It’s partly cloudy, the temperature is a pleasant 63 degrees. If you didn’t know better, you could mistake it for fall. The stadium is three quarters full, and the stands are a sea of red. There are more young faces than normal, all excited to be in Memorial Stadium for the first time. Some have their faces painted, others are wearing corn heads. They giggle and point at Herbie Husker and Little Red as they chase one another down the sideline. Some point at Dyaln Raiola and then makes sure all their family sees they are wearing his number 15 jersey. You can see it in their faces, it’s their first real taste of Husker football. They are a part of it for the first time. That wonderful experience they have heard about from their grandparents and parents all their lives. Like Christmas each year, the day has finally arrived.
You can hear the soft mummer of the crowd as they watch the two teams gather at each end of the field. At the fifty-yard line a group of referees and the head coaches are meeting. The players disperse into rows and the assistant coaches walk between them talking as they begin to stretch. The colors of the uniforms of the two teams seem to pop in contrast against the dark green field. It’s a beautiful sight to see after a long Nebraska winter.
The head coaches leave the center of the field and head toward their players. The referees jog to the sideline and meet with the chain gang and point at Nebraska’s end of the field. The Nebraska coaches and their players huddle up. You can hear coach Matt Rhule talking to his players but you can’t make out exactly what he is saying. You imagine the words, “If we die, we die,” and get goosebumps. As you watch they break the huddle and half the team and coaches trot to the sideline.
It’s the starting offense and the offensive coaches that have stayed on the field. Nebraska will have the ball first. Coach Holgorsen has his hand on Dylan Raiola’s shoulder and looks at his play sheet as he talks. Raiola listens intently. The opposing team trots to Nebraska’s twenty-yard line. They are dressed in all white with blue and yellow numbers and stripes. The sunshine breaks through the clouds and their bright blue helmets with the Jackrabbit logo glisten. Today is the first day in what will be a long-standing tradition. The first annual Nebraska vs South Dakota State Spring Scrimmage.
It’s a unique idea, but a good one. If a day like I suggested above and the format listed below were to become reality, then you could probably thank Dr. Susan Elza for suggesting it to Matt Rhule. If you asked her, she would tell you it was something she grew up with in Texas and witnessed for years at the high school level. Traditionally in the ‘Friday Night Lights’ part of Texas these types of scrimmages would occur after two-a-days in the fall and before the season. They were always against a neighboring school in a different class and district. A team you would never see on your schedule. The scrimmage was always against the same school and was seen as a rivalry. Both teams wanted to kick their season off right and show the once-a-year rival, they were top dogs. The scrimmage was worth playing. It meant something. It gave younger players a platform to showcase themselves and wasn’t just another practice.
The greatest part about the scrimmage, unlike a game, it gives coaches more control. The layout is simple.
- This is a full contact scrimmage.
- There is no game clock.
- There will be referees to call penalties as needed and keep time between plays.
- There are no kickoffs or punts.
- Score will be kept but there are no extra points.
- The scrimmage will consist of a set number of possessions.
- Each team will get a set number of plays from their own twenty-five-yard line.
- If the set number of plays is 15, then fifteen offensive plays will be run.
- If a team scores on the first play, six points will be put on the scoreboard. The ball will then be returned to the twenty-five-yard line, and the second play will be run.
- There will be yard markers, and a team will have four downs to get a first down. If they fail to get a first down the ball is returned to the twenty-five-yard line.
- If a team continues to make first downs, they continue to play until they score or reach their 15 plays. At which time the other team starts their possession.
- If the predetermined number of series was 3, and the number of plays was 15, then each team will run a total of 45 plays during the scrimmage.
- After each team has had their 45 plays, each team will be given a series of field goal attempts.
- These attempts will be live with a defense.
- The number of field goals and yardage the attempts are from will also be predetermined.
- Typically, four attempts are made. One each from 20 yards, 30 yards, 40 yards, and 50 yards.
- Upon completion of the kicks, the scoreboard declares a winner.
Advantages to this type of scrimmage
- It builds a relationship and partnership with a neighboring university.
- The best part about a scrimmage like this is the flexibility to adapt and change during the scrimmage. Head coaches can come together and decide to run another series if desired or decide to end the scrimmage after two possessions rather than three.
- Players are put in a game type environment and get to go against someone they haven’t practiced against.
- This type of scrimmage also presents several game type scenarios such as attempting first downs on fourth down. Having one play to score from their own twenty-yard-five line. Putting together a drive up to fifteen plays long. Game winning field goals if the score is tied. Playing starters for as few plays as desired. Only having to come up with enough bodies at each position to run 45 total plays. And substituting at any time.
- The game type scenarios benefit defense as well as offense.
- It’s a game-type environment for first time fans and its real football for true fans, even if it is a limited amount.
- It generates revenue for the university.
- It creates a game weekend environment for the city of Lincoln.
It’s too soon to discuss Matt Rhule’s legacy at Nebraska. But whether he is the head coach of Nebraska for three years or twenty-five years, events are unfolding right now that he will long be remembered for. How he is perceived will be determined by several things. Winning will be one. Upholding long standing traditions, like figuring out how to save some form of the walk-on program will be another. Even if it’s only one single player. And lastly retaining some semblance of the spring game. To even suggest doing away with the spring game is hard for some Husker fans to stomach. To suggest substitutes such as concerts, skills competitions, or dog and pony shows is an insult to true football fans. The Big Red machine needs fed, and the only thing the machine runs on is Husker football.
I’m going to guess this idea is too aggressive for Matt Rhule and Troy Dannen, even if it is a win-win situation. But it gives Rhule the flexibility to only show what and who he wants to show. It limits the number of plays, preventing injuries but allowing younger players to have full contact and get better. It gives Husker fans football and something to celebrate and look forward to. It keeps another Nebraska tradition alive which allows us all to say, “There is no place like Nebraska.”
To Troy Dannen and Matt Rhule, this is Nebraska, don’t follow suit with everyone else, instead lead with innovation.
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