College Football has a long history of various traditions. This is a sport that not just took birth at an instant like the NFL but has evolved through centuries of organic discussions and transformation. Naturally, the game is something of an emotion for Americans, especially for the places where the NFL fails to penetrate.
Take, for instance, the example of Austin in Texas. They have a population close to 1 million, and yet they have no NFL, no MLB, and no NBA. That’s where teams like the Longhorns come in and stand solely in the hearts of the Austin folks. This is something which is true for many of the US States and Cities where college football provides the necessary food for sporting hunger. So, what if someone tells you that all this could change in an instant?
Well, it is looking like the case as former PSU legend Adam Breneman provided the insight as to how teams are changing the long-standing cultures for their benefit. “College football for decades spring games were crucial for evaluating talent and getting players live reps before the season started. But now everything’s changed. Major programs like Texas, USC, and Nebraska are canceling their spring game, folks, why go to the worry about showcasing their talent for their schools?” The cancellation of spring games will have far-reaching consequences for teams and especially for the supporters, and here’s why.
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Coaches like Matt Rhule of the Nebraska Cornhuskers and Steve Sarkisian of the Texas Longhorns have repeatedly voiced their concerns about open scrimmage in spring games. They are particularly concerned about tampering that could happen by their rival teams, which could give the teams the incentive to poach some of their talents before they even feature in the regular season. Matt Rhule had even gone as far as to say…
“I hate to say it like this, but it’s really because last year, we were one of the more televised spring games, and I dealt with a lot of people offering our players a lot of opportunities after that, The word ‘tampering’ doesn’t exist anymore, it’s just absolute free, open, common market. And so, I don’t necessarily want to open up to the outside world. I don’t want these guys all being able to watch our guys and say, ‘Wow, he looks like a pretty good player. Let’s go get him“. But, the question now is: does the statement have any merit?
Well, Nebraska’s last year’s open scrimmage drew close to 60,000 fans in their stadium. This was the fourth highest in all of college football, only behind the likes of Alabama and Ohio State. Naturally, these many eyeballs will also lead to some of the players getting noticed, and that may have exactly happened. We saw Malachi Coleman announcing for the transfer portal, then it was Vincent Jackson, their DL, and then Daniel Kaelin, their QB, listed in the transfer portal, followed by several others. So, when Matt Rhule looks concerned, it certainly looks like he has a point. Steve Sarkisian is another coach who expressed issues with organising the open scrimmage..
“No, we’re not going to have a spring game. College football is changing right now, and we need to do a great job as coaches of adapting. We went to the last game at [Texas] A&M, then SEC championship game, home game, quarterfinal and semifinal. The reality is that we played four extra games. In my mind, it was, ‘Hey guys, we gotta reimagine what the spring looks like.” Sarkisian particularly stressed the fact that he wants something like the NFL OTAs or maybe something more organized and regularized than open scrimmages.
So far, Nebraska, Texas Longhorns, and USC have canceled their spring games, giving different reasons behind their decision. So far, the reasons range from injuries to overload to tampering. But the reality is that teams have become more cautious in their approach now that athletes are becoming more like professionals and revenue is considered to be the major factor. So, how will it affect the fans?
How will the decision affect the supporters of these teams?
The fans will miss those off-season carnivals that teams present in the form of open scrimmages. Ticket prices are increasing now, and it is becoming more and more difficult to attend games regularly. In this situation, open scrimmage games provide a sense of belonging and fandom, which could fade away as spring games are canceled. But do not think for a moment that everyone is following suit. For context, hear this.
Penn State HC James Franklin has been inclined towards organising the spring games, although with a little tweak. “We will still have the spring game, because I know what it means to this community and the hotels and the bars and the restaurants and the tailgating and all of it,” Franklin said. “We’re working on that now. We may do some more events that we’re still working through“. The only modification PSU will do is in managing individual player needs and managing their workload accordingly. The verdict?
Well, we are truly at a new dawn now, with major cultures changing in football and new regulations stomping on the door. The question now is: Will college football bow down to the new world, or will it withstand and brace the storm?
The post PSU Legend Bluntly Exposes Spring Game Debacle as Matt Rhule & Steve Sarkisian Face Flak for Actions appeared first on EssentiallySports.
