Michigan's annual paid vacation for the football team: South Africa

[BMF]

Michigan is taking the team on an "educational trip" to South Africa this year. This is such a scam and a mega recruiting advantage. I can't believe this is allowed by the NCAA. Basketball teams are allowed to play in an abroad tournament every 5 years or something like that, not sure how taking your team to Italy, France, and South Africa isn't anything but a recruiting advantage. Why not just hand out $8,000 or whatever the cost is?

They spent $800K in 2017 going to Italy:
Michigan's trip to Italy cost $800K


Michigan announces spring tour destination for 2019

Michigan’s annual spring field trip will head to South Africa in 2019. Wolverines director of football operations Mark Taurisani announced the destination on Twitter on Tuesday.




(from footballscoop):

This will be the first voyage to Africa for Michigan. The Wolverines visited Italy in 2017 and France last season. Michigan practiced in Italy but did not do so in France and will not in South Africa either.

Donors have covered the costs of Michigan’s trips, primarily U-M alum Bobby Kotick.

The excursion will leave after the end of Michigan’s spring semester. The Wolverines will play their spring game on April 13.

 

[Swamp Donkey]

I'm not sure how this is not extra benefits. Are plane trips and free vacations not worth $$$?

 

[Okeechobee Joe]

These people from Michigan sure do spend a lot of money and time trying to not be in Michigan.

 

[MJMGator]

Well, it’s well worth it when you consider all the trophies they’ve accumulated from it.

 

[gatormandan]

Anyone having to tolerate the bugger eater on a daily basis needs a good vacation.

 

[CGgater]

To be fair, they need significant recovery time following that beat down they barely survived in Atlanta.

 

[divits]

I hope they all get robbed and Harbough gets taken hostage by human traffickers. South Africa ain’t the safest place in the world.

 

[NavetG8r]

I hope they all get robbed and Harbough gets taken hostage by human traffickers. South Africa ain’t the safest place in the world.

That's a tad bit harsh, don't you think? I do agree it's not the smartest place to take a vacation. Especially if you're bringing the non-AA players along. They aren't well liked in that part of the world just now.

 

[Swamp Donkey]

I hope they all get robbed and Harbough gets taken hostage by human traffickers. South Africa ain’t the safest place in the world.

Corch said he went there in the 80s and it was great.

 

[divits]

That's a tad bit harsh, don't you think?

How so?

 

[Gator By Marriage]

I'm not sure how this is not extra benefits. Are plane trips and free vacations not worth $$$?

I am wondering the same thing - especially as a booster is covering the expenses. Maybe if we pooled all of our Oxbucks we could send our guys on trip. Think we’d have enough to get them to Micanopy?

 

[Keene-Flint]

Is only Meatchicken allowed to do this? I mean I understand that under the Fooley regime this kind of thing would never happen because we have to pay for the underwater basket weaving team competitions, but if we had an AD that wanted to put the team on an “educational trip” like theirs could we? If it is allowed why isn’t Lil Nicky Satan or Kirby doing it too? Lots of waste for little reward on the trail I guess?

 

[Musclepug]

They can take an entire effing team to friggin Africa, but a coach can't buy a player a burger from steak n shake ? WTF!!!

 

[soflagator]

They can take an entire effing team to friggin Africa, but a coach can't buy a player a burger from steak n shake ? WTF!!!

Don’t forget Shariff Floyd needing to provide audited financials for his Jr year bake sale.

 

[NavetG8r]

Don’t forget Shariff Floyd needing to provide audited financials for his Jr year bake sale.

That still pisses me off!

 

[gatorev12]

Corch said he went there in the 80s and it was great.

Can't speak to what it was like in the 80s, but South Africa is a beautiful country (and beautiful people as well). Very unique blend of cultures.

Would be a shame if things went down the toilet there with a lot of the policies they're proposing.

 

[Swamp Donkey]

Would be a shame if things went down the toilet there with a lot of the policies they're proposing.

Way past toilet zone. They are festering in the septic tank.

 

[divits]

Way past toilet zone. They are festering in the septic tank.

This was from 20 years ago. It's gotten much, much worse.

 

[ThreatMatrix]

I know a few South African Doctors that now practice here. They cry at what’s become of South Africa.

 

[alcoholica]

I hope they all get robbed and Harbough gets taken hostage by human traffickers. South Africa ain’t the safest place in the world.

If I'm a white player on the team, no way in hell that I go.