Jim Harbaugh: Michigan football could begin padded practices this week
Michigan football could begin fall camp this week.
During the "Inside the Wolverines" radio show with Jon Jansen on Monday, coach Jim Harbaugh said the Wolverines expect to begin padded practices soon with the start of the college football season less than a month away.
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“Possibly Sept. 30," Harbaugh said. "Possibly Wednesday or Thursday, is what we’ve been told. (When) rapid testing, daily testing, point of contact testing is available — that’s what we’ve been told when we’ll be able to resume contact.”
The Wolverines never did stop practicing or working out when the Big Ten initially postponed all fall sports in mid-August, but padded, full-contact practices will aide the team's preparation as it gears up for the season opener at Minnesota on Oct. 24.
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U-M began fall camp at the beginning of August, when the season was still shrouded in uncertainty. Even then, the team practiced with no helmets or pads, Harbaugh revealed Monday night.
“We have pretty much been in that phase since August 11th, 12th — 12 hours a week, skill development," he said. "That's continued, and now we're in 20 hours a week, the same kind of thing. Skill development and individual. Doing the various things that’ll get you ready for playing the season.
"Now, we’re waiting to get in pads, waiting to get the green light to put the pads on and continue that preparation.”
When the Wolverines learned that the fall season was back on, Harbaugh says "there was definitely an uptick in enthusiasm." And on Monday night, Harbaugh once again praised his team's handling of COVID-19 protocols.
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“I can't really compare with other programs across the country," Harbaugh said. "I know that our guys have been really diligent about it. I remember standing up in front of the team and talking to them about wearing the masks, social distancing, washing their hands and all the different protocols. And there were so many that were put in here on campus and inside of Schembechler Hall that the guys are doing a great job of following.
"Now, other players come up and talk in front of the team. They’re saying the same things. It's coming from them. I just think their diligence toward being safe and keeping each other safe protects us. It will protect each guy on the team. We protect each other; that’s living in these pandemic times. I think our guys have been a really good role model to each other and others on campus of testing negative, staying positive and getting ready to play a season.”
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Harbaugh remains "very optimistic" that the Big Ten can play out the full nine-game season.
"We’ve said it: It's not easy, it is hard," Harbaugh said. "And the health and safety of everybody and your own individual responsibility to that, too. I don't think that can be overlooked. It’s not something, everybody realizes right now can bring down to zero risk, but you can mitigate risk and you can take precautions to keep yourself and your family, your friends and society relatively safe. If you work at it, then it can be done.”
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan football could begin padded practices as soon as Wednesday
