This is the Michigan football program in a time of social distancing

ANN ARBOR -- Michigan's preparation for the 2020 football season has been unlike any other in the program's history. The players can't practice. The coaches can't meet with the players. It's an unfortunate situation, albeit one experienced by every college sports team in the country.

Michigan's football coaches believe the Wolverines have handled this unprecedented time as well as could be expected. They also plan to keep some of the program's new elements even after social gathering sanctions are loosened.

Michigan has adjusted on two fronts: recruiting and team activities. It appears previous work in the former has helped with the latter.

"We recruited a great group of guys and a locker room full of dudes that are really accountable," assistant coach Jay Harbaugh said in a video conference call with reporters on Friday.

"They're self-starters. They don't really need people looking over their shoulders and checking on them a ton. A period of time like this is one where you're really grateful for that and really proud of the way they've handled it."

The NCAA allowed football (and basketball) players to return to campus on Monday for voluntary athletic activities, so long as government regulations are followed. The stay-at-home order for Michigan residents was lifted just Monday, while gyms remain closed.

Without being able to get on the field together to practice, the Wolverines have improvised. Some players have worked out on their own. Position group meetings occur via video conference calls.

Harbaugh said a lot of the Wolverines are improving despite the circumstances. "You could put them 1,000 miles away and give them a laptop and a field and a pair of cleats and they're going to find a way to make the best of it," he said.

Michigan is seeking some of the same traits in its next wave of recruits. So far, the program has snagged commitments from 17 players in the 2021 class, a group ranked fifth in the country and second, to Ohio State, in the Big Ten.

Harbaugh said his boss (and father), head coach Jim Harbaugh, and recruiting director Matt Dudek asked a few important questions once the NCAA canceled sports due to the coronavirus pandemic. How long might this last? How's it going to impact recruiting? How are we going to separate ourselves, be different, and do a great job?

The key, Jay Harbaugh said, has been holding recruits' interest without visits or any in-person contact.

"I think as time goes on, some of these players are getting a little bored of being recruited the same way," he said. "They can't go on campus. The staffs that have been able to keep things engaging are feeling the benefits there."

Michigan, like other schools, has conducted "virtual visits." Harbaugh mentioned recruits accessing Google Maps street view to get a better feel for the layout of campus and connecting with current players to learn about the day to day of the program. Like the programs recruiting them, the prospects have had to adapt.

What helps, Harbaugh said, is the "quality of the product" at Michigan. He referenced the school's academic reputation and the football program's recent success in sending players to the NFL.

"You don't necessarily need to be on the campus to realize (those) fact(s)," Harbaugh said.

Michigan's coaches have realized a few things, too, in the last couple of months that they will likely continue to use going forward.

"I would imagine everybody's kind of felt there's going to be an element of carryover for the benefit of everybody," Harbaugh said. "Finding a nice kind of hybrid approach where we can address our players in more than one way, we can reach them when they're not on campus, we can interact with them or get work done possibly without being in the office. I think that conversation is a healthy one."

Michigan might invite more guest speakers, even virtually, than it had previously. Among those who have addressed Michigan's running backs, for example, this spring are a pair of NFL running backs coaches and former Wolverine ball carrier Karan Higdon.

Normally, Harbaugh noted, there is film to watch from the day's practice, mistakes that need to be corrected. That urgency hasn't existed this spring.

"There's a lot more dialogue and you're able to spend more time going through the details of the system, the different plays, concepts, and really spend time making sure guys get it," Harbaugh said.

He's noticed his players aren't afraid to ask for clarification if necessary. Offensive coordinator Josh Gattis said something similar, while acknowledging the team has missed the opportunity to get on the field and run plays and work on fundamentals.

Of course, every program in the country has experienced this. There was no reason to think Michigan would fall behind its competition. Harbaugh, at least, thinks the Wolverines could come out ahead.

"We're just plugging along, staying positive, and really committed as a group to making this whole thing into our benefit with the way that we handle it," he said.

“Whenever it’s time to get back together, we’ll be ready to roll.”

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