So why is that all of the big schools do these elaborate spring games and they are full contact and we don't? I know we want to keep the injuries down but don't the othere teams think of that too? The only reason I could come up with is that they usually have more depth but it still seems like they wouldn't want to lose their starters. So is Bronco on to something or do a lot of other teams do the same thing as he does? What does Utah do?

Utah plays patty cake and then Kyle Whitingham makes lots of hyperbolous statements about the quality of their players--then later in the season he criticizes Ute fans about having their expectations set too high

Actually the spring game was full contact. It just didn't have the starters in there. I actually liked it. It gave the other players some on-the-field time that they wouldn't have got otherwise. We need them to get that time so the coaches can see them and how they react in game situations. Personally I always thought it was kinda dumb when John B was out there in the spring before his senior year. What did he have to prove? Was he in jeopardy of losing his starting his starting position to Jason B or someone else? No. What do you gain by playing him in spring? Nothing. The fall is a different matter. Then you are getting ready for your season. They will be going full-tilt. Unless there is a battle going for a position, I think there is nothing to be gained. I liked seeing some of the other kids out there playing and banging around.

Good thinking Bronco. I think it will pay dividends in the long run with teh development of the entire squad and not just the 22 starters. Just my opinion.

Go Cougs!!!!!

I think, too, that most of the starters didn't have as much to prove this year as they did last year. In last year's spring game, Austin Collie was just off his mission, Harvey Unga was trying to fill Curtis Brown's shoes, Dennis Pitta and Andrew George were taking the place of Harline, and Max Hall was getting serious competition from Cade Cooper--they all needed the chance to prove themselves on the field. When Cooper went down on like his first play, then Brendan Gaskins got the chance to show what he could do.

This year, the starting offense is pretty much set, as are all the vets on defense. Thus, Mendenhall had the luxury of letting the 2nd string guys show what they could do in a realistic game-type scrimmage. I would expect that Mendenhall will play more first-stringers in future Blue-White games in years where the starting positions are not yet set in stone.

And yes, chalk some of this up to Mendenhall progressively improving as a coach--he now recognizes the need to keep secure starters (like JB in 2006) from going down because of fluke injuries during spring ball.

I didn't get to see the spring game, but I think it was probably a good idea to keep the obvious starters out of the game. I see the spring game as trying to evaluate up coming talent and to give the new guys a chance to prove themselves. It is not to give the fans a little dose of football in the middle of the offseason, although most of us will take anything we can get. If someone has already proven themselves and has the starting job locked down then they would just be telling you what you already know. Use the game to learn things about your players that you didn't know before.

I am going to say that it is the almighty dollar $$. Most of the spring games around the country charge for admittance/parking, etc. The BYU game is free and so is the clinic.

Down here in Las Vegas UNLV has a free spring game, but the BBQ is about $20-$25 per person.

Places like Texas, LSU and Florida charge for entrance to the stadium...more revenue. Hence the reason for playing the starters. The fans want to see the starters.

I do like what Bronco does A LOT! Save them for the fall and let them work then.