University of Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh has done a world of good for college football by re-energizing one of the sport's most historic programs practically overnight. Harbaugh also helped make Big Ten football must-watch television late last year, even if Ohio State trounced them in the big house.
With Harbaugh once again dominating the news cycle in the college football offseason, Ohio State fired the opening salvo to get the rivalry underway. Ohio State University Athletic Director Gene Smith recently discussed the controversial spring break trip Harbaugh took with his team, joining those who believe it impeded the student-athletes' free time.
But Smith took an opportunity to zing Harbaugh and Michigan while he still could.
Ohio State AD Gene Smith on holding spring practice in Florida: "If we were jump starting our program, I'd probably try to do that too."
— Ben Axelrod (@BenAxelrod) March 22, 2016
Ohio State head football coach Urban Meyer said last week he would "look into" holding a remote spring practice like Harbaugh did, calling it a "creative" idea. Meyer stressed today that looking into the idea was as far as he would go. He said there are no plans to bring the Buckeyes to Florida next year.
Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer says he might pull a "Jim Harbaugh" and hold spring practices in Florida next year pic.twitter.com/IoZkGN8Dw0 — Sara Perlman (@saraperlman) March 15, 2016
"It doesn't mean we won't do research or keep an eye out, but it's funny," Meyer said. "Somebody said the other day, 'I saw you guys were going to Florida.' I said, 'What are you talking about?' Somebody stuck a microphone in my face and I said [we'd look into it]. We wouldn't take their free time away from them. If there's some way to do something like that and it helps the players, we'll look into it."
Smith echoed Meyer's comment, calling Harbaugh's spring break trip "creative," but would ultimately never happen at Ohio State.
"We're talking about spring practice. What's my man's name? Allen Iverson? We're talking about practice, man," Smith said. "So the reality is I wouldn't do that, I wouldn't support taking that time away from our student-athletes."
Smith continued: "Is it creative? Does it help from a recruiting and marketing point of view? I get that... If we were jump-starting our program, I'd probably try and do that, too. But we're not jump-starting our program. We're in a different place."
Harbaugh turned Michigan around in his first season, going 6-2 in the Big Ten and routing Florida in Citrus Bowl 41-7. Harbaugh then landed a top-five recruiting class, even managing to lure a four-star running back recruit from Ohio State.
Meyer also has a top-five recruiting class incoming and has quarterback J.T. Barrett returning. Ohio State will host what could be a play-in game for the Big Ten Championship in late November when Michigan comes to "The Shoe." Until then, we will eagerly await Harbaugh's subtweet response to Smith's sick burn.
