HAIL-YEA

December 4th, 2019 at 2:04 PM ^

No they are not you fucking bafoon. The athletic department is completely self sustained separate entity. The AD actually gives money to the school.  To top it off these trips are paid for entirely with donations made specifically for these trips. Again, you aren't paying for shit.

Joined: 07/15/2009

MGoPoints: 10810

Jon06

December 5th, 2019 at 7:38 AM ^

Whether the AD currently gives money to the school is more or less irrelevant, given that they could always give the school more money. Also, the post was complaining about Harbaugh's salary, not the cost of the trips. So, if the $7M Harbaugh gets were actually $7M the school doesn't get--and for all your response says, it could be--the complaint would be apt.

The real reason it doesn't matter that Harbaugh gets $7M is that his performance presumably increases the amount of money the AD takes in by more than the difference between that $7M and what Hoke was getting. #RememberTheTwocokesmo

Joined: 09/19/2009

MGoPoints: 15306

TheCube

December 4th, 2019 at 9:51 AM ^

If you want to be all “moral” and full of “integrity” then these trips are essential to giving the kids a valued college experience. They ARE “student” athletes held to higher standards at Michigan are they not? (According to this blog) 

Joined: 12/19/2018

MGoPoints: 31596

DairyQueen

December 4th, 2019 at 9:57 AM ^

Exactly.

The abroad opportunities available to UM students are world-class.

It's mind-blowing how few americans actually travel outside of the country.

And thus not surprising Americans have such poor political imaginations given so few have seen anything else.

Without being exposed to different ideas/ways of life, you think your way of living and thinking is the only one, and "the best".

If these guys lose to OSU (and others), yes it hurts the ultra-competitive side of me, but knowing that they're actually getting priceless life-experiences, that UM through actions-not-words proves the true committment to growth and experiences for student athletes, at such a young, impressionable age, more than makes up for it.

99% of student-athletes will not play a day of professional football, and the average NFL-career is 3.3 years, these student-athletes have the rest of their lives ahead of them (Jim has a great quote about answering the question, "How was Team ___?". Check it out if you can, it's the very definition of Wisdom).

The trip to Brazil will be excellent(e).

Joined: 04/20/2014

MGoPoints: 6642

Bluesince89

December 4th, 2019 at 10:41 AM ^

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

I didn't step on a plane until I was 22, including while I was at UM.  Family couldn't afford to travel.  Not bashing people who go abroad - now that I can afford it, I love to travel (and I don't think being not being exposed to foreign lands really hindered my "political imaginations" [I think i can tell where you're going there]. 

But student study abroad experiences basically were party on mommy and daddy's dime for a semester while minimally attending class based on everyone I knew at UM who partook.  

The notion that studying abroad when you're young makes you more well-rounded is vastly overrated IMO.  Great for them for going and I'm sure it's fun, but let's not act like it's anything more than a vacation paid for my rich alums at best and another reason for Harbaugh haters to latch onto when they come out flat against lesser opponents or get blown up by PSU/OSU/Wisky.

Joined: 09/14/2008

MGoPoints: 14739

jmblue

December 4th, 2019 at 12:41 PM ^

I don't follow.  If you didn't step on a plane until age 22, what experience do you have studying abroad?

I did study abroad, and it was absolutely a highlight of my time at U-M.  It's a shame that you have such a jaded perspective.  Seeing the world beyond the borders of the United States had a big impact on me, and for everyone else I know who went abroad.  

For the record, there is financial aid available for these programs, as there is for any other academic term.

Joined: 11/07/2008

MGoPoints: 102825

Bluesince89

December 4th, 2019 at 7:53 PM ^

Because they were my friends and basically confirmed it was a vacation and they spent maybe a handful of hours on coursework a week and were basically seeing sites and drinking? I mean it’s really not that hard to follow.
 

Look, I get it, you had a good experience.  That’s great.   I’m sure it’s very rewarding if you do it the way (language and culture immersion, living with host families, volunteering in a third world country, etc.).  Call me whatever, I just don’t see the worldview shaping value of partying in Berlin or Madrid.  

Joined: 09/14/2008

MGoPoints: 14739

allezbleu

December 4th, 2019 at 11:44 AM ^

So it's a chance for students, many of whom have never really travelled, to see the world. But because you never got to do it, and because some people you know partied when they did it, nobody else should?

Grow up.

FYI, my study abroad experience at UM was fantastic and incredibly academically engaging. It was a life changing experience for me at the time.

Joined: 11/02/2008

MGoPoints: 3154

Bluesince89

December 4th, 2019 at 12:21 PM ^

I'm pretty grown, but thanks. 

I literally said "good for them" for getting to go and never said anyone shouldn't go.  Again, I'm sure it's a valuable experience for some, but for most people I knew it was just a semester long vacation with minimal academic involvement.  My comments are generally directed at study abroad and not this trip in general.  

I frankly don't care if they go.  They can go to the moon for all I care.  Just show up and win on Saturdays.  

Joined: 09/14/2008

MGoPoints: 14739

allezbleu

December 4th, 2019 at 1:05 PM ^

They’re not taking classes. They’re going to experience other cultures. Also these trips have zero to do with why we can’t beat Ohio State. But sure keep repeating your irrelevant points. Sorry if you can’t understand what an amazing experience this must be for some of these kids. 

 

I don’t care who’s the coach or how many wins we have. I hope UM keeps doing this.

Joined: 11/02/2008

MGoPoints: 3154

outsidethebox

December 4th, 2019 at 9:47 PM ^

I believe these trips to be incredibly wonderful. Recently we were in Laos and Vietnam for 3 weeks. I sure hope they go there sometime. What the US did to those two countries between the mid 50s to the mid 70s is stunning. And today they graciously treat us as friends. It is both a fascinating place and a humbling experience. There are great lessons to be learned here. 

Joined: 01/23/2017

MGoPoints: 18816

chunkums

December 4th, 2019 at 10:41 AM ^

Is there a point being made here? The trips don't benefit every student at the university, so they're bad? I can't wrap my head around Michigan fans actually being upset about student-athletes taking a free trip in the offseason for one week. These students sacrifice their bodies to generate millions and millions of dollars for the AD. Let them have a week.  

Joined: 06/30/2008

MGoPoints: 29029

globalmodernwarfare

December 4th, 2019 at 5:36 PM ^

I think the tough thing some people have tough time wrapping head around is every fan of Michigan wants to claim that Michigan runs the cleanest most pure program in the country yet have found some way that is somehow completely legal but no other school is doing basically a free trip to the privileged football players. Then went to turn around and bash a player for taking a loan to fly his girlfriend to a game that was paid back prior to being forced to. No one wants to believe the second thing I said actually happened and he is just making $100,000s a year but everyone wants to believe that it’s ok to spend a lot of money to send the team on a world class vacation for a week that no other student at the university is afforded for free. Personally believe as you said football players bring a lot to the school and if can get away with a trip every year I see no problem with it and I’m sure the players love it. I’m also under the believe that no one from the football program isn’t planning or spending time on the trip so it isn’t taking away from the performance on the field. The optics at times don’t look good when want to be looked at as purest program in country but find ways to skirt the rules to offer something others don’t.

Joined: 10/22/2019

MGoPoints: 3