Maybe I should have taken a happy pill before I started this piece. But I’m sorry folks, I can’t wait any longer. This is my annual rant about college spring football.
I thought the spring cycle was over a couple weeks ago, but now I find out there are even spring games this weekend. Is this a conspiracy against me?
ESPN continued to broadcast games this season. The only reason I know it is because I was flipping channels. Did I stay to watch the game? My answer: a resounding no. Do I care to watch a different colored jersey quarterback be treated like a school crossing guard take little children across the street? Or do I care to watch a game that has special rules so the score can stay close? Do I want to hear about Joe Blow fighting for the left tackle position?
I really don’t understand the media’s fascination with spring football. The beat writers have reports in the papers. Schools broadcast their games on the radio. If the media is trying to get me excited about the upcoming season, it isn’t working. Get back to me when fall practice starts and I can dream about the upcoming matchups instead of seeing my team scrimmage each other.
Due to my work in athletics, I was forced to attend three spring games. They were three too many. There is a real spirit of apathy at those games. How can you get excited about them or actually cheer? And how can the players get excited unless you are fighting for a spot in the fall. The coaches are probably the only ones excited about spring football. Coaches are always excited about practice.
Okay, my rant is official over until probably next spring when we go through another cycle of spring football.
Showing posts with label spring games. Show all posts
Showing posts with label spring games. Show all posts
Friday, April 29, 2011
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
I Just Don't Understand It
I enjoy college football almost as much as the next guy or gal. But this fascination with spring games puzzles me.
Why do fans flock to spring games? It is because they receive free admission? The weather? Sociability? Must have their football fix? Do they want to see how the battle for second-string tailback or linebacker is processing?
I have been to spring football games because of work obligations. If left to choose on my own, I would have chosen no. Frankly, the games are about as exciting as watching paint dry. Or with all due respect to my sister, spring games are like kissing your sister.
Most spring games feature scrimmages. The first team or variation goes up against the reserve players. The quarterback wears a different shirt or puts on a vest and is off limits for tackling or hitting. Plays are plain old vanilla because you don't want to give away any valuable information just in case an opponent scouts you.
The score usually ends up 27-20 or something similar.
Really folks, nothing hardly happens of significance on this spring football day. Or sure, some unknown player might have a good performance or a starter may have the misfortune of sustaining an injury, but that is basically it.
It might spice up the game a bit if schools could actually schedule its scrimmage against another college team. But I don't look for that happening.
So, go ahead and get into spring football if you must. I'll begin gearing up for the season in August when all the players are on campus, the real competition for playing time begins and there is an actual opponent in the not too far distance.
Why do fans flock to spring games? It is because they receive free admission? The weather? Sociability? Must have their football fix? Do they want to see how the battle for second-string tailback or linebacker is processing?
I have been to spring football games because of work obligations. If left to choose on my own, I would have chosen no. Frankly, the games are about as exciting as watching paint dry. Or with all due respect to my sister, spring games are like kissing your sister.
Most spring games feature scrimmages. The first team or variation goes up against the reserve players. The quarterback wears a different shirt or puts on a vest and is off limits for tackling or hitting. Plays are plain old vanilla because you don't want to give away any valuable information just in case an opponent scouts you.
The score usually ends up 27-20 or something similar.
Really folks, nothing hardly happens of significance on this spring football day. Or sure, some unknown player might have a good performance or a starter may have the misfortune of sustaining an injury, but that is basically it.
It might spice up the game a bit if schools could actually schedule its scrimmage against another college team. But I don't look for that happening.
So, go ahead and get into spring football if you must. I'll begin gearing up for the season in August when all the players are on campus, the real competition for playing time begins and there is an actual opponent in the not too far distance.
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