Michigan Football Heading to S. Africa in May
UM Football will not be practicing during their trip to S. Africa in May.
February 19th, 2019 at 7:48 PM ^
These kids might meet Desmond Howard AND Desmond Tutu! Now _that’s_ pretty awesome.
February 19th, 2019 at 5:50 PM ^
These trips should be a reward for winning something, not finishing in the top 4 in the East. This team has not even won the East yet lol.
February 19th, 2019 at 6:05 PM ^
If they win the East, they get a space junket.
February 19th, 2019 at 6:07 PM ^
Disagree. Trips like this should be commonplace in the NCAA. Luckily we have such generous and wealthy alums that are willing to donate to make this happen.
If you've ever looked at the schedule of a college football player, you would be surprised that more of them aren't failing out. Their schedules are brutal they deserve to be rewarded for their efforts to keep us entertained.
Saying "you get to go to a different continent if you win the B1G" wouldn't make a difference in season outcome. Beating OSU, winning the B1G, making the playoff, and cementing your legacy in Michigan football history is more than enough motivation.
February 19th, 2019 at 6:34 PM ^
"Beating OSU", ya Harbaugh is 0-4 against OSU. "Making the playoff" ?? How about winning the Big East for the first time ever.
February 19th, 2019 at 8:40 PM ^
Trolls be trolling. RCMB is calling.
February 19th, 2019 at 6:30 PM ^
Do you feel the same way about all the other Michigan sports teams that go abroad, or does only football have to "earn" a trip?
February 19th, 2019 at 6:30 PM ^
Please leave the fan base.
If not, at least this site.
February 19th, 2019 at 6:36 PM ^
Leave the fanbase ? I'm not allowed to have a different opinion, but you want me to leave the fanbase for simply disagreeing with overseas trips annually?
February 19th, 2019 at 7:07 PM ^
It's not that you have a different opinion. It's that you think educational opportunities should only happen if the team performs to your satisfaction. That's a shit opinion.
February 19th, 2019 at 7:28 PM ^
How about the team take a week to restore a house in Detroit or do something to help people here locally ? That would be educational and a team bonding experience. I never said that I was against educational opportunities.
February 19th, 2019 at 8:33 PM ^
Why don't you do that?
February 19th, 2019 at 8:54 PM ^
Do you not like black people, kids or both?
February 20th, 2019 at 7:38 AM ^
Shut the fuck up. Crying racism is a weak-minded bitch's tactic. Sure, the guy's opinion isn't the greatest but he's allowed to have it and not be a racist. Stop being a shitbag.
February 19th, 2019 at 10:22 PM ^
Hmm ... 1975. Are you Maizen's father/uncle?
February 19th, 2019 at 6:32 PM ^
It's really besides the point (which is: I agree with those who say that the educational value of these trips is outstanding and a worthy reward for these kids who give so much to the university), but technically we were B1G East co-champions this year. Under the B1G rules, the only effect of the head-to-head loss is that we didn't go to the B1G championship game.
February 20th, 2019 at 12:43 PM ^
I’m always for hanging banners won the right way. We would hang many more if OSU didn’t pay all their players and place winning over the safety of women
February 19th, 2019 at 7:21 PM ^
These players aren't just pawns that exist just for your amusement and ego. They are college student that make the school millions, but get very little of that. Due to their schedules, most don't get a chance to study abroad.
I wish more schools could/would do stuff like this.
February 19th, 2019 at 7:45 PM ^
Actually, I am surprised that more programs don't do things like this. I mean, part of the university experience is fantastic learning opportunities, ones that you may not ever get again. Why not offer them to the football team as part of their academic experience?
February 19th, 2019 at 10:43 PM ^
Most kids opt for the Escalade, and wad of cash instead. Plus can you imagine some of these teams, say Meyers Florida teams getting into trouble internationally. Look at the dipshit Bruins kids including Ball who got caught shoplifting.
I imagine this would present quite a few issues around teams with looser player conduct standards.
February 20th, 2019 at 3:35 PM ^
I'm 66, fairly comfortable, and I have never been to South Africa or the beach at Normandy. It's phenomenal that these young men get to have that experience, which will stay with them for a lifetime.
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February 19th, 2019 at 9:58 PM ^
You are a fucking asshole for that comment
February 19th, 2019 at 11:21 PM ^
The trips are a reward for "playing school" dumbass, maybe you should try it.
February 20th, 2019 at 7:55 AM ^
The won a share of BIG East championship last year.
February 20th, 2019 at 8:55 AM ^
Hey buddy - it's not a reward or a carrot. It's an attempt to actually care about these kids and their education. It's a chance for them to travel and see a part of the world they might otherwise not & expand their horizons. How dare they work hard all year long, constantly bouncing from the weight room to practice to the classroom to the field, and be rewarded for that. Don't they know your expectations haven't been met yet? Can you let them know when it's okay to celebrate a win and feel good about themselves? I'm sure they're waiting on baited breath.
February 20th, 2019 at 12:56 PM ^
1975Blue said:
My (2018) season prediction was 8-4, now maybe should have been 7-5
These trips should be a reward for winning something
Winning 3 more games last season than you expected isn't good enough? Step back and self reflect, guy. Life's too short to be a jerk.
February 20th, 2019 at 1:24 PM ^
They weren't beating OSU before these trips started either... I'm not sure this would help anything.
February 19th, 2019 at 5:57 PM ^
Would be pretty neat if he takes them to Stellenbosch to visit Danie Craven Stadium which is the birthplace of South African rugby. Double points if they play some rugby while they are there or meet some current Maties or even a Springbok.
February 19th, 2019 at 8:19 PM ^
Absolutely. Super Rugby is back up and running so plenty of opportunity. I've been to games at the big 4 rugby grounds in SA.
Hey plus the wine in that region is super. Pinotage
February 19th, 2019 at 6:12 PM ^
Coach Harbaugh... please keep making these trips possible.
It’s a good thing for the student-athlete to see the world.
February 19th, 2019 at 6:30 PM ^
My daughter missed them by one year. She was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Botswana until last November, and was regularly in Johannesberg and vacationed in Capetown. Among her fellow volunteers was a former UM football player Mark Spencer (punter in the early ‘00’s) and the Ambassador to Botswana was a Michigan Grad (recently transferred). They could have done a day trip up to the Okavango delta and hung out in her thatch roofed hut.
February 19th, 2019 at 8:20 PM ^
Very cool. Okavango and Chobe in Botswana are some of the best safari destinations on the planet.
February 19th, 2019 at 6:31 PM ^
I love the overseas trips. What other program gives its players this opportunity? This really is the Michigan difference.
February 19th, 2019 at 6:33 PM ^
Great! I spend 2-6 weeks in South Africa for research every May or June and think this will be an eye-opening experience for the team. Hopefully they are able to get to Kruger and the Cape, even though they're at different ends of the country.
February 19th, 2019 at 8:22 PM ^
Agreed, both are must-see.
February 19th, 2019 at 6:45 PM ^
February 19th, 2019 at 6:54 PM ^
Maybe this time an expensive trip will give us the edge to beat OSU.
February 20th, 2019 at 12:51 PM ^
This isn’t about beating OSU at football. It’s about beating them at life. Spoiler alert: We are winning and by a lot...
UM 62
OSU 0
February 21st, 2019 at 1:12 PM ^
This is pathetic.
We play FOOTBALL GAMES to WIN THEM.
February 21st, 2019 at 8:43 PM ^
Seeing the world and having life changing educational expieriences is more important than winning football games. OSU can have all their trophies. Our guys will have wonderful memories
February 19th, 2019 at 6:58 PM ^
February 19th, 2019 at 7:01 PM ^
Good for them. Keep it school educational related and away from football practices as it sets up another media headline when Michigan gets blasted during the season by someone. Keep football at home and practice the fundamentals that make you competitive against the top tier teams just like the Buckeyes, Irish, Tigers, Crimson Tide, Spartans, Hawkeyes, Badgers and so on. Work on winning instead of grandstanding to the NCAA because they took away your mobile summer camps where you recruited. Old fashioned practice goes along way and especially when it is done at home away from the cameras.
February 19th, 2019 at 7:06 PM ^
Well, they'll have fun. South African girls are the bees knees man.
February 19th, 2019 at 7:42 PM ^
Not a good idea, Bob. South Africa is the midst of a meltdown. Post-Mandela has not been good to South Africa. Corruption, residual racism and reciprocal animosity, high crime rate...eep.
February 19th, 2019 at 8:05 PM ^
So what you're saying is that it's just like metro Detroit?
Of course South Africa has issues. Lots of places do. But this isn't some lone tourist wandering into the wrong neighborhood. The risk of a large, well-organized group on a planned itinerary running into major problems is negligible, and the reward is worth it.
February 19th, 2019 at 8:38 PM ^
Lol somebody may want to do some research.
I agree with your sentiment about being fine due to being a big group, but South Africa has a very high violent crime rate as a whole.
February 20th, 2019 at 4:12 AM ^
It's nothing at all like Detroit. Detroit has a legacy of racial tension and conflict, but SA is at a whole other level.Same for violent crime rate. It's akin to Venezuela in that regard.
SA is a very beautiful country with a rich cultural legacy so I understand why they are visiting. I just am concerned about the potential for something to go wrong.