It’s been known for a while that the Nebraska football team won’t be playing a traditional spring game. Just a few weeks ago the school announced that instead of the scrimmage that usually makes up the spring game, there are going to be other events and games that involve all sorts of sports.
Now College Football HQ has gotten ahold of a report about the events and fun little items that Troy Dannen and company considered to replace the Spring Game. Some of the things that were considered don’t make a whole lot of sense or might have been halfbaked.
Some don’t seem to fully be the replacement ideas but just special things that the Huskers were going to offer Nebraska football fans as part of the day. What is clear is that Dannen and his crew certainly left no stone unturned.
Nebraska football’s wild Spring Game replacement ideas
Some, but not all of those ideas, involved:
- An open practice and a 12 to 45 minute scrimmage
- Invitation to President Donald Trump to attend the stadium
- Welcome back former Cornhuskers football coach Bo Pelini
- Tractor pulls
- A 7-on-7 flag football game
- Football skills competition
- Autograph session where fans can meet players and coaches
- Sand volleyball featuring Nebraska players against football alumni
- Punt, pass, kick competition for kids
- John Cook roping exhibition, named after the former Huskers volleyball coach
- BMX bike exhibition
- A musical concert
- Cornhuskers “garage sale” on the concourse
- Fastest student on campus foot race
- Tug of war involving sorority sisters
- Free car/truck giveaway
- BBQ competition
- Go cart races
- Dunk tank
- Pancake feed on the concourse
- Bring in the National Guard or other military formation in a game or other competition
Some of these things seem like brainstorming that never got past that stage. Others feel like parts like the dunk tank of a bigger idea. Obviously the idea of bringing Bo Peini is an interesting one, if for no other reason that I’m not sure there’s anything close from the fanbase to really do that.
What the Nebraska football program landed on isn’t perfect, but it probably good that several of these ideas fell by the wayside.