Bane
The Vilian
SEC Reportedly Looks to Block Michigan from Holding Spring Practice in Florida
SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey said Tuesday the conference has petitioned the NCAA to block Michigan from holding spring practices in Florida. “Our primary reaction [is] that, in the face of the time-demand conversations, we've got one program taking what has been 'free time' away,” Sankey said, per Dennis Dodd of CBSSports.com. “Let's draw a line and say, ‘That's not appropriate.'"
Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh announced last week he plans for the Wolverines to practice at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, from Feb. 27 to March 6. The SEC's push to prevent Michigan from holding practices stems from a competitive-balance issue. As noted by Dodd, spring break has traditionally been counted as a week where student-athletes are allowed to be free from the confines of football practices.
“This seems completely counter to the dialogue,” Sankey said. “We have work to do on [giving athletes a] day off. We have work to do on, how do you provide a postseason break? It seems where this is one where reasonable people could say we just shouldn't be in this space.”
Of course, there is likely an underlying ulterior motive here. Harbaugh has already ruffled feathers in SEC and ACC offices by hosting satellite camps in areas that are typically southern hotbeds for recruiting. The conferences have filed appeals that look to ban such appearances, which would ultimately help member schools keep those players in house.
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...higan-from-holding-spring-practice-in-florida
SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey said Tuesday the conference has petitioned the NCAA to block Michigan from holding spring practices in Florida. “Our primary reaction [is] that, in the face of the time-demand conversations, we've got one program taking what has been 'free time' away,” Sankey said, per Dennis Dodd of CBSSports.com. “Let's draw a line and say, ‘That's not appropriate.'"
Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh announced last week he plans for the Wolverines to practice at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, from Feb. 27 to March 6. The SEC's push to prevent Michigan from holding practices stems from a competitive-balance issue. As noted by Dodd, spring break has traditionally been counted as a week where student-athletes are allowed to be free from the confines of football practices.
“This seems completely counter to the dialogue,” Sankey said. “We have work to do on [giving athletes a] day off. We have work to do on, how do you provide a postseason break? It seems where this is one where reasonable people could say we just shouldn't be in this space.”
Of course, there is likely an underlying ulterior motive here. Harbaugh has already ruffled feathers in SEC and ACC offices by hosting satellite camps in areas that are typically southern hotbeds for recruiting. The conferences have filed appeals that look to ban such appearances, which would ultimately help member schools keep those players in house.
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...higan-from-holding-spring-practice-in-florida