Cancel Spring Practice: Perspective From A Former Player 

As a player, I hated spring practice with a passion. I can’t speak for today’s NIL, corporate generation; but the has-beens I polled from across the SEC had similar feelings. Here’s an excerpt from a multi-year starting offensive lineman on spring practice:

“The lead-up to spring ball was hell, so when we actually got to practice, it was a little relief. But, coaches didn’t have to worry about injury lists back then, so it (spring practice) was a CTE-inducing, smash-mouth marathon for 15 practices. There was normally standing room only in the training room after practice.”

The season’s opener is usually five months from the end of the spring session. Are March and April practices worth the risk of injury? I think not. 

Prior to going forward in order to go backward, I must reflect on the “lead up” to spring practice from the above quote. This describes winter workouts. Coaches initiated varying offseason workouts based on team needs. They could be barbaric in nature. I’m certain they were far worse before my time. Comparing generations is a time-tested practice within college football. The “Thin Thirty” and those that played under Bear Bryant likely griped that my generation was soft and had it made. Compared to them, I’d agree fully. I get it, and that’s not the purpose of this article. 

Back on topic. I hated spring practice, not the workouts leading up to the happening, but the actual football practices. Really didn’t make sense to me to go through a fall camp-type series of practices with no game in sight. I’d argue that those skills gained in March and April are often times lost by August.  The shady surroundings and schemes to get out of workouts were laughable. I’ll share one. I’ve purposefully left names out of the stories because, well, I don’t know why but I did. 

Some, not all, players tried to skate around mandatory participation rules by claiming to have an unprovable injury. This was actually quite common, by the way. Backs and hamstrings were the go-to’s since X-rays and other tests couldn’t verify pain tolerance. Instead of fully participating with the team, non-participants were forced to ride a stationary bike in the end zone during the actual workout. This at least happened during my time at Kentucky. I rarely joined this group and thought the alternative was much more taxing than the standard workout. Biking was not an easy alternative which led to creative thinking by a couple of linemen. Human nature is funny. More time was dedicated to scheming out of workouts than actually being a functioning member of the team. 

A couple of “injured” linemen came up with an ingenious plan to fake a fistfight while riding the stationary bike in order to create a diversion by knocking the machines to the turf which would hopefully lead to less peddling time. The plan worked to perfection on the first occasion. A fake fight ensued. Not a real one, more like a basketball fight that entails a lot of talking and very few punches being thrown. At least fifteen minutes were cut out of the routine. But, there were leaks and the adults in charge figured out their strategy on a second attempt. No matter if it’s the military, politics, or football; there are always leaks. The fake fight trick was foiled forever. From that point forward, stationary bikes were placed facing away from each other and five yards apart. 

Thankfully, things are much different today. Advances in sports science have developed a much more efficient and prepared athlete in 2023 compared to the old-school methods that were in place several decades ago. Today’s players are bigger, stronger, faster, and better prepared than any generation in history. Current players’ surroundings and off-field management situations are also different, or shall I say improved, based on common sense evolution. Kentucky allows its players a great deal of freedom to live off campus following their first semester or year on campus. I agree with giving more responsibility to the young men in the program. This approach better prepares them for life after sport. Can’t say for sure, but NIL negotiations may have forced changes in the mandatory dorm rule for freshmen. Yes, we live in that world now. 

Non-married players experienced year-round dorm life for decades that included my stay at UK. That was non-negotiable. That also meant constant supervision which is not necessarily a bad or good thing. Other than the summer semesters, coaches maintained constant, year-round supervision. Curfew was somewhat lessened during spring semesters, however. This sliver of freedom was, of course, taken advantage of by players (myself included) which, could at times, lead to shady circumstances. Saturday morning spring scrimmages in the 80s and 90s consisted of some, not all, hungover football players practicing their trade in a not-so-ideal circumstance. The emphasis on nutrition and hydration had yet to be developed if you know get my drift. I mean, a non-supervised Friday night was rare, can’t blame us for enjoying a little college life right? Wrong. Sick dudes littered the sidelines on those cold March Saturdays. Lessons weren’t learned and the action was repeated on a weekly basis. 

A former running back and two-time spring game MVP said, “Nothing worse than Saturday morning scrimmages in the spring. With no curfew, it was wide open on Friday nights. Step into the huddle on Saturday at nine in the morning and it smelt like a distillery.”

I’m not sure you’ll get that honest of a take these days. 

Practice operations have also evolved to support the emphasis on player safety. This is something that I fully endorse and would like to see more of going forward. Current rules exist that regulate times between organized practices and include uniform/dress regulations as well as hitting or full contact guidance. Again, I’m all for this. Working smarter is a good thing. 

That wasn’t always the case. A has-been SEC linebacker provided the tale of eating aspirin like popcorn after practice sessions because his head felt like it was going to explode for the entirety of spring practice. He went on to say, “Every practice was full contact for 3+ hours. One-on-one pass rush and cut block drills for an hour a day was like being in a car wreck every thirty seconds and we did that every day.”

This has been regulated out of practice. The cut block has mainly been legislated out of the game. Hate to keep going back to the money, but today’s football players make far too much money to put their earning potential in danger through senseless drills. More changes are coming. 

Another former linebacker recalled, “We ran goal line drill until nobody could stand up, seriously. We lined up best on best at the five-yard line every day of spring ball. Normally we did this at the end of practice when everybody was dead ass tired.” 

The timing of spring practice was also awful in terms of campus life. You know, the whole “student” part of being a student-athlete. On-campus students were able to enjoy the spring sunshine, Keeneland, March Madness, and spring break more so than their classmates that were on scholarship to bang their heads against each other. They also partook in the sun activities near the dorms which led to impromptu beach parties. These festivities were a scene that football players had to walk by on a daily basis on their way to spring practice.

A Wildcat defender from the late eighties and early nineties said, “The thing I remember most about spring ball was the anguish of walking through campus, past dorms and fraternity row, and seeing the fun they were having. It was torture walking to the practice fields knowing you had no games until the fall and the students were free to just enjoy college life. They were heading to Keeneland and I was headed to meetings, lifting, and a three-hour practice.” 

The point he and I are trying to make is not “Woe is me” or for readers to feel sorry for football players. Heck, players enjoy the benefits of a full scholarship, free travel and healthcare, and other blessings at our disposal. We had responsibilities to uphold our end of the contractual agreement. But, that doesn’t mean that feelings must be thrown out the window. My intent is to humanize football players and compare the times of today to those of yesteryear. I hate to sound like Cal, but athletes aren’t robots or machines. 

Spring Practice Player Interviews Are Hilarious 

Full disclosure: I work in the media but have been a college football coach, staff member, booster, broadcaster, and player. I’ve seen every angle in the racket and have been around the block a few thousand times. I said all that to say this, spring practice interviews of today sound the same as they did 30 years ago. Words may differ a bit, but it’s the same material that’s been around for years. Sounding energetic and engaged about 15 practices with no game within reach is a difficult ask. 

Springtime press conferences and post-workout media availability help to fill up website content, radio shows, and podcasts, and provides television hits for a few days. But, very little substance actually surfaces. I have to pay attention to the media gatherings because it’s my job, but I hold very little stock in player comments. That’s not out of disrespect, but from an understanding perspective based on experience. Quotes are normally regurgitated “Coach Speak” and based on repetitive dialogue. I get it. I was forced to go through speech training before I was able to engage with the media due to a perceived Appalachia accent. I think I still speak that dialect by the way. 

Here’s what’s really going on in the player’s minds while standing behind a podium or mic, “I WILL SAY ANYTHING TO MAKE THIS GO FASTER, I WANT THIS TO BE OVER SO I CAN GO HOME.” Years and names may change, but that process likely remains the same. There are exceptions of course. Players that I’ve really enjoyed interviewing are hardly ever included in the ones trotted out to the media masses. Phil Hoskins was one that made me laugh; so did Logan Stenberg. Both were authentic and didn’t play the normal game of non-commenting by commenting rehearsed responses. I will say this, Susan Lax and Tony Neely are two of the absolute best in the business; I mean that. The BBN is blessed to have them. Their dedicated care and love for their players are evident, commendable, and heartwarming. I admire both tremendously. But, at the end of the day, we’re still interviewing teenagers and young adults whose focus is normally everywhere or anywhere but the podium. I don’t blame them; I was them. 

Do Away With Spring Practice Already

I used to be a “Football Guy.” I think I may still be, but that description is more questionable now than ever before. I’m not so sure what my role is at KSR these days, but my focus is mainly to talk and write about the football game. This may come as a surprise to many, but I think spring practice should go away. Coaches should decide when and how they work but within general guidelines from the Southeastern Conference, not the NCAA. The NCAA is much like spring practice. It served its purpose but is now somewhat irrelevant in today’s modern world of conference-driven competition. 

I’m not so sure why spring practice ever started. Fifteen practices in March and April can be good for player development but the five-month gap from the end of the sessions to the season opener makes no sense. I’d prefer a year-round “OTA” model that the NFL utilizes. Breaking up practice or football-related workouts in terms of a schedule that continually builds toward fall camp would be more efficient. Let’s stop the silliness of arguing when an actual football can be used in offseason workouts and construct a plan that best supports the sport that brings in the most cash.  The year-round model would also act as a testing mechanism for the program’s strength and conditioning process. Perhaps this would materialize a more efficient process to sustain individual and collective progression. Instead of a universal start/finish date, a more flexible process within conference-guided parameters would better serve the student-athletes and coaches.  

Player safety should remain THE top priority within college football. I’d argue that the NFL has fewer offseason and collision injuries than their collegiate colleagues. Why is that? The League has strict rules that focus on the amount of time and manner of practices that teams can implement during specific times of the year. That model would be perfect for the college game. The NFL has a player’s union that negotiates these practices for their clients. That’s coming for college football, just wait. It should be coming in my opinion. There’s far too much money involved to not be standard practice. I’m all for it. 

What Does All This Mean? 

While I enjoy UK Football being in the news in March and April, I’m also aware of what spring practice actually is and why it should be no more. Sure, a specific time during the busy football schedule is set aside for 15 practices, but those sessions can be spread over the 365-day cycle which would better utilize the player, support staff, and coach’s time. Often, coaches don’t even utilize the full fifteen practices. I agree with these decisions. No need to take additional injury risks when not necessary. The fans would also have more access in this model by spreading out media coverage over a wider span of time. This would help to build excitement toward September. There will be arguments against this theory. I welcome that. I’m not an “I’m right, you’re wrong” type of person or writer. I welcome feedback. 

Academic leaders and other non-football influences would say that the student-athletes need more time away from the sport, thus a year-round model would not work. Yeah right. Context is necessary when listening to that perspectives. This same group of people argues for an extended FBS playoff due to student travel requirements and time away from the classroom. That’s odd, the FCS does so and puts on one of the best tournaments in the sport. The FCS’s playoff model is often praised by the same that says that process wouldn’t work at the FBS level. Are EKU student-athletes of lesser importance than those at UK? Is their time more or less valuable? Get it? Or, and I’m going out on a limb here, maybe the bowl games generate a nice pot of revenue and that’s why an extended playoff doesn’t exist. Huh. 

College athletics was, is, and will always be all about one thing-money. Thankfully, today’s players are finally cashing in on a small portion of that revenue stream. 

Times are changing within the collegiate athletic model. That has been a constant throughout history. However, it’s never changed at the pace it has since the implementation of the Transfer Portal, Name Image and Likeness, and conference re-alignment. Soon, if not now, the Big Ten and SEC are both worth more money than the NCAA. The two mega-conferences will at some point in time grow tired of playing nice with others. A separation of powers is imminent. 

College football is no longer an institution totally based on tradition and history. The game is now all about moving forward financially in a world whose participants are granted more and more freedom for profit and mobility. In other words, there has never been a time than now that the college game is becoming a subset of the professional model. With that, more changes need to take place. Let’s start by doing away with spring practice. 

Go Cats!