For the first time in a while, the Utah Utes won’t be hosting a spring game as they close out their annual spring camp.
First-year head coach Morgan Scalley said he plans to use the traditional spring game slot as the Utes’ 15th practice instead.
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“We’ve got enough new in the system that I really want to take advantage of that 15th practice,” Scalley said.
Scalley’s decision to forgo the annual spring showcase reflects a trend around college football.
In state, BYU hasn’t held a spring game since 2023 — holding an annual alumni football game instead — and under Bronco Mendenhall, Utah State cancelled its spring game last year, though it is bringing back a “spring showcase” this year on April 18.
Outside of the Beehive State, USC is not having a traditional spring game, and neither is Ole Miss or LSU. Some schools that are playing a spring game — such as Florida and Tennessee — are choosing to forgo televising or streaming it.
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The shift in spring game thinking is partly due to the transfer portal, with coaches concerned about schools picking off up-and-coming players that perform well in the showcase.
Last year, Zacharyus Williams emerged as Utah’s top receiver post-spring, only to leave for USC in the spring portal.
Even with the elimination of the post-spring portal this season, coaches weren’t convinced that players wouldn’t simply unenroll from their current school and walk on at a new school.
To try to ease that fear, the NCAA approved harsh punishments for schools that try that loophole — including “a suspension of the respective sport’s head coach for 50% of a season and a fine of 20% of that sport’s budget.”
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That ruling, which came on April 1, was too late for coaches who had already made up their mind and set their practice schedule, but it will be something to keep an eye on going forward.
The benefit of what Scalley has decided to do is it will keep the players in their routines and gets them extra work with their position coaches, but for some fans, the no-spring game news came as a disappointment.
To try to get some fan interaction with the players as spring football wraps up this week, Utah will be hosting a fan event — dubbed the “22 For U Fan Day” — on Saturday from 4:30-6 p.m. at the Spence Eccles Field House.
“Obviously on the 18th, we’re going to have a fan day so that they can meet the new players and there be engagement with our new guys and new staff, so we’re doing all we can to play both sides,” Scalley said.
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Admission to the event is free, and free parking will be available in all university lots near the field house, including the Guardsman Way lot and Rice-Eccles Stadium lots.
Players and coaches will be signing autographs for fans, a kids zone will be set up along the length of the football field with drills for children to go through coached by Utah’s coaching staff and there will be a live interview with Scalley along with music throughout the event.
As part of the event, Utah is conducting a “22 Forever” coat drive for those in need, with fans encouraged to bring donations.
