Spring Scrimmages?

[BigWoof31]

The Post and Courier - Swinney talks up idea of exhibition - Charleston SC - postandcourier.com


Dabo Swinney, HC of Clemson wants to come to Athens to scrimmage UGA instead of playing a traditional intersquad game. I like the sound of this and both teams could split the gate money and ref expenses 50/50.

Pro teams do this as the Falcons always scrimmage the Titans (out of division but local). Is it legal for NCAA Div I teams to do this?

Obviously there would be agreed upon Red Zone work, times to put in the scrubs, no contact on QB's...etc

I love this idea - what about it BP? Would you go for it to scrimmage a non Big 10 team at the end of spring practice?

 

[Poe McKnoe]

The Post and Courier - Swinney talks up idea of exhibition - Charleston SC - postandcourier.com


Dabo Swinney, HC of Clemson wants to come to Athens to scrimmage UGA instead of playing a traditional intersquad game. I like the sound of this and both teams could split the gate money and ref expenses 50/50.

Pro teams do this as the Falcons always scrimmage the Titans (out of division but local). Is it legal for NCAA Div I teams to do this?

Obviously there would be agreed upon Red Zone work, times to put in the scrubs, no contact on QB's...etc

I love this idea - what about it BP? Would you go for it to scrimmage a non Big 10 team at the end of spring practice?

Cool idea and maybe the chance of one of your guys getting hurts gets diminished?

But it's a lose, lose, lose situation.

1) Players don't get paid to play, while I assume the Titans and Falcons players do.

2) Benchwarmers still want to see action too. You won't have Clemson's 3rd string going up against a team's first string.

3) You can't lose an intra-squad scrimmage.

 

[BigWoof31]

Cool idea and maybe the chance of one of your guys getting hurts gets diminished?

But it's a lose, lose, lose situation.

1) Players don't get paid to play, while I assume the Titans and Falcons players do.

2) Benchwarmers still want to see action too. You won't have Clemson's 3rd string going up against a team's first string.

3) You can't lose an intra-squad scrimmage.

I think the answer to all of those is as follows:

1). It's treated just like the spring game - but instead of hitting the guys on your team, you're hitting someone else. Players don't currently get paid for Spring games so it shouldn't be an issue.

2). Prior to game, coaches would have to agree on some things, how long do first teamers play, when do 3rd teamers get in, how long for redzone work...etc

3). I don't think that matters. Honestly since UGA is putting in an entirely new defensive scheme - I'd probably imagine they'd lose.

 

[CleveBucks]

The benefit of an intra-squad scrimmage is that your offense and defense are getting reps at the same time. Play another team and you cut your reps in half. Granted the spring games are largely for show, but it's still an opportunity for the backups to show their stuff in a game environment. I like the way JT does it; split the seniors in half and draft two fairly even teams.

 

[BigWoof31]

The benefit of an intra-squad scrimmage is that your offense and defense are getting reps at the same time. Play another team and you cut your reps in half. Granted the spring games are largely for show, but it's still an opportunity for the backups to show their stuff in a game environment. I like the way JT does it; split the seniors in half and draft two fairly even teams.

Doesn't OSU have a weird scoring system too? As opposed to keeping a traditional score its one based on fundamentals or something similar?

I remember seeing an OSU spring football score a few years back and the score was 105-71 or something like that.

 

[OHSportsFan]

Doesn't OSU have a weird scoring system too? As opposed to keeping a traditional score its one based on fundamentals or something similar?

I remember seeing an OSU spring football score a few years back and the score was 105-71 or something like that.

That's the jersey scrimmage, which arguably means more to the coaches and players than the Spring Game. I think it's usually held as a closed scrimmage.

 

[jwinslow]

Doesn't OSU have a weird scoring system too? As opposed to keeping a traditional score its one based on fundamentals or something similar?

Yes, the jersey scrimmage is offense vs defense... so they rotate 3 squads against one another, and vary which plays which. You even get a nice dose of 1v1s at the end.

It's usually closed to the public. About 4-5 years ago, they opened it up to CoachTressel.com members (which is mostly just a mild fan site with practice videos, pictures, some blogs... not really a major source of info).

About a year ago they opened it up to the media because the Columbus Dispatch (newspaper) threw a temper tantrum that they were getting crushed by the insiders on the scout site. Of course, the newspaper is also the one that abuses their access at times, like reporting the secret two quarterback system OSU was preparing for Texas in the bowl game a year ago.

I remember seeing an OSU spring football score a few years back and the score was 105-71 or something like that.

Yes, it's usually about 80-100 pts, but you NEVER a score like that one. Tressel always makes adjustments so the game has to be won or lost on the final play, usually a field goal.

it's a full contact scrimmage (where possessions end with a punt... then the next unit takes over from the end of that play)... but like any practice, the coach can move the ball or make a team retry a certain play if he wants (happens infrequently but often at the end of the game).

 

[BuckeyeTillIDie]

tOSU draws 90k for a spring game and gets all revenue. I'm sure they'd prefer that over splitting :p

I like the idea, though it would be odd to watch schools play "light" football against each other.

 

[Bill Lucas]

I don't like it at all. One overexuberant defender doesn't follow the rules regarding the QB and a season is ruined before it begins.

No thanks. The only defenders I want near my QB in the spring are my own.

 

[Zippercat]

tOSU draws 90k for a spring game and gets all revenue. I'm sure they'd prefer that over splitting :p

I like the idea, though it would be odd to watch schools play "light" football against each other.

The "revenue" in the past was $5 a ticket and most of the proceeds were donated by OSU to local charities. The past couple years the football game was after a lacrosse game...not sure if there is any revenue sharing for that sport?