a mid-season practice with the Bearcats. The coaches were not just observing, they were coaching.

"We can help them a little bit...help them with some technique and get them better in some of the drills that they need to work on," Kelly said.

If you watch closely, you can also pick out who's higher on the "food chain". And, keep in mind, none of these kids are "slouches".

"These are, for the most part, invites," Coach Kelly said. "We're out in May and we'll invite a lot of these kids to come up to campus. Some of the guys we don't know of, but there's a lot of kids at the camps that we already have prior knowledge of."

Certainly the players and the parents know of Brian Kelly.

How could you not?

In addition to the success he's had on the football field, he works the area better than any politician around (those years on the Gary Hart campaign have proven to be very useful).

Matter of fact, if Kelly were to run for office around here he'd win going away (and Coach, I'm your guy when you're ready, I seem to have accumulated some unwanted spare time). I'd like to find someone who has had a banquet or benefit that Brian Kelly HAS NOT been to. I introduced him myself at Anderson High School's event and I think he's hit every stag, golf outing, bar mitzvah, christening, ribbon-cutting and "opening day" around.

"It's the nature of our program," Kelly said. "You can't just be a football coach. You've got to be in the community because the community is really about how this program has grown. We've been able to bring in Cincinnati people to a football program that they really hadn't embraced before?so, you've got to do that everyday."

When I suggested a reality TV show, to further enhance his "market share", Kelly said, "I'm going to leave that up to guys like Jeff Ruby?I think he's going to get one first."

Which leads me to another possibility....

If Bootsy Collins can have a Jeff Ruby restaurant, who wouldn't want to saddle up to some Boston crab at BK's "Fresh Catch" (Get it? "The Catch" is a crucial part of the Brian Kelly offense!)

(If any of you steal my ideas?which I'm used to from 23 years in radio?remember where you read it!)

While I'm on a roll, I have mentioned to the UC football office that they should put out a black "concert t-shirt" each summer...Brian Kelly's Summer Tour! You could put the bingos and festivals on the back.

"That's not a bad idea," Coach quipped. "Is there a story on that?"

Again...you read it here.

Finally, with the whirlwind schedule, I asked Coach Kelly what he did in his spare time, when he wasn't "glad-handing" or posing for pictures at events.

"I like to recharge my battery by going out to my lake house, sitting on the deck and just relaxing," he said. " And, I only need a couple of days. I'm not a guy that takes a week or two off?you can't in my business?give me 48 hours and I'm ready to go."

Just like his offense, Brian Kelly is always in motion, moving the "sticks" and looking for yardage.

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