Spring Game to be 4/15, Rome official

the desire to both give his players a special break experience and turn the spring practice regimen on its head by giving his players and team a chance to ttavel overseas for a highly unique learning experience in a foreign country and by making Michigan unique in its approach to both the game and teaching in the process. Lots of schools have done this in other sports, but never in football.

Doesn't this accomplish the same end as going to Florida for a week?

I say that because it tweaks the competition and the NCAA in a way that defines Michigan as uniquely special in offering an incredible travel experience for its football team and showcasing the program from a recruiting opportunity that underlines an instiuttional message that others pay only lip service to: giving student athletes an incredible opportunity to learn and play while in college and in the process growing the game in an international setting.

Now, let outsiders challenge this on recruiting grounds. Michigan has done more to expand football growth overseas by teaching  the game than the NFL has in the last two years. Michigan, in fact, by doing what it has with its program opportunites for coaching and players in  off time during summer and now spring break is demonstrating a commitment to teaching and learning that the NCAA doesn't encourage or even promote except in the most limited sense.

I say this trip ticks all the boxes and more when it comes to making the NCAA look foolish by forcing a school to go overseas in order to achieve thsee ends. But look at the internal benefits. You can't even measure them.

Football players contribute more to UM than they receive back in the value of their football scholarships.  In addition to time spent on required and voluntary team activities, players give up study abroad opportunities, internships and other extra-curriculars that other students benefit from.  On top of that, football takes a physical toll that we are only beginning to fully understand.

Balance that with the fact that USA today # from 2014 show UM football had revenue of $91 million ($728K per player)and profit of $65 million or $520K per player.

If  Harbaugh and Michigan football can offer better educational value to its football players,  they should do it.  If other programs follow suit, all the better for the players.