When I first heard about this, I thought, “No way. This has to be some kind of internet meme or
rumor started by someone immediately following the NCAA ruling against Spring
Team Practices in other states or remote locales in the USA.
Then
I remembered: Harbaugh.
He won’t be outworked, outthought, or out foxed. He’s dedicated to one thing: Winning Football. He will do whatever it takes to achieve his
goal.
So, it’s official.
Michigan will be heading to Rome, Italy for a week of remote
practice. While I get this isn’t a
recruiting tool, in a way, it IS a recruiting tool for anyone looking at the
top 10 or 15 universities and wondering, “What else am I gonna’ get (Iegally)
from this University besides an education, an opportunity to play for a
national title, and a chance to play on Sunday?” If they are smart recruits, they’re going to
recognize that Harbaugh is going to give you a chance to see more than you
would any place else.
I’m sure, initially, that other schools will scoff at this
and claim it’s gimmicky. And without
question, it is. But ask any coach that
does something like this with a team and they will tell you that the bonding
experience is huge. And that’s what
building and motivating a team is all about.
Word of these types of “adventures” will spread through the
recruiting network and kids that are on the fence between Michigan and anyone
else will hear about these “Once in a
lifetime experiences” and they will say, “Hey, I want that!”
Yes, Harbaugh is searching for an edge wherever he can find
it and the edge you find is razor thin in today’s college game. Everyone is good and in order to set yourself
apart from the field, well, you have to do things a little different sometimes.
Ciao Bella! Andare Blu!
3 comments:
Study abroad is all the rage on college campuses today. Some push that every student participates in some type of abroad experience. Personally I’m not sure the reported benefits are what these colleges are claiming but they all seem to not want to be out done by the other. If you’re a D1 athlete on scholarship you’re pretty much working on your sport 365 days a year. You are not going to be able to leave for a term or summer or even 6 weeks without your coach having a conniption. So an organized team trip is about the only way to have this type experience.
Let's see... Spring Team Practices at home or say in Rome, Italy... Hmmm... Difficult Decision...
Question, will a recruit considering were to ply their talents consider this... Oh Heck Yeah!!!
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