Dec. 28--With Orlando wrapped in a cocoon of sunny skies and unseasonably warm weather this week, it would be easy to see how the Michigan Wolverines could see their trip to Central Florida as a vacation getaway.
But with first-year coach Jim Harbaugh, that's the furthest thing from the truth.
The Wolverines took the practice field for the first time since arriving Saturday and it was business as usual as the team prepares to take on No. 19 Florida in the Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl Friday at 1 p.m. on ABC at the Orlando Citrus Bowl.
"All the guys talk about how Coach Harbaugh maximizes the schedule and gets the most out of the schedule and I think this is another opportunity -- almost camp-like -- with the meetings and everything going on, and it really gets guys focused that we're down here to win a game. It's not a vacation," senior linebacker Joe Bolden explained Sunday. "He schedules everything to maximize and get out of everything that he can. He's very focused on why we're down here. It's a different focus when it comes down to it."
"Settled in and got right to work with meetings last night and practice today," Harbaugh said describing his team's preparation since arriving in town. "We had a really good practice today and felt good about it."
Players described how this bowl trip -- the school's first since 2013 -- is all about wrapping up the season with a win.
"We're down here for one main thing, and that's to win. So we're going to go out and practice and we're going to come out and compete and get ready to win," Michigan senior kicker Kenny Allen said.
However the extra month of time between the end of the regular season and the bowl preparation has been helpful for everyone on the team.
"It's a great month. It's almost like another spring ball for us. The younger guys get more reps and the older guys get a chance to rest up their bodies," said fullback Joe Kerridge.
Paying it forward
Kenny Allen is hoping to make someone's holidays a little bit brighter and in the process perhaps inspire others to do the same. The Michigan kicker used one of his bowl gifts -- a $315 Best Buy card -- to purchase gifts for the children at Mott Children's Hospital in Ann Arbor. He credits the idea to one of his friends, Peter Mortell, the punter at Minnesota who did a similar thing.
"We just had Christmas and I didn't need anything and I might as well put it to something worthwhile," Allen explained Sunday afternoon after practice. "Some people don't have it as well as we do, so it's always nice to help someone else out."
Allen said he would have never thought about the gesture if not for Mortell's post on social media.
So he did the same, posting a picture of the gifts on Twitter.
"What he did by posting it on social media inspired me, so if I do and I can post it [on social media] someone else may get inspired by it and do something nice for someone else."
Peppers' status in question
Harbaugh said redshirt freshman defensive back Jabrill Peppers was "working through something and we'll see how much he plays." The first-year coach wouldn't comment further on Peppers' status, only reiterating, "Again, he's out here working through something." Peppers was second on the team in pass break-ups (10) while also seeing limited action on the offensive side of the ball.
mmurschel@orlandosentinel.com
