Football’s next foreign trip: Brazil
Brazil in 2020 and Cuba in 2021
https://twitter.com/samwebb77/status/1070814898681208832?s=21
December 4th, 2019 at 11:56 AM ^
I disagree with the premise that these trips area bout recruiting. These trips aren't about recruiting. They're about creating life experiences for the students.
1. Has even one targeted recruit said they chose Michigan because if the trips?
2. Has any player even hinted they considered transferring but didnt want to miss out on the trips?
* These two questions are irrelevant because its not about recruiting. It's like saying 'Has anyone chose Michigan because John Falk was great at his job? Has anyone stayed because John Falk was great at his job?
3. Are they helping us to get ready to play football?
* I'd argue they are a great team building experience. But beyond that, they don't hurt us because they are done when the team is out of practice time. Don't do the trips and instead of stay together the team will scatter
December 4th, 2019 at 11:51 AM ^
Yes - exactly. *We* like these trips because it makes us feel warm and fuzzy that we can provide "life-changing" opportunities to our football team. The reality, though, is that recruits don't seem to care. Why? Because while we're trying to sell a week long vacation, Ryan Day is selling unlimited vacation after you retire with the millions you make in the NFL.
December 4th, 2019 at 11:58 AM ^
These trips don't matter to the outcome of the OSU game. We've had an OSU issue for 16 years now. The trips have been going for three. These trips are a good thing for the players. Likely a good thing for team building. Do we want to be about more than just football? Or piss away good opportunities because OSU doesn't do them?
December 4th, 2019 at 10:22 AM ^
Not great with Cuba. Unless Harbaugh has some inside information that the Castros are going into exile in 2020.
December 4th, 2019 at 10:32 AM ^
Cocaine sub rides!
December 4th, 2019 at 10:39 AM ^
Seriously?
December 4th, 2019 at 10:42 AM ^
The softball team, along with millions of others this year, made that trip while a Castro is in office. Why would the football team need him to leave?
December 4th, 2019 at 10:48 AM ^
What has Cuba done to any Americans in the last 60 years that would make you think the team will be any less safe in Cuba than in South Africa, Brazil, etc?
December 4th, 2019 at 11:02 AM ^
you really like the word "exile"
December 4th, 2019 at 11:02 AM ^
One of those Castros is kaputski, of course. The other one actually has passed on leadership to a governing council. Good place to visit and see. I spent several weeks in a rented car going all over the place with a friend a few years ago and had a ball. Kinda different from what either of us expected. Met a lot of people who wanted Cuba opened up, a lot of people who complained--but in very different ways than we thought--no one who wanted to give up their very good education or health systems. Health care, interestingly, was foremost on almost everyone's mind when it came to becoming more like the U.S. Picked up hitchhikers, stopped in little places, totally fun. (Did this after a week of meetings around the country with U Florida officials and people at the U Havana, various other entities; a lot of this conversation was about 'making Cuba the agricultural breadbasket of Florida,' where arable land is quickly being gobbled up, ironically, to have cheap burbs built on it by Cuban exiles). Never once felt danger, including wandering Havana at night. Recommended to people of all political stripes, which we definitely had with us on our visit.
December 4th, 2019 at 10:45 AM ^
All I hear about is how other schools are paying players and they cheat. Can someone please explain who is paying for said trip, assuming not the individual athletes, why is this ok? I understand students at Michigan have a similar opportunity as well but are they paid for the same way?
December 4th, 2019 at 11:49 AM ^
Well, if you can believe what has been out there; the cost of putting a student on a plane to wherever is less than the $300K Gary was offered. I'm told its boosters of one type or another who finance the trip.
But from what I've read this has been parsed through the NCAA and deemed fine. It's not a violation and is very above board.
December 4th, 2019 at 12:09 PM ^
Read the earlier posts above
December 4th, 2019 at 1:52 PM ^
The distinction seems to be lost on the folks in east lansing and columbus.
December 4th, 2019 at 10:50 AM ^
I have a question: is it possible to go on these trips and not practice? In other words, do all the football here then just go on the trip and not do any football while on it?
December 4th, 2019 at 11:26 AM ^
I believe that is what they have evolved into... no football at all, just team-building/cultural/educational.
December 4th, 2019 at 3:16 PM ^
Okay, thanks. I didn't gave any problem with the trips before and now I see zero downside and a ton of upside.
December 4th, 2019 at 10:59 AM ^
Brazil huh? Hopefully the boys pack some rain coats... they’re going to need them! I would also assume they have some sort of armed security, because they’re going to need that too.
December 4th, 2019 at 11:11 AM ^
I hope the team likes large, round asses?
December 4th, 2019 at 11:19 AM ^
Do they fit through the sewer openings?
December 4th, 2019 at 11:27 AM ^
Who doesn't?
December 4th, 2019 at 11:17 AM ^
I would take them to Moscow...Hotel Putingrad can put them up in one of his palaces. I'd also look at Tokyo (American football has a following there)
Then of course you have...
-Australia (several cities)
-New Zealand (great place to recruit too)
-Berlin
-Vienna
-Cairo (is Cairo safe now? seeing the Pyramids would be awesome)
-Istanbul
-Beijing
-Seoul
-London (have we done London or trying to schedule a game there?) good American football following and a UM alum presence
-Jerusalem
December 4th, 2019 at 11:20 AM ^
I hope they get a chance to see what's left of the rainforests before that jerk Leonardo DiCaprio burns them all down.
December 4th, 2019 at 11:37 AM ^
Surprised you don't want them to visit your hometown in Peru
December 4th, 2019 at 1:24 PM ^
I used to.
After watching John Travolta skinny dip in Lake Titicaca I've decided that celebrities and high altitude don't mix.
December 4th, 2019 at 11:26 AM ^
Instead of the pre -trip speech about respecting cultural differences, it will be about wrapping it up.
December 4th, 2019 at 11:59 AM ^
I am all for cancelling these trips, Coffee is for closers
December 4th, 2019 at 11:59 AM ^
Bunch of miserable old whining bastards in this thread. I know it's not the whole fanbase, but I swear no other fanbase is as miserable as Michigan's. Some of you need to get a grip
December 4th, 2019 at 2:33 PM ^
Other fan bases don't go 2 and 17 against their arch rivals.
December 4th, 2019 at 5:11 PM ^
So if we didn't go on trips we would beat OSU? Should the players just sit in sack cloths and ash until they make you happy again?
December 4th, 2019 at 6:47 PM ^
What makes you think the whiners are old? Apart from few obvious antiques (mgrowold) you have no idea how old most of us are.
I 100% support the trips and anything else that benefits the student athletes.
Signed,
Older than the whiny young kids on this blog!
December 4th, 2019 at 12:28 PM ^
It'll be interesting to see a fascist takeover up close in Brazil. Maybe they'll get to see the rainforest before it's bulldozed into oblivion.
December 4th, 2019 at 3:10 PM ^
I though they had elections in Brazil. So what takeover are you referring to?
December 4th, 2019 at 3:42 PM ^
The primary opposition leader had been jailed under false pretenses (he's now released) by judges who were rewarded after the election by Bolsanaro's regime. Bolsanaro was a colonel in the former military dictatorship in Brazil in the 70's and he and his family have been tied to fascist militias which have carried out political assassinations since he's assumed power.
Also, Hitler was elected, that doesnt mean someone isnt a fascist.
December 4th, 2019 at 12:39 PM ^
This is my favorite thing about the Harbaugh era. Whether or not it helps recruiting, it's just really cool to give the players this opportunity.
December 4th, 2019 at 12:53 PM ^
I am sure the players will enjoy the views. A certain song by sir mix alot comes to mind.
December 4th, 2019 at 1:30 PM ^
Cuba? To support the communist government? WTF.
December 4th, 2019 at 1:54 PM ^
One party system. Persecution of political dissent. What's not to like?
December 5th, 2019 at 8:43 PM ^
The real world has long passed you by.
December 4th, 2019 at 2:17 PM ^
Maybe someone should listen to Ryan Van Bergen last week podcast with John Borton...
Leave the Michigan man crap excuse alone until we beat Ohio state
December 4th, 2019 at 2:31 PM ^
Hopefully our new Defensive Coordinator will be able to recruit some larger defensive linemen in brazill.
December 4th, 2019 at 2:50 PM ^
A word of caution...when picking up a fine woman from Brazil I recommend a quick crotch check so you are not surprised with a penis. On the other hand, if that is what you are looking for there are a lot of "perfect 10" trannies there.
Other than that great place!
December 4th, 2019 at 2:58 PM ^
WHO CARES. Stay in Ann Arbor and practice. The international trips are Harbaugh's crybaby antics because the NCAA stopped his spring satellite camps and he knows that. Suddenly its important to travel to France, Italy, and now Brazil? Before that his trips consisted of camps in Florida, Georgia etc.
December 4th, 2019 at 3:07 PM ^
They're not missing practice for this. This is after spring practice is over.
December 4th, 2019 at 5:51 PM ^
Agree. Michigan has never even won the East division, yet goes on these overseas trips every year. How about telling the players to win the division, then we will take you on a trip ? Team is soft, and it shows in big games.
December 4th, 2019 at 5:36 PM ^
They should stay in Michigan and practice instead.
December 4th, 2019 at 6:50 PM ^
How are there people so out of touch with reality? These trips have no impact on practice. Staying home and having extra practice isn’t an option. Jeez - get a clue!
Brazilians well done! I often put them on the site https://1xbetbetting-gh.com. Very high odds on their last games. I highly recommend you to review their games once again and start betting on football!