Jim Harbaugh putting Michigan’s spring game under the lights

As Swofford notes, taking away spring break from the athletes and having the practice during those times is taking away from that collegiate experience that the NCAA so often claims as part of the benefit for the athletes.

Commissioners from the SEC and ACC have already spoken out against Jim Harbaugh’s team holding a portion of its spring practices at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, during the school’s spring break, and now Emmert offered a similar sentiment. In the meantime, there’s nothing stopping Harbaugh’s plan, much to the chagrin of Emmert and many in the SEC.

“There’s a difference between not being prohibited and being OK”, he said, according to The State. In addition, by wrapping up spring ball early – on April 1 – Harbaugh says his team will have more time than normal to study and focus on final exams for the winter semester.

Emmert said adding practices to spring break could “ramp up” the demands of student athletes. Emmert said whether Harbaugh and other coaches can do that again in the future is a matter before the NCAA’s Football Oversight Committee. But that will probably change once they all get together for the spring meetings in May. Allen called the idea “misguided” and questioned whether student-athletes should be getting a breather from football during university-sanctioned breaks. There now is a rule prohibiting athletes from spending more than 20 hours per week on responsibilities related to their sports, but several college administrators have acknowledged the rule is hard to follow and multiple surveys of college athletes have suggested most college athletes spend more time than that on their sport.

The NCAA will reportedly meet in April to further discuss time constraints on student-athletes and if more regulations should be put in place.

“The 20-hour rule could be modified”, Emmert said. “I think we need to be very cautious of that”. The exact start time has yet to be announced, nor have parking logistics.