Michigan Football: Wolverines Host Friends From Italy

Michigan football went international this spring under Jim Harbaugh, and renewed some friendships on Monday.

The Wolverines hosted members of the AS Roma soccer club at the Michigan practice fields. Members of the football and soccer squads engaged in a little friendly competition, from trying to beat each other on soccer goals and football throws to banging pigskins and soccer balls through American football goal posts.

The squads exchanged gifts afterwards, involving soccer and football jerseys. It's all part of an ongoing carryover from Michigan's spring trip to Rome, Italy, for practices, Harbaugh noted.

"The best thing I've ever done as a part of a football team was our trip to Rome as a team, made better by all the stories and experiences and the things every other person took away from it," Harbaugh said. "Just listen to them when they talk, what it meant to them and what they learned. It opened up the world.

"It's a big world out there. It's good to see a lot of it, another culture, and to see things you've never seen before. You see structures that are 2,000 years old. And connecting with people…"

That's what the get-together on Monday was all about, he noted. AS Roma is getting ready for an International Champions Cup match versus Paris Saint-Germain F.C. at Detroit's Comerica Park on Wednesday. Harbaugh plans to be in attendance.

"It's connecting with AS Roma and really, thousands of people," Harbaugh said. "It's unbelievable."

As for the competition, Harbaugh noted: "It's great to see the guys interact and have a little bit of fun."

The coach noted he wanted to get out there and compete, but a pulled hip flexor, acquired playing softball at Camp Michigania, keep him on the sidelines.

Here is a look at some of the action on Monday

Here's a look at the gift exchanges afterward. Someone asked Harbaugh if he was going to add another layer to an already toasty looking outfit on a hot day. He did not hesitate.

••• NOTEBOOK •••

• Harbaugh did note, regarding American football, that he's about to see what Michigan has in place, with training camp set to begin at the end of the month.

NCAA rules changes have already been completely accounted for, Harbaugh assured.

"It's a necessity," Harbaugh said. "You have to adjust the practice schedules. It's all been adjusted. Practices have been planned out for the next year.

"There are new time demands — 14 additional days off during the school year, which have all been planned for. One day off a week in training camp, that's been planned for. We've moved the training camp up seven days, which is part of the new rules.

"No two-a-days. All new rules have been implemented."

Harbaugh, who according to his father, Jack, used to run extra between two-a-day sessions when he was at Michigan to gain an advantage on others who were resting, insists he has no problems with the tweaks.

"It's very good, very common sense," he said. "I don't think there's any industry anymore that is not getting a day off, or having two-a-days, or three-a-days. Pilots don't do it. Resident surgeons, they don't do sleep deprivation anymore. Neither does the military.

"It just makes sense that there should be a day given off per week. It makes all the sense in the world to me."