Published: Thursday, 3/24/2016 OSU AD says he meant no disrespect; Harbaugh takes to Twitter BY DAVID BRIGGSBLADE SPORTS WRITER COLUMBUS — Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh hurled a grenade at Ohio State with his tweet heard around the college football world Tuesday night. On Wednesday, Gene Smith chose not to lob it back. A day after Harbaugh zinged the Ohio State athletic director with a surprisingly personal attack, Smith showed no interest in starting a Twitter war. Smith said he meant no disrespect when he said that the powerhouse Buckeyes did not need the ”creative” boost Michigan received from holding practice in Florida during spring break. Most found the remarks fairly innocuous, but not Harbaugh, who backs down from no challenge — real or perceived. “Good to see Director Smith being relevant again after the tattoo fiasco,” Harbaugh tweeted, referring to the Buckeyes’ tattoos-for-memorabilia scandal in 2011. “Welcome back!” Smith responded on Twitter: “My comments at a soccer news conference yesterday were not meant to discredit our rival. I apologize to UM student-athletes and my good friend [Michigan athletic director] Warde Manuel. We at OSU look forward to continuing the greatest rivalry in college football.” Smith, who is not known to invite controversy, politely declined to elaborate. The commotion began Tuesday following a news conference to announce a major international soccer match at Ohio Stadium this summer. In response to a question from The Blade about Michigan’s recent week of practice in Florida, Smith said he would be against Ohio State heading south during spring break, noting what was good for its rivals did not make the same sense for the Buckeyes. In other words, they are fine just the way they are…
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