In early February, Nebraska coach Matt Rhule hinted at a controversial decision that would soon become official: The Cornhuskers spring football game, played almost annually since 1950, would be replaced with a skills competition (mirroring the NFL’s Pro Bowl Games) and 7-on-7 action instead of a live intrasquad scrimmage. It continued a trend as Texas, Ohio State, USC and other prominent schools decided on tweaking their spring games, something Ole Miss did in 2024.
When Rhule spoke to reporters on Feb. 1, he said he didn’t know what events would be featured. On Feb. 4, CBS Sports reached out to a Nebraska administrator via text message asking what events the Huskers would replace the spring game with, and the response was simply a shrug emoji.
Huskers brass was knee-deep in figuring out the reformatting. Emails obtained by CBS Sports via open records request show that there were ongoing deliberations about what to do on April 26, with administrators throwing numerous ideas at the wall to see what could work.
In a Feb. 7 email from associate AD Brandon Meier to multiple administrators, Meier listed over 30 ideas to be discussed by a group of administrators in a meeting the following Monday:
Football
1. Open practice and 12-45-minute scrimmage
2. 7-on-7 flag football game
3. Skills competition
Non-football fanfest ideas
1. Alumni flag football
2. Sand volleyball, Huskers vs. football alumni
3. Dodgeball
4. Youth punt, pass and kick competition
5. [Legendary former head volleyball head coach] John Cook roping exhibition
6. Soccer field goals vs. football penalty kicks
7. BMX Bike exhibition
8. Concert
9. Tours of [Osborne Legacy Complex — the Huskers new football training facility, which is closed to the public]
10. Husker garage sale on the…
Source link : https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/from-tractor-pulls-to-donald-trump-nebraska-put-all-options-on-the-table-when-reformatting-spring-game/
Author : Richard Johnson
Publish date : 2025-03-31 17:00:00
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