Michigan football: Was the Rome trip a big waste of money?
Michigan football has done some fun and exciting things under Jim Harbaugh, but was spending $800 thousand on going to Rome too much?
In news released Tuesday, it was announced that Michigan football‘s trip to Rome last month for spring camp cost a pretty penny — $800k to be exact.
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The amount was put forth by Michigan athletic director Warde Maneul, while he was playing in a celebrity Pro-Am that was part of an LPGA tour event.
“It’s going to come in around $750,000, $800,000,” Manuel said. “Waiting on a few numbers, so we don’t have it final, final, but it will be around 750, 800.”
Manuel went to breakdown how much it cost per person, which doesn’t sound nearly as bad when he explains it.
“It will be about $5,000 to $6,000 a person, so it was a great investment. It was just terrific. We pay them through an educational experience like Michigan does all the time. I don’t think about it in terms of paying our athletes but if people want to say we should give something to our students of value, I can’t think of a better way to invest in them for their lifetime and their experience.”
Obviously, Michigan football spent a big chunk of money, but that is nothing new. The University is routinely one of the top spending athletic programs in the country and with Harbaugh around, that won’t change anytime soon.
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However, a fair question can be asked if this is the best way to use those resources. In my opinion, the answer is a clear and unequivocal yes.
Anyone that knows business, knows you have to spend money to make money. And while this trip cost Michigan football a lot, it was still valuable.
Harbaugh can use this trips as a recruiting ploy for one. Another benefit is that it keeps the media spotlight on the team, well after football season is over.
The more good players that come to Michigan, the better the team will be. And frankly, the more games a team wins, the more bowl games and conference championship, etc., the more money there is to be made.
It may seem ridiculous and I can’t disagree there. But in the world of big-money college sports, lavish spending is not only the usual, it’s expected.
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It might not help Michigan football win any games this fall. But, in the long run, these kinds of trips can only help further the program, no matter what the cost.