Well, add Michigan State to the list of no Spring Game.
Texas, OSU, Nebraska, USC, Oklahoma and now MSU. This may be the start of a reaction caused by the actions of college football.
Replies to: Well, add Michigan State to the list of no Spring Game.
I get it as a fan, but it makes sense for the team on a few levels
No sniping talent is certainly one level and the potential NIL costs of someone balling out, but aside from the fans, how useful is it?
They only get so many spring and pre season practices, maybe better to do more of a regular practice to work on getting reps in with the limited window.
The flip side would be to get more of a game type evaluation to see where everyone is at, but maybe that would be better a week or two into the preseason.
Bad trend for the fans. Many who can't afford regular season games go to the spring game.
It's either free or a nominal charge, and it's one of the few chances people of limited means have to go to a live event. I understand the rationale, but just one more reason to get NIL under control.
Almost anyone can afford to attend a game. Secondary market late for a bad opponent, tix $25/less
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Almost anyone doesn't mean everyone. ND isn't near anything, so it can be tix + travel + hotel.
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This is exactly right.
The spring game was a treat for the fan base.
We had a lot of kids, and back starting out I could not afford tix to games for all of them, but the whole fam could drive up and see the spring game.
But, that is nostalgia. The brave new world cannot afford the risk to multi-million dollar college qb ligaments.
I get it. It’s a big risk and there are so many other ways to build a fan base today.
Not certain there are "so many other ways to build a fan base"...as people gradually realize this is
...a pure minor league with the players having an ever more tenuous connection to the name on their uniform.
Freely admit I'm aging out of any demographic they care about...but I am starting to lose broad interest in college football.
Passionate about ND as an alum...but no longer seeking out other "big games' in the season as the teams, conferences, etc. are going to change significantly each and every year...
Same. I've started to gravitate to other less commercial sports - lacrosse, volleyball, wrestling
Where the sport is less "influenced" and it's closer to pure competition and I can follow teams and players that I like and they don't move around quite as much.
Same here.
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Which actions by college football?
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Spring Football Games are right before the Transfer Portal window (4/16-4/25).
Some coaches like Matt Rhule have pretty openly stated that their motivation for not having a Spring Game is that it's basically an invitation for other programs to scout their 2nd and 3rd string guys for young talent that's on the bench and then have the collective pitch some N.I.L. offers immediately afterwards based on what they see in the scrimmages.
The timing of both of the transfer portal windows created by the powers-that-be has left a lot of coaches frustrated. The winter portal basically forces guys to make the decision before bowl games and playoffs, and the spring one seems to be creating a disincentive to have the games.
Transfer portal and the word tampering seems to be a talking point.
Texas says their run deep into the playoffs and the need to develop 21 young rooks are also factors. IDK. Programs may go year by year with their Spring Game decisions.
Consent Management