Avon Barksdale

February 9th, 2016 at 2:28 PM ^

I was in disbelief reading it. I especially liked the part: "We are trying to block satellite camps, but if we fail, we will do them bigger and better and give more money than anyone." Probably a smart move on the SEC's part -- Jim Harbaugh just beat their division champ by five touchdowns.

m_go_T

February 9th, 2016 at 3:41 PM ^

I would suggest that if the SEC is so concerned with integrity and what is right, they should look to their glass house set up before looking to cast stones in our direction.  

They promote an environment of sexual assault by basically pimping out the women campus for recruiting visits, but have a problem with student athletes going off site during spring break for a week of practice.  

The reasoning is also quite funny.  The gist of the argument is:

i) Student athletes have too much of a load being student athletes

ii) Michigan is looking to use spring break, a time usually spent on drinking and getting laid or doing nothing, to host one of the four weeks of spring ball.  Presumabely this frees up one more week of school for the student athlete.  

iii) ??????

iv) the student athlete is being harmed.  (i.e., profit)  

Bo Schemheckler

February 9th, 2016 at 5:02 PM ^

THe SEC has been very consistent on the issue of giving kids time off. In fact they are so concerned with kids having enough time to relax that they sometimes wait for kids to get to campus and then give them anywhere from a semester to their whole careers off!

M-Dog

February 9th, 2016 at 3:35 PM ^

The funniest part of all of this is that the SEC's ban on satellite camps was to protect themsevles from themselves.  It was to keep Miles out of Tuscaloosa and Saban out of Gainesville.

Now in their hissy fit, they are about to open Pandora's box.  

Harbaugh and Meyer and Frankiln will go down there for a day or two and that will be the end of it.  But now because of their fragile egos, their coaches will be living in each other's shorts all summer long.  

You're welcome, SEC.

 

SoDak Blues

February 9th, 2016 at 2:40 PM ^

Honestly, I have thought about that. Can you imagine a coaching camp or satellite camp with both Les and Jim? Not sure what their relationship is like, but that would be ridiculous for both programs (probably more so for Michigan) and would REALLY piss off the SEC. 

The Mad Hatter

February 9th, 2016 at 2:43 PM ^

He thinks it's great for the kids to get exposure.  I'll bet that if JH reached out he'd be more than willing to do it.  If for no other reason than to piss off Alabama and the LSU boosters that tried to get him fired this year.  Les might coach for LSU, but he's a Michigan Man at heart.

 

mjv

February 9th, 2016 at 2:55 PM ^

I think that JH blew the timing on this announcement.  He should have waited for another month to annouce that spring practices would be at IMG.  

Waiting would have limited the time that the SEC bellyachers could have to try and stop it.  

The SEC clearly only cares that someone may be successfully recruiting elite talent.  The crap about players' schedules and time limits is quite funny given they were the first conference to have a championship game.  which falls right before finals -- the time when students should be most focused on their studies.

SAMgO

February 9th, 2016 at 2:30 PM ^

This guy's argument is literally "prohibit schools from holding practice during the one time in the spring when their school schedules and obligations will definitely not conflict."

Doubt anything comes of it, but not at all surprised that the SEC is trying this.

ijohnb

February 9th, 2016 at 2:33 PM ^

understand why they would.  Jehu Chesson just caught another touchdown against Hargreaves while we were reading this article.

UNCWolverine

February 9th, 2016 at 2:32 PM ^

If you want to be amused watch the little comment scroll window at the bottom right of the screen when on the article page. Just saw one that wrote, "Harbaugh is a clown, let him have his little freak show". Cool, we'll take it dummy.

State Street

February 9th, 2016 at 2:33 PM ^

We should take a team vote to see how many kids from Michigan want to get a free trip to Florida in the dead of winter.  I don't think the answer will surprise us.

Heinous Wagner

February 9th, 2016 at 2:34 PM ^

What is this, the old territory system of pro wrestling? They need to think of ways to outcompete and outthink Harbaugh. But instead, they will adopt their throwback position of badmouthing and throwing around wheelbarrows full of cash , er.... incentives. 

mjv

February 9th, 2016 at 2:58 PM ^

Why does this surprise you?  This is they way everything goes.  Look at how laws are written in DC for the last 20 years?  The groups with the best connected lobbyists write the rules and regulations that they are then governed by.  And amazingly, those rules and regulations favor the groups that pay for the lobbyists. 

This behavior is indicative of any organization that is corrupt to its core.

StephenRKass

February 9th, 2016 at 2:35 PM ^

The SEC doesn't like what Harbaugh is doing. Tough. He is going to be creative in doing whatever he can to get Michigan to the top, and keep them there.

Only one caveat:  I agree with the idea of giving players who want it some time off. Spring break practice for 4 days, with fun mixed in, makes a lot of sense to me. But maybe Michigan needs to make sure there is a substitute week in there for players to go home and enjoy time with their families. Maybe an extra week after classes are done, before summer classes begin?