Billy Napier explains decision to not televise spring game

Florida was one of a handful of teams that didn’t televise its spring game over the weekend. Coach Billy Napier explained why after the fact.

This year, a number of college coaches expressed concerns about potential tampering. The worry was that teams might start trying to poach players on the roster after seeing them play in the spring.

Napier was one of several who didn’t want the risk. So if you wanted to catch Florida before the fall, you had to be there in person.

“I think that once we didn’t necessarily get the call to be one of the prime (TV) spots, I think we felt like, ‘Hey, what are the advantages, disadvantages?'” Napier explained. “Gives us the freedom to just call everything.”

ESPN has televised fewer spring games on its linear channels in recent years, a trend that has accelerated in the NIL and transfer portal era. Whether that’s coincidence or simple numbers is up for debate, but whereas five to 10 years ago you could find virtually every spring game on a streaming package, now the opportunities are becoming more limited.

But there’s a bonus to that, Napier said. Enough to warrant not televising the spring game, apparently.

“We also felt like we’d get better attendance,” Napier said. “People want to see the show. So in general, couldn’t ask for a better day. Then the basketball team wins the national championship and I think that just was the icing on the cake there from a decision-making standpoint.

“It was a great day. We’re very thankful for the fans that came out and for the basketball team to be recognized at halftime, we couldn’t ask for much better.”

Napier concluded his comments about the lack of a televised spring game by pointing out the main benefit. It’s harder to poach his guys now.

“In general we don’t have to worry about what’s on tape and obviously people aren’t evaluating our twos and threes on the depth chart,” he said.