2025 Spring Practice Thread

[Dale]

I hear your sentiment, but I provide you with a rebuttal. I think scaling down makes some sense, but there’s value to it for sure.

1) ND has and will continue to take care of their star contributors within context of the game. I’m not worried about Love tearing his ACL because he won’t play.

Injuries can still happen to anyone though.

2) the game has value within context of position battles to an extent. It will not be the determining factor to make a decision, but it’s absolutely a data point. With a QB battle this spring, you have to see how these guys perform with a little bit of game atmosphere with live snaps. There’s not a ton of pressure, but there’s something to having to perform in ND stadium with some crowd and national tv cameras on vs. performing behind closed doors at practice.

The spring game isn’t even the most intense spring scrimmage though. It has value, but so do scrimmages that don’t get televised.

3) it’s a free marketing event. You get the fanbase and community involved. As Freeman makes very clear when he speaks publicly, “another opportunity” to compete as a team.

Can still have an event without a spring game.

4) in the era of player empowerment and NIL, you’re giving your young guys not only a chance to make some plays in ND stadium with cameras, but also get some hype around their name and upcoming season. Absolutely value there and probably the main objective moving forward to get these guys reps.

Yes, but that is also the worry. You are literally showcasing backups and pumping their tires, to the point they may transfer is some of the modern concern

 

[Dale]

I think there is value in a spring weekend event. I also think the concerns with a season extending into January and the over inflation of a scrimmage are also valid.

I would scale back spring practice drastically in seasons you make the CFP + rethink the spring game as an All Star Weekend type event

 

[rtrn2glory]

Heard the II guys on latest podcast speculate that returning starters (especially those still banged up like Love) will likely be limited. Sounds like this is a new challenge for teams that go deep in the CFP. It will also likely fall on Landow’s lap to have the right solution to ensure enough rest & rehab + practice reps to be ready for fall.

No offense but I didn't need to hear a podcast to know that there was going to be a lot of guys limited.... Biggest challenge is going to be to try to find enough quality game like reps to allow the QB competition to authentic

 

[Irish8248]

It's likely the only time the coaching staff can get film on guys in game like situations and live reps... spring game is beneficial for players fighting on a depth chart..

So if the coaches feel like they have enough by end of spring then there's little use for it.

 

[Dale]

- Combine events by a select few. 40 times by fastest. Bench by strongest etc.

- 7 v 7 game

- Oklahoma drill

- Celebrity/alum 7 v 7

- Kids 7 v 7 coached by players

 

[Dale]

It's likely the only time the coaching staff can get film on guys in game like situations and live reps... spring game is beneficial for players fighting on a depth chart..

So if the coaches feel like they have enough by end of spring then there's little use for it.

They film every single practice and have intense saturday scrimmages that aren’t the spring game.

 

[JD Irish]

- Combine events by a select few. 40 times by fastest. Bench by strongest etc.

- 7 v 7 game

- Oklahoma drill

- Celebrity/alum 7 v 7

- Kids 7 v 7 coached by players

I'd much rather watch a football game.

 

[rtrn2glory]

It's likely the only time the coaching staff can get film on guys in game like situations and live reps... spring game is beneficial for players fighting on a depth chart..

So if the coaches feel like they have enough by end of spring then there's little use for it.

Not really. I've been to a spring practice or two with live game situations and their much more intense than the game.

Game is for the fans. I'm with Dale. As long as fans have access to the players it doesn't need to be a full game.

IMO it's a glorified practice and the most important thing in the end is everyone walks away healthy.

 

[rtrn2glory]

Honestly I haven't even watched the game live since it switched to peacock. I always watch the replay.

 

[irishjim]

It's likely the only time the coaching staff can get film on guys in game like situations and live reps... spring game is beneficial for players fighting on a depth chart..

So if the coaches feel like they have enough by end of spring then there's little use for it.

Another thing about spring games is that it gives other schools an opportunity to scout out players to poach in the spring transfer window.

 

[FWIrish4]

Injuries can still happen to anyone though.



The spring game isn’t even the most intense spring scrimmage though. It has value, but so do scrimmages that don’t get televised.



Can still have an event without a spring game.



Yes, but that is also the worry. You are literally showcasing backups and pumping their tires, to the point they may transfer is some of the modern concern

Forgive me as I don’t know how to quote individually like you did lol.

1) Injuries can happen to anyone, but who have we lost in the spring game that was significant? Fall camp has been MUCH more detrimental to our starting lineups than the spring game.

2) if we’re so worried about injuries, why are we having more intense scrimmages? (Playing devil’s advocate here because those scrimmages are important)

3) the “event” other than a scrimmage could result in injury. One on one lineman drills could easily have an Achilles pop on an o-lineman or a DE trying to get the corner and blow their knee. Again, if we’re going to make decisions solely based on injuries then don’t do anything. It’s sports and anything can happen at any time.

4) this is where a GM and a great NIL program have value to retain talent. have we had anyone picked off our roster after a spring game? Has any program really had that problem? Or is Rhule just making excuses here?

Again, I agree it should be modified but to just totally end it out of fear of what you and moreso the OP stated is over the top.

 

[Dale]

Forgive me as I don’t know how to quote individually like you did lol.

1) Injuries can happen to anyone, but who have we lost in the spring game that was significant? Fall camp has been MUCH more detrimental to our starting lineups than the spring game.

2) if we’re so worried about injuries, why are we having more intense scrimmages? (Playing devil’s advocate here because those scrimmages are important)

3) the “event” other than a scrimmage could result in injury. One on one lineman drills could easily have an Achilles pop on an o-lineman or a DE trying to get the corner and blow their knee. Again, if we’re going to make decisions solely based on injuries then don’t do anything. It’s sports and anything can happen at any time.

I guess my point with injuries can still happen, is yes agreeing with you, they can happen at any time to anyone. So scaling back Love for a spring game doesn’t mean he can’t get injured. Just like yes, someone could get injured in any of the events I suggested. I would say it’s less likely at least when you have no tackling and more spacing, not 11 guys colliding within the box.

4) this is where a GM and a great NIL program have value to retain talent. have we had anyone picked off our roster after a spring game? Has any program really had that problem? Or is Rhule just making excuses here?

Again, I agree it should be modified but to just totally end it out of fear of what you and moreso the OP stated is over the top.

I agree ND shouldn’t be as concern as another school, but doesn’t mean the worry doesn’t outweigh the benefit.

 

[Dale]

I would put it to a theoretical, if you knew Brady Quinn was gonna sling some passes to *insert other ND alum* how many non message board obsessed casual ND fans would actually proactively tune into that versus how many viewers would you lose because it’s not a real football game?

Sickos will be there regardless.

 

[Jimmy3Putt]

We won't be in the National Championship every year. Lose in the first round and the spring game will feel like a year away.

 

[IrishWayDomer]

I just want to see CJ Carr throw 65 balls. Don't really care about anything else.

 

[calvegas04]

Should scrimmage against Purdue for the spring game

 

[T-Boone]

Yeah have a freshman only game against Purdue or similar.

 

[stlnd01]

We won't be in the National Championship every year. Lose in the first round and the spring game will feel like a year away.

Kinda where I’m at. It feels unnecessary because our season ended two weeks ago.

If we hadn’t watched meaningful football since November, we’d all be itching for some good vibes (and good vibes is really all the spring game is about.)

And inevitably there will be years when the meaningful football ends in November.

 

[IrishLion]

And inevitably there will be years when the meaningful football ends in November.

Nope. This year was way too fun, don’t want to hear it.

 

[Terry Jillery]

<8 weeks until spring game. Let’s go!!

 

[Fbolt]

Insanity. Was watching CFP replays this morning. Such as short offseason.

 

[pumpdog20]

Sad that they didn't line up the spring game with home baseball/softball games. A few years back, all 3 lined up and it was great.

 

[dublinirish]

 

[Punky]

Peter Jones looks like he's 40. Gives the impression he could be an ornery sob.

 

[rtrn2glory]

I know it was thrown around on here awhile back but Ohio St is doing a "spring showcase" instead of a game.

 

[dublinirish]

I know it was thrown around on here awhile back but Ohio St is doing a "spring showcase" instead of a game.

i would imagine ND is obliged by NBC to have a game

 

[Classic Irish]

I know it was thrown around on here awhile back but Ohio St is doing a "spring showcase" instead of a game.

I wonder if that will involve a “Showcase Showdown.”

 

[Plankton]

I know it was thrown around on here awhile back but Ohio St is doing a "spring showcase" instead of a game.

I'm anxious to see the Ryan Day Sock Puppet Theater. I hear it's a hell of a sketch, overly dark, though patchy in places.

 

[Irishokie]

Day is one color. MS Paint filled in black style.

 

[BeatSC]

I love the spring game. We get to see so many players all in one game. Many of them we won’t see all season but have something to look forward to. I stress out at all ND season games because I can’t handle ND losing. Spring game ND always wins. Injuries do concern me but they do have months to recover or reload. Would be nice if more fans would show up. Been 25-30k last several years while Ohio State and other big time programs get 70-80k. The weather has been nice for years now and it’s almost free to get in. Great way to get the ND Gameday experience in a less stressful crowded environment. It’s tradition and ND has always been about tradition.