The Nebraska football team has been holding a Spring Game where the red team plays the white team in some form or fashion since 1962.
As has so many other things changed in this era of college football, it’s possible that the Spring Game, that looks anything like what Husker fans have come to expect from it, is about to come to an end. While that was first floated earlier this week, Husker head coach Matt Rhule offered more specific reasons as to why it appears to be dead, blaming the realities of the sport for a big part of it.
Rhule gave his first press conference since the season came to a close on Saturday morning and touched on several subjects, but among the first was his belief that while nothing is set in stone, he believes there won’t be a traditional, televised Spring Game. Echoing AD Troy Dannen, he feels “something” will take place on April 26, but wouldn’t say what just yet.
Nebraska football Spring Game is going the way of the Dodo
When Rhule clarified why he’s not excited about putting on a Spring Game, the Huskers head coach seemingly blamed the NIL and transfer portal era as the biggest reason.
“To go out and bring in a lot of new players and then showcase them for other teams to watch doesn’t make a lot of sense to me,” Rhule said.
He reiterated earlier claims of tampering and said that having a televised spring game is just a way for other teams to look and see who they should tamper with and try to lure away.
Granted, this year’s Spring Game takes place after the spring transfer portal window closes, but Rhule certainly knows there are other ways to land players outside of the window. Grad students can transfer whenever they want. There are other workarounds, such as simply withdrawing from one school and enrolling at another.
Nebraska saw that happen with a former LSU tight end in Mac Markway. Markway was a surprise addition to the Huskers last fall, whose season was cut short before it began because of an ACL injury. But he’s expected to be in the mix this season.
Nebraska football coaches have talked before about ending the Spring Game. Bo Pelini, for one often commented about how much he didn’t like it. However, Matt Rhule might finally have the rationale the university can sell to fans that will kill off a tradition that’s been around for about 60 years.