Michigan Wolverines in Paris: Day 2
4/28/2018 4:08:00 PM | Football, Features
• Michigan Wolverines in Paris: Day 1-Plus
After a good night of sleep and a great French breakfast, the Wolverines drove 35 minutes from the hotel to INSEP, the French training center for the more than 700 athletes who prepare to compete for the Olympic and Paralympic Games around the world.
The Federation Francaise de Football Americain hosted the Michigan program and the clinic sold out of 300 participants in three minutes.
A brief welcome was held for the Wolverines with speakers from INSEP, FFFA and head coach Jim Harbaugh. "Thanks for coming here and working with our athletes to teach them football," said Pierre Trochet. "We appreciate that Coach Harbaugh, one of the most famous coaches in the world, would bring you here to Paris and participate in a clinic with coaches and players from around Europe." Harbaugh was presented with a French national team jersey before heading to the field.
The offensive coaching staff and players conducted on-field drills while the defensive coaches did chalk talks and the players did an optional lift. The groups rotated after an hour with the defense on the field while the offense went to film sessions and lifting.
After the clinic, a group of players broke off and played two soccer games against refugees from Somalia, Afghanistan, Sudan, Bangladesh, Guinea and Chad. The players showered and had lunch before boarding buses for the Louvre Museum.
The world's largest and most visited art museum, the Louvre became the afternoon educational experience for the Wolverines. Arriving at 2:10 pm, the team enjoyed a two-plus-hour tour of the main highlights of the Louvre. The six groups embarked on a three-mile walking tour that included stops to see the Mona Lisa and the Venus de Milo statue. Originally built as a Palace, the Louvre Museum opened in 1793.
The Wolverines traveled by bus along the Seine River to the famous Notre-Dame de Paris, a medieval Catholic Cathedral which is considered one of the finest examples of French Gothic architecture. Players, staff and family toured the church, built starting in 1160 and essentially complete in 1345, and had free time to walk the Latin Quarter before a traditional French dinner at Chez Jenny. The Latin Quarter in the 5th and 6th arrondissements of Paris, was an opportunity for players and staff to walk the streets and visit the shops that are situated on the left bank of the Seine.
The team retired early in anticipation of tomorrow's early departure for Normandy and its visit to the American Cemetery and Caen Peace Museum.
Tweet of the Day
Teaching the Game Around the Globe! @CoachJim4UM spoke to the clinic participants before U-M assistants and players taught on-field drills.#BonjourBlue pic.twitter.com/fRUWIZq3jG
— Michigan Football (@UMichFootball) April 28, 2018
