Wiedmer: Spring football games need format change

KNOXVILLE -- Is it not time, if not past time, to beg that FBS spring football games as we now know them be strongly encouraged to die quiet but quick deaths?

Now that Tennessee's Big Orange Nation has failed miserably in its tepid attempt to jam 100,000 people into Neyland Stadium for Saturday's Dish Network Orange-White game (maybe half that many would have been a far more accurate count), can we all agree that this controlled, contrived format of UT coach Butch Jones -- and, to be fair, almost every other Division I head coach -- needs to be radically improved if it must continue?

Sure, it's fun for a minute or two to watch the Circle of Life drill, where two somewhat post-adolescent gladiators of roughly the same size and testosterone level square off against each other, determined to take the other's head off.

The Quarterback Challenge competition was also somewhat exciting, though the highlight of the event may have been starting QB Josh Dobbs' words rather than deeds. Taking the field last, Dobbs joked with Jones, "Well, are you going to introduce me?" since the coach enthusiastically had done so with the reserve quarterbacks.

Naturally, Dobbs won, then told the media, "Coach always rides me hard."

And then there's the coach's unique scoring system -- call it the Modified Jones Scoring Maxims -- that deliver defensive points for such accomplishments as turnovers (4 points), defensive stops before the 50-yard line (2 points) and touchdowns (8 points), while rewarding the offense a bit less for touchdowns (the traditional 6 points), but also 2 points for a 25-yard pass play and 20-yard runs.

Sticking to the modified system, the Big Orange defense made its honorary coach -- new UT basketball boss Rick Barnes -- a 54-44 winner. However, by that boring, far better known system, honorary coach and UT director of track and field and cross country Beth Alford-Sullivan's White team prevailed 31-7.

But it's the overall product that needs a do-over. Something to excite the fans, or at least keep them awake by means other than overly loud rap music and giant video screen productions.

In other words, what could be done to entice 100,000 fans to Neyland on an April Saturday, a feat that really would top the 99,391 that defending national champ Ohio State supposedly lured to the Horseshoe for its spring fun earlier this month?

Would staging a shouting contest, one half of the stadium screaming "Orange!" while the other yells "White!" help? Perhaps one side could shout "Rocky!" and the other "Top!" Or, to stir up some controversy, one side could bellow "Peyton!" and the other "Tee!" since only one of those former quarterbacks won the Vols a national championship.

Or maybe, just maybe they could play another university, preferably an FCS school such as UT-Chattanooga that could really use a bonus payday. The idea was first introduced by former Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer nearly a decade ago, and doubters certainly would point to Fulmer's forced exit as a reason this might not be a good idea.

But play along for just a minute. To lessen the injury risk, kickoffs and punts are eliminated. All kickoff spots would begin at the offense's own 35. All punts cover 40 yards with no returns. You could even limit total plays. Make it 75 per side. When those are done, so is the game.

Imagine, however, UTC, East Tennessee State, UT-Martin, Austin Peay or Tennessee Tech coming to Neyland in April. Imagine tickets going for $10 for lowers and $5 for uppers for adults, those prices cut in half for kids 10 and under. The games are played early in the day to save on electricity. Seventy percent of the concessions remain with the home team. The gate is split down the middle to help the little guy, which saves the state money.

Clearly, UT couldn't do this alone. It needs to be an NCAA-wide effort. It could even designate FBS schools to play in-state FCS programs whenever possible. The little guy's league furnishes the officials. And it's officially just an exhibition. No permanent record ever will exist.

How big could it be? Let's say 75,000 actually enter Neyland, all of them paying the above prices. Let's also say each of those individuals, kids included, averages at least $5 at the concession stand. By those figures -- assuming there are roughly twice as many adults as children -- UTC could walk away with a minimum of $350,000 and the Vols close to $500,000. Make it a hot day and the concessions revenue could soar.

At least one UT player seemed more than a little intrigued by the idea. Said junior defensive back Cam Sutton, who won the defense's Al Wilson Leadership Award (Dobbs won the Peyton Manning Leadership Award for the offense): "It would be exciting. It's like when you get to the end of preseason practice and you're just so tired of hitting each other. You want to see a new face on the other side of the ball. It's the same in the spring. I know I'd like it and I think the fans would really enjoy it."

As he was wrapping up his Orange-White remarks, Jones said, "We want to lead the country in innovation."

Wildly modifying the spring game to include two schools ready to see a new face on the other side of the ball would be a perfect place to start.

Contact Mark Wiedmer at mwiedmer@timesfreepress.com.