NU FB: Is canceling the televised spring game the right decision?

[HerbRedman]

tPB, your thoughts?

 

[BIGSTICK67]

If what Rhule said yesterday was true, then yes it was the right decision.

Considering his track record, I wouldn't question whether he was telling the truth about players being scouted due to the spring game.

 

[HCFord1]

I’m fine with not televising it, but I was looking forward to bringing my almost five year old to the game this year for his first stadium experience.

Wish we could just get to whatever end state CFB lands in so all the tampering, transferring, paranoia bullshit can end.

 

[ShortSideOption]

My thing is I think that many believe this is due to lack of numbers and the 105 thing. For me, we are still scrimmaging so you can still do something, and the spring game has been a big deal in Lincoln for so long. Don't cancel the thing. But I do think there needs to be tweaks, we aren't going to have 20 linemen available like last spring.

If you are scared to show things, just go vanilla. Quite honestly, that will show you who is better 1 v1 when you look at a DL vs OL or LB making plays. Blitzing on defense, or the offense doing a trick play to confuse the defense isn't helping you make roster decisions or find out who can play for you. Be basic, use a running clock, then do little gimmick things like a kid is chosen to kick a 25 yard FG, have students/sororities/fraternities do something, have the band do a mock halftime show. You can keep the spring game, and there is something to be said about seeing how your kids perform in front of 60k+ before you actually need them to in the fall. Players are scouted all the time, it's what happened with Dowdell, Butler, Boerkircher, Gbayor before the spring game even happened.

I'm somewhere in between your two options, so I apologize about the long rant here.

 

[vailhusker]

Unfortunately another casualty of today's college football. With the Transfer Portal, NIL, and the 105, I can understand their reluctance to have it anymore. Saying that I hope they have something for the fans at least.

I'm not sure how it would look this year we have potentially 4-5 OL out for the spring. Good chance for the younger guys to step up though.

 

[Juro]

Toss up for me.

I get it in terms of tampering, but still have a practice like they did in Fall.

 

[HerbRedman]

My thing is I think that many believe this is due to lack of numbers and the 105 thing. For me, we are still scrimmaging so you can still do something, and the spring game has been a big deal in Lincoln for so long. Don't cancel the thing. But I do think there needs to be tweaks, we aren't going to have 20 linemen available like last spring.

If you are scared to show things, just go vanilla. Quite honestly, that will show you who is better 1 v1 when you look at a DL vs OL or LB making plays. Blitzing on defense, or the offense doing a trick play to confuse the defense isn't helping you make roster decisions or find out who can play for you. Be basic, use a running clock, then do little gimmick things like a kid is chosen to kick a 25 yard FG, have students/sororities/fraternities do something, have the band do a mock halftime show. You can keep the spring game, and there is something to be said about seeing how your kids perform in front of 60k+ before you actually need them to in the fall. Players are scouted all the time, it's what happened with Dowdell, Butler, Boerkircher, Gbayor before the spring game even happened.

I'm somewhere in between your two options, so I apologize about the long rant here.

Appreciate this post.

However if the biggest problem is opposing coaches sitting by the TV w a notepad and scouting our young players....you're still going to have this issue if we move to 7-on-7 etc.

The issue is that opposing coaches are watching bc we have a 2 hr window showcasing our players. Asst coach in Miami or guy in TX who JUST missed out on our recruit can re-call the kid "saw you in the spring game, we actually came up with another $100k for you."

The spring game is the great equalizer. That gives you a real work glimpse at a new recruit. You see how they look in pads, w a professional scheme, vs other CFB athletes. Some recruits immediately look better or worse.

I don't think 7-on-7 etc solves this. The issue is the 2 hr window on TV for all the world to see. And taking it off TV doesn't solve it. Teams can easily just sent their Conor Stalions to record the game.

You have to cancel the entire spring game completely, until you change the transfer portal windows.

 

[RedDeanRedemption]

Seems cowardly and Rhule doesn’t have enough goodwill here yet to make the move.

 

[CornFed Gregger]

I think it makes sense to not give any insight into guys developing on the bench. Especially with a position like QB where a guy can have a good day then a booster is watching & wants to throw money at em & now u got to re-up their NIL cuz they performed well in a basic scrimmage.

Sucks for ppl who look forward to that day of a little college football gameday in the spring but ya gotta take some measures to protect ur roster when it’s still the Wild West rn.

 

[BIGSTICK67]

I’m fine with not televising it, but I was looking forward to bringing my almost five year old to the game this year for his first stadium experience.

Wish we could just get to whatever end state CFB lands in so all the tampering, transferring, paranoia bullshit can end.

That's the one bum deal about this whole thing. For many this is one of the more affordable events you can take your kids to. And even if you have enough resources, it's still much more stress free and family friendly.

My kids are now grown, so it's not as big a deal to me personally, but for those that have young kids I'm sure it's a disappointment.

 

[HerbRedman]

From The Athletic article on Rhule's comment yesterday.

My prediction is that this is going to become the norm very soon. All of the "Rhule is Charmin soft" comments are going to look dumb when 80% of the televised spring games are canceled.

 

[BingoDingo]

Imo, it's bitch behavior. I still like Rhule, though.

 

[vailhusker]

Might be able do something more next year if they end up getting rid of the spring window for the transfer portal.

 

[cwessel76]

If what Rhule said yesterday was true, then yes it was the right decision.

Considering his track record, I wouldn't question whether he was telling the truth about players being scouted due to the spring game.

I severely doubt teams are getting a legit scout on our players from a spring game.

Blame smaller rosters or something else but we are middle to top third Big Ten Team going into next year. This doesn’t pass the sniff test.

 

[2010sarenevercomingback]

I sorta get it, but I hate it. Especially as there aren't a lot of affordable ways to bring my kids to get them a taste of the atmosphere.

How much revenue does the spring game bring in? It's not a completely insignificant number to throw away either.

 

[CornFed Gregger]

I severely doubt teams are getting a legit scout on our players from a spring game.

Blame smaller rosters or something else but we are middle to top third Big Ten Team going into next year. This doesn’t pass the sniff test.

In cfb u arent winning if u aren’t cheating & paying to sniff every butthole.

Fans will watch opposing team’s spring games to scout so it’s not crazy to imagine boosters trying to find a couple developing players on other team’s benches to replace the recruits that didn’t pan out. Eliminate the possibility by not giving out public tape for all to see & potentially exploit.

 

[ShortSideOption]

Appreciate this post.

However if the biggest problem is opposing coaches sitting by the TV w a notepad and scouting our young players....you're still going to have this issue if we move to 7-on-7 etc.

The issue is that opposing coaches are watching bc we have a 2 hr window showcasing our players. Asst coach in Miami or guy in TX who JUST missed out on our recruit can re-call the kid "saw you in the spring game, we actually came up with another $100k for you."

The spring game is the great equalizer. That gives you a real work glimpse at a new recruit. You see how they look in pads, w a professional scheme, vs other CFB athletes. Some recruits immediately look better or worse.

I don't think 7-on-7 etc solves this. The issue is the 2 hr window on TV for all the world to see. And taking it off TV doesn't solve it. Teams can easily just sent their Conor Stalions to record the game.

You have to cancel the entire spring game completely, until you change the transfer portal windows.

I would never move it to a 7 v 7 thing, fwiw. If you are doing that absolutely cancel the spring game.

Here's my thing... the opposing coaches already have film on every game we played last year. I have access to that. Is it really opposing coaches discovering some guy that hasn't played at all for us that is now getting some time in a practice we are showcasing? How many times have we talked about guys that have unreal spring games that go on to do nothing for us? In 2019 our leading rusher for each team was Jaylin Bradley and Brody Belt. Our leading receiver was Miles Jones and Todd Honas.

You can still do the scrimmage. If Nebraska is really in a spot where we can't play 11 v 11 in a public setting for fear of losing people and not being able to keep them, we are in a very difficult spot. I also understand poaching is real, i'm not trying to discredit that.

 

[Husker1]

I think we should stop playing games altogether. Otherwise, other teams might see some of our players doing well and want to poach them.

 

[HerbRedman]

You can still do the scrimmage. If Nebraska is really in a spot where we can't play 11 v 11 in a public setting for fear of losing people and not being able to keep them, we are in a very difficult spot. I also understand poaching is real, i'm not trying to discredit that.

I would just say, don't you think Rhule is aware of the advantage our program gets from our spring game? Due to the crowd size and the TV placement...and the social media army we have beaming out every spring game highlight (remember Dylan last yr)....Nebraska probably has a top 5 most visible spring game.

There's no reason for Rhule to nuke it. Our spring game is big for our brand. And our recruiting. And it brings in some $$. Why would Rhule want to cancel it for no reason? That makes no sense.

Obviously he's saying that the poaching is real. He has no reason to make that up. There is no alterior motive for Rhule to cancel the game if it's not that. I'm laughing at people implying that Rhule is making this up.

The spring game is 99% goodness for NU, our brand, our recruiting and our fans. IMHO Rhule would only cancel this for a very good, legitimate reason.

 

[Alcaus]

Imo, it's bitch behavior. I still like Rhule, though.

Wearing pants so my giant hog doesn’t get caught in the door is technically bitch behavior but once it happens to you, you stop caring.