The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/653976
Others criticized him for "pushing the envelope." But reporters on site were allowed to stay and observe practice, and it was business as usual. NCAA rules allowed no contact between the Michigan coaches and players and IMG players. U-M sent members of its compliance depart- ment — and the NCAA even sent an enforcement officer — to be sure rules were followed. For four hours a day, the players practiced. On their down time they were given the choice of where to go and what to do. Most spent their days relaxing on the beach. Some went bowling, a few slept and on March 2, 75 or so made their way to McKechnie Field, spring training home of the Pittsburgh Pirates, to support their coach while he coached first base for the Detroit Tigers in a spring training game against the Pi- rates. There were some nerves, Har- baugh, who was decked out in full uniform, admitted. Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said he expected nothing less from the guy who last year warmed up for throwing out the first pitch before a game like he was readying for Game Seven of the World Series. Harbaugh arrived an hour before game time, signing some autographs and shaking a few hands on the way to the clubhouse. He followed former Tigers great Alan Trammell out and met with Ausmus for a photo before taking the field. "He had fun getting loose, throw- ing and getting ready for that first pitch," Ausmus recalled of last year's opportunity. "He was even throwing in the dugout wearing khakis, which isn't something you see very often."