University of Michigan eyes IMG Academy for spring football practice, sources say

By JASON DILL jdill@bradenton.com

Updated January 13, 2016 11:01 AM

FILE - In this Oct. 3, 2015, file photo, Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh calls for a flag in the first half of an NCAA college football game against Maryland in College Park, Md. Michigan and Florida both entered the season hoping to revive storied programs that had begun to look more pedestrian than they were accustomed to. Enter Wolverines coach Harbaugh and Gators coach Jim McElwain, who both brought their own style and approach to the sidelines in their first seasons on the job. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, File) Patrick Semansky AP

The University of Michigan football team looks like it's heading to Bradenton-based IMG Academy for spring practice.

That's according to TheWolverine.com and the Detroit Free-Press, who are citing anonymous sources.

IMG Academy officials on Monday would not confirm or deny the report

Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh has made recruiting trips to IMG Academy in the past.

While it isn't a done deal yet and no practice dates have been annouced, the Wolverines do have the resources to make such a trip possible for spring practice.

According to the Detroit Free-Press, Michigan has a football budget with a surplus of $64 million for the 2013-14 fiscal year.

The lone potential hurdle seems to be the Big Ten Conference or NCAA saying no, according to the Detroit Free-Press.

"Despite no apparent roadblocks in the bylaws, the conference and national organization likely would have to clear it before the Wolverines followed through," the Detroit Free-Press story says.

This story was originally published January 11, 2016 at 7:06 PM with the headline "University of Michigan eyes IMG Academy for spring football practice, sources say ."

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