Wolverines arrive in Italy

Jim Harbaugh didn’t have a great answer, believe it or not. Speaking with a 31-year-old Nigerian refugee who now lives in Rome, Michigan’s coach was presented Sunday with the basic, fundamental question of why American football is called “football,” given that players barely use their feet. At a loss for words, Harbaugh summoned his father, Jack, to help give a quick lesson. All in a day’s work. All part of the Roman experience. All part of Michigan football’s eight-day blitz of Rome. “The smiles on everybody’s faces here,” Jack Harbaugh said, “it’s just so fantastic.” The Wolverines landed in Italy around 9 a.m. Sunday. The entire group has yet to arrive — more will be on the way Monday. But the first group of travelers exited their nine-hour flight and headed straight toward Rome’s Villa Borghese, a spacious park in the center of the city.