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NCAA President Mark Emmert opposed to Michigan’s spring break practices

By Patrick Schmidt

Apr 2, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; NCAA president Mark Emmert speaks to the media during a press conference at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 2, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; NCAA president Mark Emmert speaks to the media during a press conference at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports /
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NCAA President Mark Emmert questions Jim Harbaugh’s decision to have the Michigan Wolverines conduct practice in Florida during spring break.

Jim Harbaugh created a stir on National Signing Day, but it wasn’t for signing a top-six class or the nation’s No. 1 recruit, Rashan Gary, rather announcing Michigan would have spring practice in Florida during spring break.

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Harbaugh is conducting practices on the campus of IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida that is home to some of the nation’s top recruits, including No. 2 recruit Dylan Moses and caused some backlash from the SEC and the ACC.

SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey and ACC Commissioner John Swofford both were critical of Michigan having practice during a period when the student athletes should be on vacation. That was the company line, but we all know their criticism stems from Michigan and Harbaugh invading their territory where they have a decided geographic advantage when it comes to recruiting and want to protect that for their member schools.

NCAA President Mark Emmert sides with Sankey and Swofford but admits it’s within the rules for Michigan to do this although he doesn’t think it’s right.

“There’s a difference between not being prohibited and being OK,” Emmert said, according to The State’s Josh Kendall.

“There is a big debate going on among administrators right now about how to provide more time off for student-athletes so the use of spring break for practices caused a lot of people to be concerned about it, and that’s an appropriate concern. We are trying to find ways to dial back the demands on student-athletes, not ramp them up.”

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There could be a rule change when the NCAA meets in April that prevents schools from conducting official practices during holidays or time that is supposed to be spent away from the time commitments of a student-athlete. However, that won’t prevent Michigan from having their spring break practice from Feb. 27 – March 6.

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