Jimbo Fisher Comments on Jim Harbaugh's Recruiting Tactics

Jim Harbaugh hasn't been shy about utilizing innovative tactics on the recruiting trail since taking over as Michigan's head coach. While that has rankled some in the coaching profession, Jimbo Fisher isn't one of Harbaugh's detractors.  

"I applaud the guy," the Florida State head coach said Tuesday, per Tom D'Angelo of the Palm Beach Post. "He’s doing things he has to do to be successful. Jim beat the rules. That [sic] fine. I applaud Jim for trying to do something different."

Fisher was referring to the Wolverines' trip to the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida. ESPN.com's Dan Murphy reported Michigan's first four spring practices will be held at the facility. Harbaugh promoted the event in late February:

MLive.com's Nick Baumgardner explained how Harbaugh managed to essentially find a loophole in the NCAA's recruiting rules: "The NCAA recruiting calendar will be in a quiet period next week, which means Michigan cannot have any direct verbal contact with any prospective student-athlete. But, by opening it up to everyone, this means recruits can watch the team practice if they'd like."

Last May, Alabama head coach Nick Saban spoke about what he saw as a contradiction by the NCAA, per Dan Wolken of USA Today:

D'Angelo wrote that both Fisher and Saban, among others, were invited by IMG to speak at a coaching clinic in late April, falling during the "evaluation period" of the recruiting calendar, which prevents coaches from speaking with recruits directly.

"I started thinking—we can’t speak on their campus during the evaluation period and they’re allowed to practice there when no coaches are allowed to be out (recruiting)?" Fisher said. "Don’t tell us we can’t speak at a clinic there but they can practice."

Fisher added, though, that he doesn't envision the Wolverines benefiting much from the IMG practices, saying, "I promise I lose no sleep over it."

Harbaugh has thought outside the box in order to help Michigan attract the top talent in the country. The school partnered with The Players' Tribune for 2016 signing day, inviting Derek Jeter and Tom Brady to the Ann Arbor campus. Last summer, he and his coaches embarked on a Summer Swarm tour that traveled to seven states in eight days.

According to 247Sports' composite team rankings, the Wolverines' 2015 class ranked 37th in the country. The school climbed to fifth in 2016. Harbaugh's approach—while somewhat controversial—is undoubtedly delivering results.