Reported by DetroitNews.com’s @chengelis, during a Friday morning appearance on “The Dan Patrick Show” Alabama coach Nick Saban was asked to share his thoughts on Jim Harbaugh‘s decision to move Michigan’s spring practice to IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla.
“I think everybody’s got to make decisions that they feel best for what they need to do in their program….We love having spring practice right here in Alabama….But I’m not sure anybody really knows the value of doing some of these things whether it’s having off-campus camps all over the place.”
When asked about any difficulties he encountered trying to recruit in the heart of SEC territory during his time as head coach at Michigan State, Saban appeared to understand the purpose of Harbaugh’s decision, stating “I [Saban] get it.”
Patrick followed with the lighthearted suggestion that Alabama consider moving practice to Ann Arbor or Columbus in the future to which Saban touched on the most obvious factor,
“First of all, most of our team would be shocked by the weather, so that’s not something they would really relish doing…,” before restating his uncertainty about the overall benefit that sort of decision would have for Alabama’s, or any, football program.
Consistent with most other CFB programs’ reactions of shock and/or blatant disapproval, or perhaps just envy, to Coach Harbaugh’s creativity and willingness to push NCAA boundaries to the furthest (legal) point imaginable, Saban’s opinion appears to fall within similar confines.
Only time will tell if Harbaugh’s ability to reinvent the NCAA’s rigid and often confusing recruiting rules will pay off in “W’s” for the Wolverines. So far, we think it’s working.
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