Rome this year, South Africa next year, and beyond

Michigan can get a leg up on recruiting Sumos from Japan. I'm sure they can make good Olinemen? 

Pretty slick recruiting tactic.... I wonder how big of a fit the SEC throws.

Who else but Jim Harbaugh would come up with such a great idea?

These students will remember these educational foreign trips forever.

I wonder how long before the NCAA tries to shut it down ...

Harbaugh is just a step ahead of everyone on this stuff. 

People bitch and moan about college players not getting paid...and I hear you. I'm not going down that road. But my point is he's taking all of this money and investing in his players.

NCAA can eat a dick.

Sorry for my language, but it's just how I feel at the moment.

I prefer this thread. The other OP just talks about a single donor footing the bill this year, but you explicitly mentioned the new info about subsequent trip destinations. 

Also, that is awesome. Expensive, and need to make sure they're not running afoul of any other NCAA bylaws, but man - what a fantastic opportunity. I'm sure some of the kids have been abroad, but I'm guessing most of them have never been out of the country.

(assumption based on the fact that only about 36% of Americans have a passport, meaning that at least 64% of Americans have not legally traveled outside our borders; some analysis even suggests that less than 5% of the US population travels overseas in any given year, with tje vast majority of international travel being to Mexico, Canada, and the Caribbean)

Obviously great for the people who get to go on these trips, but they are definitely a recruiting carrot too. More power to Harbaugh. Giving his players every positive experience he can think of.

I thought they shut down spring break trips after this year though. How are they getting around that?

it's great, to be, a Michigan wolverine

There are some big and mean rugby dudes in South Africa.  This might pay off in recruiting!

Harbaugh just seems to get it. He knows that Michigan has plenty of money/donors willing to give money to the program and since he can't pay the players explicitly you might as well give them experiences that will last a liftetime. Bonus is that he gets to stick it to the NCAA and SEC

This is a great thing for the players. I spent a year on Okinawa many moons ago and still remember the cool things I did. My dad also fought there in WW2 so that was neat to see things. Good for M and the kids. F U to the NCAA if they block this.

Israel would be at the top but holy cow, the next four years are going to be awesome for the program for this alone.

Sounds fantastic!
(Of course, I especially like the plan to go to Japan)

But how do these trips not run afoul of NCAA 'improper benefits' regulations?

Hmmmm. I can think of places that would be more appealing to a 18-22 year olds than South Africa, Israel, Japan. Vegas. Rio. Los Angeles. New Orleans. Atlanta. Austin. 

These trips are also opportunities to make (indirect) recruiting inroads. 

As an old(er) guy, I absolutely love the idea of young people going overseas.  Setting aside the whole football thing for a moment, experiencing another country and culture provides so many benefits, especially if you can immerse yourself in it.  You look at the world differently, you look at the USA differently.  You get a new perspective on almost everything.  If you go with an open mind, once you return, you realize the world is a much bigger place than you ever thought. It's exciting and humbling at the same time.  Spending a week may not be long enough to get the full benefits, but maybe this trip will spur some of these kids to live and work overseas on their own.  Didn't mean to preach.  And, yes, get off my lawn.

Next Trip
Historic cross country Clark Griswold Trip to WallyWorld, in an 100 person RV, stopping at Cedar Point, Mac Island, Yellowstone, Denver, Four Corners, Rushmore, Ruby Falls, Mighty Mac, Ludington Ferry, Casinos, Taquammadon (sp) Falls, Painted/Pictured Rocks, Route 66, Grand Cannon, Mississippi River, St Louis Arches, Kentucky Derby, Rockwell, Area 51, Oswald Bear Ranch, Soo Locks, Milwaukee Largest Ball of Twine, Vegas, San Fran, Chi Town, NOLA..FLA

It's going to be hard for Mark D. and Tony O. to recruit the galaxy when Harbaugh is holding spring practice on Kepler-452b.