Spring Football

Discussion in 'Sports Board' started by Terry O'Keefe, Mar 1, 2019.

  1. Terry O'Keefe

    Terry O'Keefe Well-Known Member Administrator

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    Thought we needed a new topic now that schools are starting Spring Practice.

    ND has it's Spring Press Conference today and things start in earnest on Saturday. Clemson had it's Spring Press Conference yesterday, Dabo said it's time to turn the page, said all jobs are open, that Trevor Lawrence will have to win the QB job! :)

    I see that Miami and Florida are trying to move their opening game from Aug 31st to August 24th to kick off the 150th year of college football. It will also require they start fall practice a week earlier than anybody else, which the NCAA will have to approve. Certainly will give them an edge over who they play in their 2nd game of the year.

    Weather is going to be brutal in a lot of the county. Thank god for indoor practice facilities, I can't imagine starting Spring practice in South Bend this week without them.
     
  2. Terry O'Keefe

    Terry O'Keefe Well-Known Member Administrator

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    I'm not sure when Texas will start Spring Drills, but the Spring Game is April 13th.

    The Longhorns just got a bonus with the graduate transfer of 2X All ACC OG Parker Braun from Ga. Tech. He'll have to adjust to the Herman offense after playing in the Paul Johnson offense but at worst he'll be a quality depth along the OL, although there is talk that he might redshirt in 2019 in order to get familiar with the Herman offense. I would think maybe this would be a case of using that 4 games to get him in the swing of things and still preserve the year. He played 3 years at Ga.Tech, no redshirt, so he must be a pretty smart kid to graduate in 3 years at Tech. They take academics as serious as just about anybody.

    Big thing this spring is to find a backup for Sam Ehlinger as nobody left as a QB on the squad has ever taken a snap in the college game.

    Recruiting for 2020 is off to a good start for Texas and the after glow of the Sugar Bowl is still around, while nobody is predicting Nat'l Title, certainly the expectation is to compete for the B12 championship and be in the conversation for another New Years 6 or even the CFP.
     
  3. Terry O'Keefe

    Terry O'Keefe Well-Known Member Administrator

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    Was listening to XMSports yesterday and they were talking about the early odds for the Heisman.

    Tua and Trevor Lawrence were the favorites of course, Jalen Hurts, Adrian Martinez (Neb QB) and Justin Fields were tied for the #3 slot. Jake Fromm the QB that Justin Fields couldn't beat out at Georgia and forced his transfer so he could get on the field in 2019 was #9.

    That's sort of like last year when Tua was the favorite after the sterling play in the 2nd half of the NC game vs Georgia.
     
  4. Scott88

    Scott88 Well-Known Member

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    Ah spring ball... when we're all potential national champs!
    The Aggies start up next week I think. Lots of work to do. Lots of production to replace, but Jimbo has a really athletic roster to work with, so things should be interesting.
    Need to set the LB's right away, so they can get acclimated as soon as possible.
     
  5. Don Ballard

    Don Ballard Well-Known Member

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    Spring practice commenced here Wednesday, Coach Day is trying to warn people that Justin Fields is not Dwayne Haskins, of course many fans are ignoring those warnings. Day has indicated he will be calling the plays as the season commences. We are currently ranked #5 as spring ball begins.
     
  6. Terry O'Keefe

    Terry O'Keefe Well-Known Member Administrator

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    Good thing Midwestern schools all have indoor practice facilities these days Don! I guess Spring Practice back in the day before that must have started a lot later, like when there wasn't snow on the ground.
     
  7. Don Ballard

    Don Ballard Well-Known Member

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    Yes, indoor facilities have been a plus for sure. Hopefully, they will be able to get outside soon. Weather has been abnormal for the region this year.
     
  8. Sid

    Sid Well-Known Member

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    Warming trend starts tomorrow (Warm = 40s-50s).
     
  9. Terry O'Keefe

    Terry O'Keefe Well-Known Member Administrator

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    I wonder when Midwest schools first started having dedicated indoor practice facilities for football. I'm sure that teams probably used basketball gyms before that.
     
  10. Sid

    Sid Well-Known Member

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    In ND's case, they had the fieldhouse side of the Joyce Center before Loftus was built. Before the Joyce Center was built in the 60s, they had the old fieldhouse, which was quite expansive and suitable for indoor practice. Don't know about other midwest schools.
     
  11. Terry O'Keefe

    Terry O'Keefe Well-Known Member Administrator

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    Didn't that Field House have a dirt floor? Maybe that was why they kept it that way, just put down a basketball court when needed.
     
  12. Sid

    Sid Well-Known Member

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    Yes, it was a dirt floor. The Fieldhouse was the geographic, sports, and activity center of the campus until the Joyce Center (Originally the ACC) was built in 1968. The basketball portion seated around 2,000. The court was removed during the offseason. All the various sports and activities used it. Indoor track, pep rallies, Bengal Bouts, Collegiate Jazz Festival, etc. Many non-athletic activities eventually shifted to the Stepan Center, which was built in 1962. I recall seeing Peter, Paul and Mary for the first time in the Stepan Center during my freshman year.
     
  13. Terry O'Keefe

    Terry O'Keefe Well-Known Member Administrator

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    I saw that Alabama is going to pay it's asst's 7.5M this coming year, plus they paid the buyouts of the new assistant's like the OL coach from UF and the coach that came over from Miss State and 2 others. Sark is getting a 500K loan which they will forgive in increments based on how long he stays at Alabama.

    Clemson and Ohio State are also in the over 7M category for asst's pay.

    Lot of money being spent on college football these days, refurbishing stadiums, workout facilities, etc. No wonder ticket prices are going up and up. Of course teams in the Power 5 leagues,esp the SEC and the B1G have tremendous amounts of money coming from their TV contracts that they didn't have 10 or 20 years ago.
     
  14. kp

    kp Well-Known Member

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    Has anyone heard from AJ? Has he been affected by the floods?
     
  15. Terry O'Keefe

    Terry O'Keefe Well-Known Member Administrator

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    Not much action on this topic. Spring games are on the agenda this weekend.
    ND Spring Game ...weather should be good.
    Texas and Texas A&M Spring Games. ....weather not so good. A&M has move the game to Friday as Sat is expected to have heavy rain/thunder/lightening.

     
  16. Don Ballard

    Don Ballard Well-Known Member

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    Ohio State's Spring game will be this Saturday as well. Ist team offense against 1st team defense, no tackling. Talk about Vanilla treatment?:)
     
  17. Terry O'Keefe

    Terry O'Keefe Well-Known Member Administrator

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    I think coaches don't really like this Spring game and would just as soon not play it, injuries, trying to figure out how to give the fans a good time without getting anybody hurt or making either the offense or defense look bad...plus they don't want to give out any secrets!
     
  18. Don Ballard

    Don Ballard Well-Known Member

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    That's about the story Terry. I have not attended a Spring Game for years!
     
  19. Don Ballard

    Don Ballard Well-Known Member

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    Last edited: Apr 12, 2019
  20. Gator Bill

    Gator Bill Well-Known Member Administrator

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    A number of Spring games tomorrow including the Gators. Will have it tuned in on the SEC Network.