ESPN's Finebaum: Harbaugh 'nailed it' with Italy trip

ESPN’s Paul Finebaum has often been critical of Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh, but he had nothing but praise for the coach’s decision to take the Wolverines to Rome for an education trip that also included three practices.

“My hat’s off to Jim Harbaugh,” Finbaum said Sunday on SportsCenter. “He nailed it on this one.”

Finebaum last year criticized Harbaugh for taking the team to IMG Academy in Florida over spring break, but he gave the highest of marks to the week-long trip to Rome that included being part of the papal audience. Harbaugh and wife, Sarah, briefly met the pope. The team also attended a cooking class, the opera, toured the Vatican museum, and took a long tour on foot of Rome, among many other activities.

“I think this is one of the most positive and maybe the best story of the year in college football,” Finebaum said. “This is what a college experience should be about.”

achengelis@detroitnews.com

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