Harbaugh on Rome and Baby John H.

Submitted by Everyone Murders on

http://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/college/university-michigan/201…

Angelique Chengelis continues her great work with a piece on Jim Harbaugh's plan for Italy and managing work and home life.  Newborn John Harbaugh continues to do well, and our coach is a bit ... different than other coaches.  In a good way.  His thoughts on the Rome trip in part - but check out the entire article:

It’s going to be a tremendous educational and athletic experience where we’re connecting with people, and all the things our guys are going to be doing over there is going to be amazing. We’re going to the Vatican, we’re going to visit the troops, we’re going to a Syrian refugee camp. We’re going to an opera. We’re going to the Colosseum. We’re going to be in Europe, we’re going to travel as a team.
It’s the University of Michigan, it’s how it thinks,” Harbaugh said. “The world is our classroom. We could think of it that way, and to have a university that supports that kind of perspective, and supports it financially, and supports the rationale of it, the idea of it.  
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Everyone Murders

January 25th, 2017 at 7:58 AM ^

Let's not forget that none of this happens* without the quiet and steady support of Mark Schlissel, a guy who by his own admission did not understand the interplay of athletics and education at Michigan.  Certainly Warde Manuel signed off on this, but you have to think that approval for a trip like this went all the way to the top (short of regent approval).

So hats off to Mark Schlissel for working to understand the culture, and giving Harbaugh the tools to be the poster child of our university!

*I mean the trip to Rome.  I'm guessing that Jim and Sarah Harbaugh did not need Schlissel's help in conceiving and delivering Baby John H.

Joined: 12/14/2010

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Spunky

January 25th, 2017 at 9:24 AM ^

The trip sounds like it will be an unforgettable experience for the players. I want to go with them. 

Also, funny way to end the interview. Harbaugh is hilarious.

Joined: 09/12/2012

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jmblue

January 25th, 2017 at 11:32 AM ^

This bit jumps out at me:

 

College basketball teams frequently take trips abroad combining games and sightseeing. The NCAA allows such trips once every four years. This, however, is not common among football programs.
Other than the expense of bringing more people over, there is no good reason for football programs not to be able to enjoy this same privilege.

Joined: 11/07/2008

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charblue.

January 25th, 2017 at 12:05 PM ^

that the Italy trip has been in the planning stages for up to nine months and barely a word was leaked about it before the official announcement the other day. Beyond that, it was newsworthy to learn that players will be likely extending their stay in Europe after the Rome visit to participate in some additional travel and learning experiences that are availble to any student but are opportunities that are usually not available to football athletes because of their academic and training schedules.

This is a remarkable trip on so many levels and I think Michigan again is leading the way and showing up the NCAA at the same time, making it look small by putting restrictions on in-state and national travel for player opportunities during spring break in the US.

I mean our coach continues to demonstrate that he is a Michigan man through and through, not just as a leader, but an advocate of the mission of this great university. I think it's fabulous his players will not only get a chance to experience so many unique sites, people and activities during and after their journey to Italy.

 

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