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The coach makes a good argument. They only get 15 full sessions and not only do they not make money off the Spring game, nothing gets done in terms of better preparing the team for Fall and they risk injuries. The administration is organizing other events for fans to interact with the program.

Pitt cancels 2014 Spring game

Quote:"The thought behind [the decision], honestly, is to get one more good work day out of them," Chryst explained, via the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "Most, if not every spring game I've been a part of, you really end up sacrificing a lot. It sounds crazy, but just being locked into a place, bad weather. ... You're kind of locked into that day. These days are really valuable for us."

The school will organize new opportunities for fan interaction this spring in place of the spring game. Panthers fans can expect details on those events in the coming weeks.

"It's a little bit selfish doing what's best for the program," Chryst said. "You appreciate [the fans]. You don't want it to come off as not being appreciative. It's not the intent. But there is real conviction that for this group of guys, the guys in the building ... you feel really good that this is the right thing. You hope the people appreciate that."

I can see his point, you've lost whatever players you had to graduations & you don't have any of your new players you signed in so you're always short players w/ not much to be gained in having a spring game. IIRC OK ST cancelled theirs due to offseason surgeries which we are pretty much in the same boat

Makes sense to me.

Haha. I'm sure it has nothing to do with the fact that no one goes to the sping game at Pitt anyway.

(03-13-2014 09:52 PM)JeffUAB Wrote:  Haha. I'm sure it has nothing to do with the fact that no one goes to the sping game at Pitt anyway.

Wouldn't matter. API and UAT fill their stadiums and don't turn a profit.

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Spring games are for recruits, especially at big schools.

(03-13-2014 10:06 PM)blazr Wrote:  

(03-13-2014 09:52 PM)JeffUAB Wrote:  Haha. I'm sure it has nothing to do with the fact that no one goes to the sping game at Pitt anyway.

Wouldn't matter. API and UAT fill their stadiums and don't turn a profit.

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Not financially, but it's embarrasing when 4k people show up in Heinz field.

(03-13-2014 10:08 PM)Blazer88 Wrote:  Spring games are for recruits, especially at big schools.

That can't be denied.

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For a lot of fans, the free spring game is the one time each year the whole family can go to a UA or AU game. With more and more coaches closing spring practices to the fans, it is a day the team can see and be seen by their fans.

I don't really believe most fans expect a real game type experience until the fall season. As noted above, with the limited numbers it doesn't make sense to take undue risks of more injuries so we are just glad to see the guys work out in uniform and go through the motions of play.

Most simply call one of the last practices a spring game since they don't really play under game conditions any more. For us this spring, it may be the only time we get to see all of the QBs on the roster actually take snaps and throw to receivers.

Personally, I don't get excited over spring games. It's a glorified scrimage that's gone overboard and especially down here. Wow my team loss/won against my team, so now I know how they will do against another team. No if we scrimaged against another team, per the NFL, then a spring game would be intetesting.
And using AU or uoa as an example is just as stupid to me. These ate the same fans who tatto a full size pic of a coach on their body and school logo, but yet coaches leave leave or get fired and the fan never went to nor has any connection to the school besides living in the state.

Point is, regarding losing a day of practice, the Spring Game is not setup where the coach can whistle plays dead and chew somebody's rear out for lack of effort or a bad read. In other words, they can't teach...so it's a wasted day. I definitely see his point from that perspective.

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