Latest dispatch from Italy: Paint Ball

Submitted by 901 P on

There was a nice segment on ESPN this morning showing Harbaugh and the players on their jaunt to Italy. Today's activity was paintball, and it included some footage of Harbaugh playing in his signature khakis. The trip looks like it's been a lot of fun, and it's getting a lot of great press. 

Here is a short clip; perhaps they'll have the longer segment on the website later today. 

http://www.espn.com/video/clip?id=19237736

(Edited to change title: I'm not sure they are still in Rome.)

UMProud

April 25th, 2017 at 8:33 AM ^

Sadly this trip idea is such a hit it is sure to generate a new anti Harbaugh rule by the slack jawed NCAA. Other coaches chew tums and curse Harbaugh

Perkis-Size Me

April 25th, 2017 at 8:43 AM ^

Considering that Harbaugh has woven so much of an educational factor into this trip, it will be tough for the NCAA to block it. They would likely face a big public backlash from it, as the perception is the NCAA denying student athletes a chance to broaden their horizons and see parts of the world they may otherwise never get to to see. They would be denying a student athlete's right to be a student. 

Personally I doubt much will happen from this. Saban and Co. don't care because Italy doesn't exactly constitute part of their recruiting turf. That's all this was ever about. The only complaining I think you're going to hear is from schools that can't afford trips like these.

LSAClassOf2000

April 25th, 2017 at 9:02 AM ^

I will say this - it would not shock me if a less-endowed university from one of the P5 conferences decided to propose legislation to the NCAA which would make future trips like this one difficult, at least in theory. Whether or not you could come up with something that could be enforced and not be utterly silly on its face is another matter. 

Perkis-Size Me

April 25th, 2017 at 9:50 AM ^

The college football world is full of haves and have nots. That's never going to change, so to them I say tough shit and deal with it. 

This is being paid for entirely by a single private donor (from what I understand). Those "less endowed" schools want to have trips like this for their student athletes? Call your alumni and ask for donations. Michigan has an extraordinarily large alumni base. Not to mention a generous one as well. Why not reap the benefits of that? 

war-dawg69

April 25th, 2017 at 8:41 AM ^

Reading the comments from Michigan fans about this trip is truly a breath of fresh air compared to osu fans. Every once in a while there will be somewhat of a human comment towards Coach Harbaugh followed by ten of the nastiest immature garbage they can thank of. All they want to do is figure out the recruiting advantages of such a trip, because they could care less about any educational advantages or just the experience having a positive influence on a young persons life. I admit I should probably not go to the eleven warriors website, but have to get my dose of Harbaugh and Michigan bashing I can. Of course we do it also, but they have something about Michigan at all times. You will find a Michigan article or something about UM on that website at all times. I just think it is a cool idea to take the team abroad and really do not think it has anything to do with recruiting. Osu is a win at all costs type of school and their program is followed by die hard fans for sure, but a majority of them are just plain classless. For a kid who's aspirations extend past playing football I just can't see why you would attend an institution such as that. For a fan base that knows nothing of fair play and win at all costs type of recruiting the concept of football players having a great experience most be beyond foreign.With the advantages of superior recruiting classes and officiating they really have no excuse for their team and their superior head coach. As arrogant as they are and with all the advantages they have they should win the big ten every year, but they don't. They brag and they boast, but always attack Michigan and I was just wondering why?.

Hugh

April 25th, 2017 at 9:50 AM ^

I wonder how many players ran over to that McDonalds for a quick Big Mac? You can even get a glass of wine to go with it. I heard Speight talk about Roman Pizza saying it is better than Ann Arbor and about the same as New York Pizza. My experience with Italian pizza (outside of Naples and Sicily) is that it is radically different than American pizza. It is usually a piece of cracker like flat bread with some ingredients placed on top of it. 

M-Dog

April 25th, 2017 at 5:45 PM ^

I'm not really surprised.  This happens with my kids . . . you take them somewhere totally unique with indigenous sights and activities you can't see or do anywhere else, and they want to go to the movies and amusement parks.

Kids will be kids.  You have to pick your targets and mix it up.

You can't give them all vegetables, you have to throw in some desert too or they go south.

 

JWG Wolverine

April 25th, 2017 at 5:46 PM ^

This makes me smile because things like this is exactly what I wanted out of this trip for this team.

Unfortunately this will never happen, but I wish that people could quit talking about how this is Harbaugh's new sneaky way to get recruits and constantly releasing headlines putting him and this team down and instead just realize what this Rome Trip truly is.

This trup is a bonding and educational (studying abroad) trip for a group of Michigan Students who (because of their busy life in AA) don't get an opportunity to go out and do. It's not about recruiting, it's about giving these kids an unbelivable experience that will help them not only in football, but in life. Just like Harbaugh said.

This is "Leaders and Best" at it's finest.