ESPN: Is there any value in spring games?

[BleedGopher]

per ESPN:

"I'm not a fan of it -- at all," Freeze said. "I'd vote to get rid of [spring games] in a heartbeat, but I don't know that others would feel the same."

If Freeze had his way, the Rebels would scrimmage another school during spring practice, with the money raised going to charity. Or he'd like to hold an open practice, where fans could watch the Rebels go through their normal spring routine.

Nearly every FBS coach approaches his spring game with the same goals -- avoid injuries and don't reveal too much to future opponents.

"From a coaching standpoint, you're very vanilla, you don't do too much, you don't want to get anybody hurt, and you don't want to give away too much of what you worked on in the spring," Auburn offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee said. "You've got that fine line of trying to show the fans, 'Hey, we're good, we're doing this.' At the same time, you're trying to rotate guys, get a bunch of different people reps, and not give too much away. So sometimes they're exciting, sometimes they're not."

http://espn.go.com/college-football...eeze-other-coaches-discuss-merit-spring-games

Go Gophers!!

 

[Costa Rican Gopher]

I'll be there next Saturday, but I agree that it's boring. Exactly what they said in this piece. Coaches don't want to get anyone injured so many of the starters rest. Coaches don't want to reveal what they've been working on in practice, so it's a lot of runs up the middle and 3 yard dump passes. It's really all about connecting with the fans imo.

 

[jaymil]

I'm torn on this subject. The event usually ends up being boring, but at the same time I'm so desperate for some Gopher football by now that I still get excited for it. I think if they got rid of the spring game I'd end up being pretty disappointed.

 

[Unregistered User]

Obviously the jack-hole has never been to GopherLady's tailgate. That'll change his mind.

 

[MNVCGUY]

I'm torn on this subject. The event usually ends up being boring, but at the same time I'm so desperate for some Gopher football by now that I still get excited for it. I think if they got rid of the spring game I'd end up being pretty disappointed.

I think that the event of the spring game is important as a way to give the fans a bit of a fix heading into the summer layoff but yeah the game itself is a pretty boring and meaningless for the most part. And there are always the fans that go overboard making assumptions about one player or another based on how they play in a glorified scrimmage.

 

[e.bigelow]

I'm torn on this subject. The event usually ends up being boring, but at the same time I'm so desperate for some Gopher football by now that I still get excited for it. I think if they got rid of the spring game I'd end up being pretty disappointed.

Totally agree with this Jaymil.

 

[short ornery norwegian]

the problem is in the title "Spring Game." That makes people think it's going to be something approximating a real game - and it's not. It's a controlled scrimmage, or practice, and that's what they should call it - the Spring Practice, or Spring Scrimmage, or Spring Fan Event, or "let's have some beer and watch the team." That would control the unrealistic expectations that people might have.

 

[die hard gopher]

the problem is in the title "Spring Game." That makes people think it's going to be something approximating a real game - and it's not. It's a controlled scrimmage, or practice, and that's what they should call it - the Spring Practice, or Spring Scrimmage, or Spring Fan Event, or "let's have some beer and watch the team." That would control the unrealistic expectations that people might have.

Certain teams spring games are more game like than others. Michigan's spring game last week felt like it was an actual game with 4 quarters, switching ends of the field and even live QBs which is rare. Last years gophers spring game was nothing like a spring game. IIRC they had simply had a 30 minute timer for their game clock which ended being only an hour and a half.

 

[Spoofin]

I'm torn on this subject. The event usually ends up being boring, but at the same time I'm so desperate for some Gopher football by now that I still get excited for it. I think if they got rid of the spring game I'd end up being pretty disappointed.

Spot On!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Gopher028]

Geezuz.... I was going to bring my 2-year old to our first spring game ever this Saturday....
you've all basically crushed that for us.



Screw it, we're going. If anything, I want to see
that Perra spiral everyone keeps chumming about.

 

[Firejumper]

the problem is in the title "Spring Game." That makes people think it's going to be something approximating a real game - and it's not. It's a controlled scrimmage, or practice, and that's what they should call it - the Spring Practice, or Spring Scrimmage, or Spring Fan Event, or "let's have some beer and watch the team." That would control the unrealistic expectations that people might have.

If only they sold beer, I could have some beer and watch the game, if there was a game.

 

[bleedsmaroonandgold]

I understand that for someone looking to see a "real" game, the vanilla play calling and playing to avoid injuries doesn't help. But if the proposed solution as stated in the article is to schedule an exhibition against another team, I don't see how that would stop coaches from not revealing their playbooks or playing to avoid injuries.

 

[DesertGopher]

From a standpoint of generating continued interest for the Gopher program I think its fair to say that the Spring Game has gotten more important. Just a few years ago, the Gophers Spring game was broadcasted online and didn't even have commentators. I think it shows the program has come a long ways to be broadcasted live by BTN. The spring games down in SEC country is a way of life. Having somewhat national exposure will only help with the fan base and recruiting process. It would be interesting if they did it like other sports and possibly have 1 actual opponent for the Spring Game but I couldn't imagine that ever happening. That being said I am just excited to be able to see the Gophers play on TV here down in Phoenix. Go Gophers!

 

[Dilemina]

From a standpoint of generating continued interest for the Gopher program I think its fair to say that the Spring Game has gotten more important. Just a few years ago, the Gophers Spring game was broadcasted online and didn't even have commentators. I think it shows the program has come a long ways to be broadcasted live by BTN. The spring games down in SEC country is a way of life. Having somewhat national exposure will only help with the fan base and recruiting process. It would be interesting if they did it like other sports and possibly have 1 actual opponent for the Spring Game but I couldn't imagine that ever happening. That being said I am just excited to be able to see the Gophers play on TV here down in Phoenix. Go Gophers!

Spring game should be current gophers, vs. Alumni. Or play a scrimmage with Duluth. They could make it flag football, and have guest coaches. That would be fun.