Spring Ball to Partially Take Place in FL?

Submitted by Moe on

Very interesting tweet from Balas today, and I'm sure this will be something the SEC will try to shut down immediately.  Never even knew this was possible.

 

Several tell us Jim Harbaugh will have the 2016 U-M team spend a week of spring ball in Fla. https://t.co/b9ZGYRn6oO pic.twitter.com/c9EY3HaR6p

— Chris Balas (@Balas_Wolverine) January 10, 2016
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turtleboy

January 10th, 2016 at 12:53 PM ^

The team has traveled for training before. They went and trained with the SEALS previously. Also: fuck what the SEC thinks. They won't be shutting down anything Michigan does.

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maizenblue92

January 10th, 2016 at 12:53 PM ^

Harbaugh and Willie Taggart (USF coach) are good friends. I doubt the NCAA would allow but I am sure Harbaugh would try to have an intersquad practice like they do in the NFL. 

Joined: 01/01/2009

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bacon

January 10th, 2016 at 1:00 PM ^

I could see us deciding to just show up to practice at The Swamp in Gainsville. After the Citrus Bowl, I don't see Florida stoping us.

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Blueverine

January 10th, 2016 at 1:13 PM ^

about Harbaugh's relationship with Hackett and his expectation for the new AD. He's leaving no stone unturned in getting that national championship and he needs the support from the top to do it. He's probably got ideas he hasn't even thunk up yet.

"Hey, Jim, I need a few hundred thousand bucks to take spring practice to Florida. Great for recruiting, better practice time, good reward, etc. etc."

"Sure thing, Jim. Have a good trip."

 

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Baughhumbug

January 10th, 2016 at 1:16 PM ^

Recruits: but Michigan is far away!

Harbaugh: we'll have camps near you

Recruits: but the winter is cold in Michigan! 

Harbaugh: we'll practice in Florida. 

Recruits: but Adidas!

Hackett: Nike Jumpman. 

Recruits: but...but...damn, well ok then. 

 

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redfirelx

January 10th, 2016 at 1:20 PM ^

Last spring Harbaugh had 4 hour practices, but he spread them out... only 2-3 per week. I thought Michigan and other schools usually had squeezed the spring period into a shorter number of weeks. If he does go to FL with the team, it'll be interesting to see how he decides to spread out the contact hours and the team's free time. Got to be careful with NCAA rules, but I'm sure compliance keeps a tight eye on things.

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hailtothevictors08

January 10th, 2016 at 1:27 PM ^

But I don't love this. Spring Break is one of the only true breaks these guys get. Bowl season eats Christmas and most are on campus training all summer. Not everyone uses spring breaks to party, some see their family or go on mission trips. 

 
I get that Harbaugh is trying to run a tight ship and that other teams make similar trips, but these guys deserve a break at some point. At some point you have to allow them to make their own decisions. If they screw up, you deal with it. That is called life experience. 
 
Overall, it is a very sound plan and I am sure the players will say the right things and enjoy it the best they can. I just tend to feel we ask an awful lot of our student athletes and everyone needs a break at some point. 

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Moe

January 10th, 2016 at 1:37 PM ^

Of what you are saying, but at the same time these kids get a free trip to Florida out of the deal.  And here's a bit of info that not many know.  During Christmas break, before the bowl, Michigan allows each player on the roster to fly home to spend time with family and then fly to the bowl game from their home location if not around the Detroit area.  They then are able to fly home right after the bowl game for a few days until school starts to spend more time with family before they get back to Michigan.  So they do get some breaks out of this.

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StephenRKass

January 11th, 2016 at 11:29 AM ^

I partially agree with hailtothevictors08. I think it would be more problematic if Harbaugh did this every single year. But if they go to Florida every 3rd year, I'd be good with it. To be honest, I think it would be if every other year they went to a different warm weather location. Go to Bradenton this year, then go to San Diego in 2018.

And speaking of service trips, in a way, it would be awesome to have a team service trip to Haiti or the Bahamas or the Gulf Coast some Spring Break. have light practice (2 hours 3 or 4 days) and do service work (building, demolition, etc.) the rest of the time.

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SNSD

January 10th, 2016 at 2:25 PM ^

Jim Harbaugh comes up with enthusiastic ideas unknown to mankind.

SEC coaches will come up with complaints unknown to mankind.

 

It's wonderful to be on Coach Harbaughs side. 

 

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Mr. Yost

January 10th, 2016 at 4:47 PM ^

A lot of schools use spring break to take a break and practice at other schools.

When I was at UCF,  we'd host 5-6-7 track teams from the north throughout the week. No one says anything when it's University of Maryland track. We'd also host a school team every year. No one said anything when Columbia's men's soccer team would come down and train on our field.

But when Harbaugh wants to do it, it's a big deal.

That's racist.

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Mr. Yost

January 10th, 2016 at 4:49 PM ^

Would be to push the dang spring game back so when you host recruits it's not cold and cloudy with a chance of rain every time. Make it as late as possible.

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FLwolvfan22

January 10th, 2016 at 5:22 PM ^

At the company I worked at here in Clearwater, a  former Bucknut colleague of mine and I were having our usual SEC BIG discussions about how much the SEC cheats, is overrated, etc etc, the usual. (I had the same thoughts about the Buckeyes but for the sake of conversation I never brought that up). This was a few years ago during the BCS era.

Anywho, we were always talking about how it would be difficult to pull kids from sunny warm Florida to play in Michigan. I suggested (to him only so only a Buckeye knows this fact) that Michigan should have their spring ball in Florida essentially for recruiting purposes and I took it a step further in suggesting that Michigan should have a satellite campus with full practice facilities in Florida. I also think two weeks in the fall camp practicing in the relentless Augest heat/humidity would pay huge physical dividends.

I've decided to wear Khaki's every day, great minds think alike.

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