“To be honest with you, I’m focused on what we can do at the University of Georgia to get better. That’s the most important thing to me, getting better there,” Smart told Macon.com. Earlier in the week, Smart expressed concerns about the Wolverines and other programs holding spring practice in Florida.
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“I can’t comment other than to say they’re obviously trying to gain a competitive advantage,” Smart said Monday. “That’s their right but I think the NCAA, in due time, will have to step in and keep it from getting out of hand.
“There are a lot of factors people don’t know about in that deal. You’ve got to think about recruiting rules, how are they going to handle those? Is it an advantage, disadvantage? Are they going to let other coaches come to it? Are they gonna hold open practices? Do we all come in there and watch them and scout them? If they’re all open practices why don’t we go and watch them? It’s a Pandora’s Box of what it’s going to get into, obviously.”
The comment irked Harbaugh, who wrote on Twitter two days later, “If the Georgia coach is implying any intent on our part to break rules, he is barking up the wrong tree.”
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The Bulldogs, along with SEC commissioner Greg Sankey and NCAA President Mark Emmert, have been barking that Michigan’s spring practice at IMG Academy in Florida is irresponsible.
Smart could just be mad at SEC recruiting rules. The problem is SEC (and ACC) coaches are limited to attending camps within 50 miles of their respective campuses. The Big Ten doesn’t have that restriction and Harbaugh is taking advantage of the ability to stretch Michigan’s recruiting arm well beyond the usual Big Ten recruiting grounds much to the chagrin of the SEC.
