Harbaugh Meets Pope Francis

METRO DETROIT, MI — If Jim Harbaugh buys the farm today, he will leave the planet a happy man. So says the University of Michigan football coach after meeting Pope Francis in Italy on Wednesday. Harbaugh spoke with the pontiff briefly in St. Peter’s Square, presenting him with a U-M helmet and a pair of Michigan-themed Jordan brand shoes.

“…To meet the holy father, if I accomplish nothing else in my life, if I go right now, I’ll be going out a blessed man,” Harbaugh later told the news media, according to a CBS Detroit report. The pope spent a few minutes speaking with Harbaugh and his wife before continuing to greet the crowd. Harbaugh said the pontiff gave him smile, and then promptly passed the gifts to an assistant, CBS Detroit reported.

Harbaugh and a contingent of about 150 U-M players, coaches and family members arrived in Rome Saturday for a week of practice and taking in the sites. The Wolverines and crew are in the of an eight-day trip.

The group has had a busy itinerary. After arriving, Harbaugh and Michigan folks toured the Villa Borghese gardens, a nearly 200 acre park in Rome. After a nine-hour flight from Detroit, players took some time to relax in the park, play a little catch and hang out with other tourists and assorted locals. There have been trips to malls and paintball, too.

Harbaugh and U-M officials are billing it as a once-in-a-lifetime trip for players, a chance to get them out of their comfort zones. Others are more skeptical, saying it’s a recruiting ploy in the ever expanding one-ups-manship that is major college football. Whatever the case, players seemed to be thrilled to be in Italy, most actually putting their smartphones away long enough to take in the scenery.

The Wolverines will close the unique trip with three practices. After the scheduled part of the trip ends, the players will be free to study and travel overseas or simply to return home to work out and take classes.

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