A lot of people might go into this year's spring game wondering what they will see on the field at Camp Randall Stadium—will it be a gritty battle for starting positions between teammates? Will it replicate the atmosphere of Camp Randall on a fall Saturday? Will it give us a preview of how the Badgers will perform in the Big Ten?
The answer to those questions is a resounding ""no,"" but here are some things you can count on if you spend your Saturday watching the Badgers squaring off against each other in the Spring game.
It will look like a practice, probably because it is
Remember the first few home games of the year, when the Badgers play some nowhereville school you've never heard of and it's hotter than hell in the stands, but we all love it because we're back in Camp Randall for another season? Well the game you'll see Saturday will be a lot worse than those, because you actually still have another four months before college football season. Oh, and the game on the field sucks.
The team will split into two squads—the red team of starters and the white team made up of second-, third- and lower-string players—and you will watch the red team run all over the white team for a little while. Nobody hits the quarterback and everyone just tries to avoid getting hurt while putting on a show that makes it look like they're actually somewhat trying.
You will try to understand the scoring system. You will fail
How they determine the ""winner"" of the spring game is about as complicated as the formula for quarterback ratings.
Because they're playing a team of starters, the white team gets double points any time they score, and at the end of each quarter there is a field goal kicking competition worth one point for every kick made. If you need proof that the spring game is a complicated mess, look no further than its scoring system.
People will try to act like it's a game worth tailgating for
I get it, Breese Terrace residents: It's been a while since you got to host a good pregame party, and by all means, more power to you. But anyone who sets up shop to tailgate for the spring game is just a little too desperate for college football season to start.
Reporters (myself included) will write like it has any bearing on the upcoming season
What did we think at last year's spring football game? Well, we saw it as a contest for the starting job between unproven freshman Curt Phillips and then-junior Dustin Sherer. Oh, and some kid named Tolzien was in there too, but there was no way he would get meaningful playing time.
As you can see, what we prognosticate about in the sports media about the spring game tends to have little correlation with what we will see come September.
Do you think the spring game is a wonderful experience for fans and a preview of the season to come? Well, Barry, you can send your comments to savidgewilki@wisc.edu.
