Pat Forde weighs in on Harbaugh's spring practices
In case you weren't aware, Pat Forde cares deeply for student athletes and is very concerned about their lack of free time, which is why he is against Harbaugh's spring break trip to Florida. Coincidentally, he also really likes Greg Sankey:
"Sankey is smart, principled and wonkishly integral to the NCAA structure - he's the current chairman of the Committee On Infractions..."
So, where are Sankey's comments regarding the current Ole Miss and Tennessee infractions and lawsuit? Oh, right, those issues don't have anything to do with losing recruits. And Sankey will make damn sure it stays that way.
I'm guessing Forde sees what's happening with Michigan/Harbaugh and can't stomach the thought of top southern recruits heading north to play for the leaders and the best, so he's doing whatever he can to voice his opinion and sway perception. What does Harbaugh have planned in case Sankey and the rest of the SEC get their way and prevent this trip? I can only hope the contingency is ready for deployment. If the trip does get blocked, how many recruits who weren't considering Michigan would then be wondering what all the hubbub was about? This ordeal could end up working out in Harbaugh's favor either way it plays out.
February 12th, 2016 at 10:36 AM ^
CJK5H
Shhhh!!!
February 12th, 2016 at 11:20 AM ^
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February 12th, 2016 at 11:52 AM ^
likely
February 12th, 2016 at 10:37 AM ^
Can we be done with this? It's getting old.
February 12th, 2016 at 10:45 AM ^
I don't mind seeing countless threads concerning this issue.
It's the off-season and this topic relates directly to Harbaugh and Michigan football. I say keep em coming.
I think seeing threads like this are 10x better than random, OT posts which don't generate a discussion.
Harbaugh is having fun ruffling the featers of seemingly everyone in NCAA FBS football, and we have front row seats to the show.
February 12th, 2016 at 11:46 AM ^
I think yesterday's Gravitational Waves post kind of proves that this board is incapable of smart or nuanced discussion outside of sports.
February 12th, 2016 at 3:32 PM ^
Did that realization surprise you?
February 12th, 2016 at 10:51 AM ^
Every time an SEC or ACC slappy whinges about Harbaugh's tactics, an angel gets its wings. Don't you want angels to get their wings, HunterJoe?
Why do you hate angels?
February 12th, 2016 at 11:17 AM ^
Ha ha. Okay, if that's the case then lets keep it going.
February 12th, 2016 at 1:10 PM ^
You folded really quickly. Hating angels is one thing, but I draw the line at sacrificing your principles. Have you no principles???
February 12th, 2016 at 2:45 PM ^
I have strong principles, but angels getting their wings is where I draw the line. My mom has her wings so I'm good supporting the angels.
February 12th, 2016 at 10:58 AM ^
Michigan has owned sports radio for at least 3 days now. I was watching Iowa vs Indiana basketball last night. Guess what Dookie V kept working into the discussion?
It's glorious. Harbaugh has taken a stick to the hornets nest.
Even funnier is the sanctimonious SEC apologists are now starting to say they'd be ok with it if it weren't during spring break but instead during class time. Spring Break is critical to being a student athlete but going to class isn't?
February 12th, 2016 at 11:12 AM ^
It's a tactic that helps recruiting for Michigan and catches SEC/NCAA in their own hypocrisy.. genius.
February 12th, 2016 at 11:21 AM ^
"You guys are going to pay kids? That's fine. I'll come stomp on your grounds and people will hate it."
It's just time for a different "opinion" on the topic. And what the hell is going on with Dantonio thinking it's an awesome idea? WTF is that? He's not supposed to agree!
February 12th, 2016 at 11:07 AM ^
I asked the same question on a post a few hours ago and got -1 and you got +8. Not fair (in a pouting voice).
February 12th, 2016 at 11:22 AM ^
-1 for discussing that which shall not be discussed.
February 12th, 2016 at 10:37 AM ^
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February 12th, 2016 at 10:39 AM ^
Pat Forde was always good for a laugh. Is he still working?
February 12th, 2016 at 10:40 AM ^
Yeah, for Yahoo. I hear only yahoos work there. This is just an example of that theory.
February 12th, 2016 at 10:46 AM ^
Exactly. Who cares what Forde has to say? His brain is the size of a pinto bean. I wish someone would just escort him out of the conversation. Really, his ideas are a just fusion of of whatever else is saying. I'll bet with his weird ideas, he is a taurus. All of this notwithstanding, his wife is pretty hot; definitely a cougar...
February 12th, 2016 at 10:40 AM ^
The deployment in the event of a negative ruling should be a court challenge for this and for the summer camps. I've posted this before, but Jack Swarbrick, the Notre Dame AD is of the opinion, at least for the summer camps, that the NCAA might find themselves in a mess if they deny Harbaugh and others the opportunity due to antitrust considerations.
http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/writer/jon-solomon/25166729/no…
February 12th, 2016 at 11:01 AM ^
who the hell is the SEC to tell ANYONE where they can go? the sheer ARROGANCE of this man and the SEC and claiming its in the students best interest? since WHEN did the SEC care about whats in the best of interest of athletes unless bags of cash are involved..what a FING JOKE
February 12th, 2016 at 10:40 AM ^
How can they possibly block this? There is nothing in their rules to prevent it currently and adding something specific like this, which limits opportunities for athletes, would only hasten the demise of the NCAA.
Like it or not, it's going down!
February 12th, 2016 at 10:48 AM ^
but sometimes the NCAA makes up rules as it goes along. It's not unlike the NFL in some ways.
February 12th, 2016 at 10:57 AM ^
As a private organization, they have a lot of latitude as to what they can do, but there are limits and in this case, the courts may be able to quash some of their bullshit should they decide to rule against the summer camps.
The SEC is stupid as there are only a few programs that have the resources to do what Harbaugh is proposing and most don't have a coach with the energy and ambition to do what Harbaugh will to better our program.
February 12th, 2016 at 11:02 AM ^
February 12th, 2016 at 11:17 AM ^
the NCAA is kind of in a pickle if they want to do anything. As others have pointed out, baseball, softball and track teams from nothern climates often times go down south for spring break. Is the NCAA going to ban all those teams from doing trips on spring break or just football teams?
February 12th, 2016 at 10:40 AM ^
Most of these articles are now equally about the recruiting impact and the welfare of the student athlete. They probably didn't enjoy all getting laughed at the past two days when trying to say this was solely about the student athlete's time.
February 12th, 2016 at 12:26 PM ^
Yes, even Forde was not buying Sankey's "Think of the Children" wail:
So when Sankey talks about time demands, SEC coaches understand that’s code for protecting recruiting turf.
February 12th, 2016 at 10:41 AM ^
That's like having El Chapo lead the DEA.
February 12th, 2016 at 10:42 AM ^
Now we know why the SEC is never punished for anything.
February 12th, 2016 at 10:46 AM ^
hit it right on the nose.sec is just like washington dc. a bunch of crooks getting away with games played.
February 12th, 2016 at 10:42 AM ^
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February 12th, 2016 at 10:43 AM ^
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February 12th, 2016 at 10:53 AM ^
What did those teams do for Thanksgiving break?
February 12th, 2016 at 11:14 AM ^
Excellent point. If Harbaugh announced spring break in Fargo, skankey would be quiet as a church mouse.
February 12th, 2016 at 6:55 PM ^
Heard it on the flip side the NDSU football team is going to be all out at the O.B. tonight. Will be hundreds of hotties running around. The fact of the matter here though is that Michigan will get to go down to Florida and have their practices. Which is awesome and seeing all this publicity about the sleezy SEC whining about it has made my week. On another note, I would keep your non educated judgement of football talent about ND area in check. People around here actually work for a living. There are a bunch of farm boys German and Norwegian. With the proper weight training and coaching these white boys can smack the shit out of anyone. Tough and fast. Hard winters make tough men. Don't believe it? Come put the pads on with this 215 lb. and 33 year old man and we'll see who has the talent!
February 12th, 2016 at 12:40 PM ^
February 12th, 2016 at 12:55 PM ^
"Rules for Thee, not for me."
February 12th, 2016 at 1:03 PM ^
know if this has been pointed out to Sankey in press conference or twitter? would love to know how he justifies his hypocritical position on our spring break practices
February 12th, 2016 at 10:44 AM ^
Harbaugh obviously can do this and the SEC obviously only cares because of recruiting but there is something to be said about losing a free week. Spring break is a time that kids can go home, or a lot of athletes actually do things like mission trips, alternative spring break, etc. These are things you can't do other weeks because of class. If the team is fine with it its fine but for the kids from places like California or the east coast they are losing the one week of second semester they could spend with family. Just brushing that aside because Florida! isn't really a great answer to that.
Its obviously not why the SEC cares but I'm sure some of the players aren't thrilled even though its a free trip to Florida.
February 12th, 2016 at 10:48 AM ^
Leave it to ak47 to be a miserable contrarian for no reason.
February 12th, 2016 at 10:49 AM ^
The teams will only be allowed a certain number of hours for practice, film review, etc... I would imagine that the rest of the time they will get free time, or have planned, paid for activities out and about in Florida. I understand what you are saying about mission trips, going home, etc... however, I feel as though you've signed up to play big boy Division1 football, you kind of have an idea of what you're getting yourself into.
February 12th, 2016 at 11:36 AM ^
Yeah I don't think its that big of a deal. I just imagine there are a certain percentage of players who would prefer to be able to go home that week who can't. I don't think it needs to be an NCAA rule or anything just hope its something Harbaugh considered. His job is to win football games and get the best recruits and he is doing that. Just think it would be interesting if you did a secret vote count of the team how many players would prefer to ahve that week to go home and would rather practice a week where school in session.
February 12th, 2016 at 11:03 AM ^
February 12th, 2016 at 12:08 PM ^
February 12th, 2016 at 12:43 PM ^
I'm sure some of the players aren't thrilled about playing football on Saturdays, when they could be relaxing or doing other things. Maybe the NCAA should step in there too!
February 12th, 2016 at 12:50 PM ^
Tell the truth now. The SEC paid you to come on here and say that, didnt they?
February 12th, 2016 at 10:45 AM ^
Sankey and the SEC should be thankful for Harbaugh. This really won't make that much of dent in what they are doing (The SEC will get more than fair share of players regardless) but perfect to throw attention away from the scandels at Tennessee and Ole Miss.