Flying is not Michigan running back Ty Isaac’s favorite thing to do. “I hate flying,” he said recently. He has spent some time strategizing how he will handle the nine-hour flight from Detroit to Rome when the majority of the team travels on Saturday for a unique sightseeing and educational trip that will also include the Wolverines’ final three spring football practices.

Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh said 99 of the players are expected to make the trip to Rome, some with later departures while finishing exams. Because the trip is optional, a few, he said, have decided not to go and some have classwork to complete that will not give them enough time to make the journey.