Kalen DeBoer and Alabama football have decided to become the latest program to make changes to the spring game format.
Some are canceling the game. Others are modifying it. The Crimson Tide is in the latter group, based on what DeBoer told On3 this week.
“A lot of times here, the A-Day Game, it’s been more of a practice, and there’s been some scrimmaging, not necessarily much of a game,” DeBoer told On3. “Even when I was at Fresno State, we called it the spring preview. Especially this year, there’s some things we’re working through with some injuries and so forth. So it’ll definitely be modified. We want to try to have some type of event around April 12.”
A-Day is scheduled for Saturday, April 12.
Nebraska, Southern Cal, Texas and more have decided to cancel their spring games with the changing times in college football. The reasons have varied. Some of it stems from wear and tear and trying to move to more of an NFL model. Other parts stem from limiting viewing opportunities for other teams to see your players right before the spring transfer portal window opens.
“We certainly understand the impact that putting things out there for the whole world to see, what that can do, especially related to the transfer portal, whether it’s guys in or guys out,” DeBoer told On3. “I get all of that, and I know there’s different reasons for different programs.”
Texas coach Steve Sarkisian joined Kay Adams on “Up and Adams” a week ago to share why the Longhorns will be going with an NFL model of organized team activities.
“Our approach is going to be a little bit more NFL-driven, kind of more of an OTA style early on and as we grow into more of the scrimmage formats in the second half of spring ball. … I just don’t know if rolling the ball out, playing the game, when we only get 15 practices, is the best for us to maximize the opportunities that we get. So it’s going to be a little bit of a different approach, but I think college football is changing right now. And we need to do a great job as coaches of adapting to college football. And that’s what we’re trying to do."
No matter the reason, it’s clear spring games are changing in today’s new world of college football.
