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The SEC's upset with Jim Harbaugh again.
(Melanie Maxwell | MLive.com)
ANN ARBOR -- The Southeastern Conference isn't happy with Jim Harbaugh.
Part II.
CBS reported Tuesday afternoon that SEC commissioner Greg Sankey has asked the NCAA to prohibit teams from holding spring practice sessions during the week of spring break.
This comes just days after Harbaugh announced that the Wolverines will spend their spring break week (Feb. 29-March 4) practicing at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida. Harbaugh intends to hold Michigan's first spring four workouts in Bradenton before returning to Ann Arbor for the rest.
There is no NCAA rule that prohibits a college football team from doing exactly what Harbaugh's planning to do.
The SEC now wants that changed.
"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 told CBS. "Let's draw a line and say, 'That's not appropriate.' "
Harbaugh explained last week that part of his reasoning for taking Michigan to Florida for spring ball is to make sure "everyone has a spring break." He said, in addition to regulated practices and meetings, he plans on taking the team to the beach, to the pool and to a putt-putt golf course.
He also said that by having a week's worth of practice during spring break, Michigan's players will be able to go through winter semester exam weeks without any football obligations.
"Those will be discretionary weeks so our guys can focus and concentrate on finals," Harbaugh said. "Then, we'll be outside, we'll be in Florida, we'll go to the beach. It'll be a good time for the team to connect and be together.
"That's a lot of levels right there ... very much looking forward to it."
Per CBS, no decision or NCAA response on this matter is expected to happen before Michigan's trip to Florida this year.