SI's Staples with a reasonable take on Harbaugh Spring Break
Here's an even-handed take from Andy Staples on the Harbuagh Winter Swarm Tour or whatever it is we should be calling the trip to IMG for Spring Break. He even - gasp - asked the players what they think about the trip, instead of wondering aloud "why won't anybody think of the kids?!?!"
I cannot believe this is still a story. It never should have been in the first place.
It's actually great that it is. One of the big goals of this thing, aside from recruiting, was to raise publicity over the Michigan brand. Every tweet, quote, or article from some butthurt opposing coach, player or pundit is a win for Michigan.
EDIT: Also, the link is pretty NSFW
Ha, sorry about the lack of an "NSFW" tag. I don't post very often, and didn't think about the dangers of linking to SI so soon after the swimsuit issue.
I clicked the link and it is totally SFW (unless you mean the tiny pictures/ads at the bottom). DAMN!!!!
Agreed, but it's still ridiculous that this became such an issue with some people.
After David Brandon, I can't stand the use of the term "brand." While it is probably an accurate term, we should have a better term for it. Ethos? Michigan Man? Religion? Profile? Budweiser and Shakeweight are brands. Michigan is an institution.
You would never refer to Bo as a marketer. A football coach is a competitor.
BTW--when I typed in Brand my autofill wrote "Brandon Graham." Very context aware.
You don't know much about how the media works, do you?
Step 1: Find "scandalous" story and further sensationalize it.
Step 2: Beat story to a bloody pulp with overcoverage.
Step 3: Rinse and repeat until people stop reading (or clicking), then move on to a new "scandalous" story...
Oh no! A free trip to Florida for spring break.
Think of the childern!
The increased skin cancer risk for the players alone makes Harbaugh a monster...
Without the sun there exists nothing. Embrace it.
It looked like Butt was the only player interviewed and Staples already knew his feelings about it due to the tweet. I would be interested if there are other players with a slightly different take now that they are down there.
No. We like it.
Let the national media write repeated stories about our program, this is great advertising. I would like to personally thank all the members of the ACC & $ec for making this a huge story and give Coach all of the free advertising. These high school kids will soon understand that they have a choice of joining us or getting beat by us. Go Blue.
SI owns Staples now? Why would an office supply company have a take on spring break! I am CONFUSED! It's those dang socialists. Taking over all the companies! Free paper for everyone. What's next Armadillo's drinking smoothies at Jamba Juice? Not if Donald Drumpf can stop it.
Every time I go there the state tries to kill me.
But I'm glad the players are enjoying the trip.
Follow Harbaugh's advice and go sober.
That's some shitty advice.
Booze/drugs haven't been the problem. One trip Mrs. Hatter ended up in the ER unable to breathe because the tree pollen count was so damn high. Naturally, that hospital was out of network so I spent about 2k on a breathing treatment and antibiotics.
Next trip the whole family got norovirus the second day we were there. We got a total of about 48 hours illness free during a 7 day trip.
We won't be returning any time soon.
You brought the norovirus back to campus, didn't you?
The often missed last chapter of Don Canham's book "Don't turn a one day story into a two day story" apparently was "How to turn a two day story into a two week story".
You guys seem way to insecure about this.
The number of threads on here when someone rights a positive take on Harbaughs trip through the south last year or the IMG trip this year are pretty high.
It's like you guys are trying to convince yourselves you belive its ok because someone else said so.
Harbaugh is doing exactly what he should do. Take every advantage to get your name and brand in front of the best recruits. If they happen to be in the South then that is where you go.
Screw what the SEC and to a lesser extent the ACC think. They are just trying to keep their competitive advantage and deny any school outside the talent footprint a chance.
And their reasoning is total BS.
Don't break a rule, and even this OSU fan here will applaud the actions.
OSU fan
Checks out, guys!
That was one big hanging curveball. I should proofread.
We're amused, not insecure. This is fun.
Alabama is being hosted at the White House for the 4th time in 7 years, and all anybody is talking about is Michigan's practice.
Cool.
That White House trip is cutting into Bama's spring break, isn't it? Shouldn't they all be heading to Cancun or Daytona? Ughh... The hypocrisy...
I think that is the correct take. Just saying that it doesn't always come off that way.
I'm actually on his side on this one. I'd do the same thing.
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Only. They only applaud when rules are broken.
I think you should be amused. I'm saying it doesn't necessarily come off that way though.
I'm not insecure. I'd do the same thing Harbaugh is doing if I was him. It bugs me not a bit what he is doing.
I think it is funny that almost everyone reporting on this mentions that it will never happen again because Sankey, Swofford, and Emmert don't like it. I think it will be very difficult to craft a law prohibiting this that the PAC-12, Big12 and B1G would agree with. I would think the northern schools of the ACC would even go against their commissioner (no need to link Narduzzi's response, he's dumb).
Agreed, especially given the well-documented, non-recruiting-related justifications that the northern schools can put forward (e.g., knocking out some practice time without classes, and leaving more time to focus on exams when they return).
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Then a national champ game between the ncaa champ and the 'acaa' champ?
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Happened in the 90s before the BCS era. Big 10 and Pac 10 didn't join. The other conferences formed their own 'coalition' to try and help determine the national champion - goal was to get the top teams playing each other in bowl games.
I think it's hilarious that Sankey is complaining about Michigan practicing at IMG Academy but has no problem with the existence of places like IMG Academy, i.e., "high schools" that are really more like football mills.
Meet the new first base coach for the @tigers pic.twitter.com/R7atnaNIyD
— Michigan Football (@umichfootball) March 2, 2016
The more of these articles that come out showing just how hypocritical the SEC/ACC/NCAA are the more ridiculous the NCAA will look if it tries to carve out a rule for this very specific case. They will need to explain how this is different from all the other examples given or be viewed as being openly biased in favor of one conference over the others.
I'm also reminded that Hackett made some comments about some team(s) making illegal offers to R. Gary...I hope Hackett is holding this card and plays it skillfully (like he as everything else).