Welcome to the Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2016 edition of Jim Harbaugh vs. the SEC.
Tuesday, Georgia coach Kirby Smart became the latest member of the SEC to publicly disagree with Harbaugh's invasion of the southeastern part of the country. Harbaugh is planning to hold spring break practices in Florida, as you've likely heard.
Smart made his remarks at a Macon (Georgia) Touchdown Club event. From DawgNation.com:
“They’re obviously trying to gain a competitive advantage and that’s their right. But I think the NCAA in due time will have to step in,” Smart said, adding later: “I don’t know how it’s going to go down. It’s going to be interesting to see, though.”
NCAA president Mark Emmert said last week that he wasn't in favor of Michigan's Florida practices. SEC commissioner Greg Sankey is also against them and has cited time demands for players as a reason why.
The spring practices are not against NCAA rules; though don't be surprised if rules change to prohibit similar maneuvers in the future if there's enough backlash to Harbaugh's plans.
Harbaugh responded to Smart on Wednesday afternoon.
If the Georgia coach is implying any intent on our part to break rules, he is barking up the wrong tree.
— Coach Harbaugh (@CoachJim4UM) February 24, 2016
Given that it's Harbaugh, the barking up the wrong tree reference has to be on purpose, right? Sankey said he wouldn't be engaging Harbaugh on Twitter; we would be very surprised if Smart took that route.
This concludes the Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2016 edition of Jim Harbaugh vs. the SEC.
- - - - - - -
Nick Bromberg is the assistant editor of Dr. Saturday on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at nickbromberg@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!
