Opposing coaches not allowed to peek in on Michigan's Florida trip, NCAA says
— -- BRADENTON, Fla. -- Though Arkansas coach Bret Bielema and Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio hinted they would show up at Michigan's open practice Friday, they aren't allowed to attend.
"There won't be any coaches here," said Chris Howard, NCAA director of enforcement for football development.
Whether Bielema and Dantonio were serious or not, their tweets Wednesday prompted Howard to contact and remind them this is a quiet period in recruiting, when coaches are not allowed to visit a prospect's school. So no opposing coaches are allowed at IMG Academy, home to many FBS draft prospects and the site of Michigan's weeklong spring practice session.
That didn't stop Tennessee coach Butch Jones, who recently made scholarship offers to 20 teammates at the IMG Academy, from joining in on Twitter on Wednesday night.
That was enough for Harbaugh to respond, especially with a Title IX lawsuit hanging over Tennessee's program.
Ole Miss coach Hugh Freeze on Thursday also said he requested to view Michigan's open practice.
"I am all for being creative. I give them credit for that," Freeze said. "I don't let what other people do bother me too much. I want to worry about us. But I'm not sure how a college coach can be on a high school campus during a quiet period. I don't quite understand that.
"They're having an open practice [Friday], and I've actually requested to be allowed to go to it. I don't think I'm going to get permission to do that."
The NCAA allows practice at a high school facility as long as the school pays rent to use it. Elizabeth Heinrich, Michigan senior associate athletic director for compliance, said the school worked through the NCAA to provide the expenses for practice.
Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh has drawn criticism for his decision to practice in Florida during the players' spring break. But both he and the players have embraced the trip, trading cold Ann Arbor for warm Bradenton -- all within NCAA rules.
Meanwhile, Bielema may already have his sights set on 2017.
ESPN's Greg Ostendorf contributed to this report.
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