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Mark Dantonio: Michigan's spring Florida trip is 'creative'

Michigan State head coach Mark Dantonio, left, greets Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh before an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 17, 2015, in Ann Arbor, Mich. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
Michigan State head coach Mark Dantonio, left, greets Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh before an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 17, 2015, in Ann Arbor, Mich. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)

While the SEC is attempting to stop Michigan from holding some of its spring practices in Florida, the head coach of one of Michigan’s rivals seems to think it’s a pretty good idea.

Michigan State head coach Mark Dantonio said he hasn’t considered taking his team away from East Lansing for practice, but he and his staff are “thinking about it” now.

“I think it’s creative, there’s no question about that,” Dantonio said Thursday per The Detroit News. “From our standpoint, we’ve never thought to do that, but we’re thinking about it nowadays. If we want to go to Florida or someplace else, in Texas or something like that, that would be our option to do that, and I guess that’s allowed right now.”

On the other hand, Pitt head coach Pat Narduzzi – Dantonio’s former defensive coordinator at MSU – told CoachingSearch.com that he is not a fan of leaving campus for practice.

“Spring ball, I think you need to be on campus,” Narduzzi said. “They’re also student-athletes, not just athletes. … If I was a high school player, and you’re telling me I couldn’t go to Cancun or Daytona on spring break, I’d be kind of like, ‘Are you serious?’ I think kids needs to stay fresh, and they need a break.

“Our kids played a bowl game, and then they get a couple days off (before winter conditioning), so they don’t get much of a break. I know we’re in a business, but there’s a line between business and this is not the NFL.”

“You’re also keeping these kids engaged (with football). If I told our guys, ‘Spring break this year, we’re going to California and practice every day,’ they’d be looking at me like, are you serious?” Narduzzi said. “Football is important to every one of them, but there’s a time when they need a break.

“We have spring break right before spring ball. They need a break. Too often, these kids don’t get a break. I think our kids will come back fresher and happier than if they had to spend their spring break working some more.”

Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh confirmed earlier this month that he will take his team to IMG Academy – one of the top high school programs in the country – in Bradenton, Florida, for four practices while the rest of the UM student body is on spring break.

SEC commissioner Greg Sankey told CBS Sports that the SEC has communicated with the NCAA about teams holding practice during spring break when students do not have class. Sankey said the league’s main point of contention is time demands for student-athletes.

“Our primary reaction (is) that, in the face of the time-demand conversations, we’ve got one program taking what has been ‘free time’ away. Let’s draw a line and say, ‘That’s not appropriate,’” Sankey said.

There are obvious recruiting benefits to Michigan's trip, too. The Wolverines have plenty of momentum after bringing in the fourth-best class in the 2016 cycle. IMG’s roster is chock full of blue chip prospects, including linebacker Dylan Moses and defensive end Josh Kaindoh, both five-star recruits.

For more Michigan State news, visit SpartanMag.com.

For more Michigan news, visit TheWolverine.com.

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Sam Cooper is a contributor for the Yahoo Sports blogs. Have a tip? Email him or follow him on Twitter!