Spring Game not a game but an “open practice”; now at Noon
Strange stuff as the graphic I posted the other day was sent to family of players. It did say “subject to change” however.
It changed!
To absolutely no one’s surprise, the Spring Game is not a game. It’s an open practice. It won’t be at 5pm either but instead Noon.
Softball vs OSU is at 2pm and the NCAA Men’s Gymnastics Championships at Crisler are at 8pm.
February 20th, 2020 at 1:09 PM ^
I've always wondered what the logic is between doing a game and an open practices in JH's thinking.
Seems like calling it a game is an easy way to get people excited about talent.
February 20th, 2020 at 1:33 PM ^
So...are they telling us not to be excited about talent lol?
February 20th, 2020 at 3:15 PM ^
right because there isn't any
--Maizen
February 20th, 2020 at 1:10 PM ^
At this point, I'm not even sure why Harbaugh even bother's. It's obvious he doesn't want to do a spring game, so why waste everyone's time?
/s
This is what all the "we want a spring game" crowd is gonna say.
February 20th, 2020 at 2:31 PM ^
Along that line of thinking... why even show up for the OSU game, since we know what the results will be.
February 20th, 2020 at 3:19 PM ^
Yeah the spring game and the game against osu are definitely comparable.
February 20th, 2020 at 4:45 PM ^
Well actually...
February 20th, 2020 at 8:39 PM ^
Only if they are playing 1s vs 2s
February 20th, 2020 at 1:14 PM ^
Apparently Harbaugh strongly believes they get more out of a practice than a spring game.
Unfortunately the fan experience of watching a bunch of indi sessions is boring as hell.
February 20th, 2020 at 1:17 PM ^
"Unfortunately the fan experience of watching a bunch of indi sessions is boring as hell."
If the weather is warm and sunny and you've got some cushions, it's an opportunity for a nap.
February 20th, 2020 at 1:31 PM ^
If I was local and the sun was out I’d go because I’m a sucker for any football. Hell, I went to the one at IMG* and the most interesting part of that practice was finding out the “down in front” travels and occurs at any football activity
*I’m still a sucker for going but in my defense I also hit spring training
February 20th, 2020 at 1:21 PM ^
Yup and I’m done wasting my time until it’s a game again.
I know the practice time will bleed over past 2 so forget it. Softball and M Gym it is for us. Skipped it last year to go watch our damn impressive top-10 ranked W Lax team on senior day.
Nothing to get mad about anymore. Is what it is.
February 20th, 2020 at 2:08 PM ^
It still sure sounds like you're mad.
February 20th, 2020 at 7:15 PM ^
Not really nor am I surprised one bit. This is what Harbaugh wants--his program sealed off from the rest of the world until gameday.
Did away with the women's football academy, the men's football experience, fan day, media day and axed the Inside Michigan Football radio show that was once live at an A2 restaurant and is now just a pre-taped podcast essentially.
I've just accepted it. Thankfully we don't have any other program that treats the fans like customers.
February 21st, 2020 at 9:17 AM ^
I think this, along with how JH approaches the media, and his image in general with the thick glasses, always wearing the baseball cap, and wearing the same damn thing all the time, is a big area for improvement. If he became a little more Dabo...friendly, engaging, welcoming, etc. I think it would go a long way for public perception, generate more positive publicity, and likely help recruiting as well.
February 20th, 2020 at 2:40 PM ^
I don't blame him for being mad. What is with this program and being so fan unfriendly? Sure seems like they should be trying to do everything they can with how many people are dropping tickets.
February 20th, 2020 at 3:01 PM ^
Exactly, you can be hostile if you are winning championships, otherwise giving fans that make your millions possible even tiny handouts is the right thing to do. Its dumb and its the sort of shit that leads to empty seats during 9 win seasons we all know will end with a loss to OSU and a meaningless bowl game
February 20th, 2020 at 3:20 PM ^
God forbid they do anything for fans like they used to. I remember as a kid going to fan day getting Braylon, Steve Breason, Tyler Ecker, and Chad Henne's autographs.
February 20th, 2020 at 7:08 PM ^
Well, why should they be more "fan friendly"? We fans are to blame. We don't demand any different by any real actions that would make the program bend to be more friendly to the fan base.
They're Still selling out games. Big House is packed. Revenue is up. Nike sends a big fat check.
February 21st, 2020 at 9:20 AM ^
I think it's less about his approach to the fans, although I think it all stems from the same overall philosophy. But, if he were more friendly, engaging, didn't wear the cap, glasses, & same clothes all the time I think he'd generate a little more goodwill from media and get more positive articles and probably see an uptick in the program's overall image which would likely help with recruiting. If none of this mattered there wouldn't be marketing or PR. It does and JH's missing the boat on it.
February 20th, 2020 at 7:00 PM ^
Wow, it's sounding a lot like the Hoke days.
February 20th, 2020 at 7:15 PM ^
I upvoted WD. He’s the type of guy that goes to stuff like this. He’s the target audience and he’s not going to this event. It’s bad marketing. Is what it is.
February 20th, 2020 at 2:15 PM ^
Wasn’t it called an open practice last season also. They do a lot of individual sessions before they scrimmage. What does it matter what they call it? It’s free and open to go watch not sure why people are so caught up on a name
February 20th, 2020 at 4:58 PM ^
I don't think anyone is caught up in the name rather in what is happening on the field. In a true spring game you have two teams that play each other in something that looks and feels like a football game. You can even root for a team if you'd like.
When you watch a bunch of drills that culminate in offense vs. defense practice reps yes they are technically scrimmaging but it does not look or feel like a football game.
February 20th, 2020 at 2:38 PM ^
ive given up trying to figure out harbaughs reasoning for a lot of the stuff he does. Spring game or not the product has been whatever. Why not do a spring game and give the fans something to be excited about for 2020
February 20th, 2020 at 2:48 PM ^
Because, collectively, we will fill the Big House every single home game this year. We'll be excited on September 5th in front of our TVs and on September 12th at the Big House.
February 20th, 2020 at 4:51 PM ^
And then MAD ONLINE shortly after.
February 20th, 2020 at 5:13 PM ^
After?
February 20th, 2020 at 5:55 PM ^
Yes, maybe 'during' and 'after'.
February 20th, 2020 at 1:27 PM ^
Bo probably didn't approve of them.
February 20th, 2020 at 1:31 PM ^
Uhm actually Bo had a spring game every single year he was here.
He started the tradition of the winners getting steak dinner and the losers getting beans and weenies.
Once Lloyd got the job he started doing this open practice scrimmage nonsense and it’s been predominantly that ever since.
February 20th, 2020 at 1:52 PM ^
Maybe Harbaugh figures that because Lloyd won a National Championship, his model is better
February 20th, 2020 at 2:35 PM ^
I hope not... grasping at straws again..
February 20th, 2020 at 2:48 PM ^
I think the optics are something that he wants to avoid. OSU puts 90,000 people in their stadium for a spring game. Michigan is lucky to get 30,000. I don't think he wants to have a true advertised "spring game" because it highlights the relative lack of interest in the football program when contrasted with its primary rival so they do their best to downplay it before anybody else can mock it.
It would be kind of funny if it wasn't so horribly sad.
February 20th, 2020 at 3:38 PM ^
I don’t think anyone would care how many people were there in as little as a few days after the event.
February 20th, 2020 at 1:15 PM ^
Meanwhile, Ohio St will have an actual game; it'll be on EspnU, and will be sunny and 65 degrees.
February 20th, 2020 at 1:39 PM ^
*And the shoe will be packed whilst hoards of 5 starzzz look on.
February 20th, 2020 at 2:27 PM ^
Why wouldn't 5 starzzzz not want to come a boring open practice in a stadium that has 7,000 people in it??
February 20th, 2020 at 7:22 PM ^
CUZ THOSE RECRUITS ARE STUPID WITH THEIR HIP HIP TO THE HIP HIP HOP.
WE ARE MICHIGAN! WE HAVE 1/2 OF A NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP AND WON NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS BEFORE WW1 SO WE SHOULD NOT EVOLVE OUR PROGRAM TO THE CURRENT CLIMATE.
February 20th, 2020 at 1:54 PM ^
During his first two seasons, Harbaugh was hell-bent on marketing Michigan football, and I thought maybe that would bleed over into the other program stuff that were being neglected. Spring games are a great way of promoting Michigan football to fans who don't have season tix, especially those who bring their kids—i.e., potential future Michigan fans—to the event. Don Canham certainly thought so.
If the attitude is "We're Michigan football and we're so awesome that we don't have work very hard to sell ourselves," it's highly likely you will be having problems not too far in the future.
The lack of imagination the athletic department displays when it comes to fan engagement is pretty remarkable. Even if the event itself was a practice, that doesn't mean they couldn't do other things to draw people there:
• Field-goal kicking contest by randomly drawn fans, with prizes of season football tickets. Maybe a local car dealer could be persuaded to put up a vehicle for a prize.
• Alumni player flag football game.
* Assistant coaches 40-yard dash, with the winner getting to designate a non-profit for a contribution put up by the athletic department
• Food carts on the concourses from a variety of local restaurants
• Beer
February 20th, 2020 at 2:28 PM ^
Yup, sucks that every Spring now, I see Ohio State and Penn State have fun and interesting Spring Games in front of 60,000+ fans while hoardes of 4 & 5 star recruits look on, while media and interested observers get to see their offensive and defensive players in a live environment.
Meanwhile, we're boring the couple thousand who came to watch a glorified practice session as recruits pretend this is nice and the sports channel clip like 3 cool plays because there's nothing else to grab.
What happened to the Harbaugh who grabbed attention and did all these smart and effective recruiting tactics? Now we're the stodgy country club team who can't even be bothered to pretend to hold an exciting event.
February 20th, 2020 at 2:25 PM ^
....and they'll showcase 3 QBs and 1 high schooler that can all outplay our's.
February 20th, 2020 at 2:25 PM ^
Are you sure they're having a game? The last OSU spring "game" I remember was a literal two-hand touch practice to avoid injury. That was under Urban though so it's possible they've switched back
February 20th, 2020 at 2:31 PM ^
They hold a game every year, they just nixed tackling to prevent unnecessary injuries (which I agree with). It's essentially 11 v 11 flag football, but it still lets you see who's playing coverage well, which RB's hit the hole well, and how well your QB is reading the defense and making throws. They also add excitement with halftime events like the 1 year where JT Barrett, Cardale Jones and Braxton Miller? I believe had a contest to see who could throw the ball the furthest.
Either way, they're miles ahead of us in understanding how to make every event a positive experience for fans AND recruits.
February 20th, 2020 at 3:16 PM ^
Either way, they're miles ahead of us
You could have stopped there.
February 20th, 2020 at 8:03 PM ^
Seems like the point is, even if we had a game on ESPN on a perfect day people would still whine vs. showing up. After the NC, 35k showwd up. Embarrassing.
So why have a game when "fans" wouldn't show up anyway. Doing the same thing and expecting a different result is insane. I will be at the practice even it it rains. Been there done that.
February 20th, 2020 at 8:54 PM ^
OSU and PSU can draw that many fans and it’s great for recruiting and it gives the early enrollees and young guys a little experience playing in front of a huge crowd, but as you pointed out, we would be lucky to draw half of their attendance. Why change what you’re doing to appease the fans that won’t even bother to show up for it?
I guarantee if we could get the same type of crowd that osu and psu get, Harbaugh would take advantage of it. Harbaugh might be a weird guy, but he’s smart and does whatever he thinks is in the best interest of the program.
February 20th, 2020 at 1:16 PM ^
Why not? We’ve beat OSU so many times, why do anything different?
/I’ll see myself out