The Bobcat Nation

I came across an interesting interview a couple of days ago and I can’t recall which team and coach made the comment and decision to close all team practices!

The rationale for the decision is the portal and the poaching of players from the team. Essentially the coach said that the decision was made to keep eyes off of the players that get monied offers to jump out. I’m not sure if it will achieve that end, and as fans lack of access to practices shuts down our lifeline of information.

What are your thoughts on the idea? Open as always? Closed to shelter players from exposure except during games?

I believe MSU has had closed practices ever since Choate was here. The QB Club members have some access but not the general public. Overall, I'd be highly skeptical that attempting to shield your players as much as possible from public view would do a whole lot of good if those players were also performing well in games that anyone can watch.

Wouldn’t that be tampering to scout other teams players in practice?

spring creek cat wrote: ↑

Sat Feb 08, 2025 9:38 am

Wouldn’t that be tampering to scout other teams players in practice?

The amount of people who care about tampering is very, very, small.

With that said, nobody is coming to MSU’s practices to scout practices. They just the games.

I think it was Nebraska’s Coach Matt Rhule who stated he’s leaning towards not having a spring game because last year when it was televised, he had to deal with a lot players fielding offers from other programs.

Former MSU Coach Jeff Choate, mentioned he thought spring games were unnecessary and only increased the possibility of player injury.

RICO CAT wrote: ↑

Sat Feb 08, 2025 11:09 am

I think it was Nebraska’s Coach Matt Rhule who stated he’s leaning towards not having a spring game because last year when it was televised, he had to deal with a lot players fielding offers from other programs.

Former MSU Coach Jeff Choate, mentioned he thought spring games were unnecessary and only increased the possibility of player injury.

I believe Matt Rhule just doesn't want the spring game to be televised because it lets other teams scout your best players a lot easier. I think he still wants the game (at least externally)

blueandgoldblitz wrote: ↑

Sat Feb 08, 2025 1:11 pm

RICO CAT wrote: ↑

Sat Feb 08, 2025 11:09 am

I think it was Nebraska’s Coach Matt Rhule who stated he’s leaning towards not having a spring game because last year when it was televised, he had to deal with a lot players fielding offers from other programs.

Former MSU Coach Jeff Choate, mentioned he thought spring games were unnecessary and only increased the possibility of player injury.

I believe Matt Rhule just doesn't want the spring game to be televised because it lets other teams scout your best players a lot easier. I think he still wants the game (at least externally)

Yes, that’s the Coach and team. I found it interesting. Yes it’s true games are the great “reveal” and everyone gets seen who plays well.

What are the benefits of having a spring game?

rfischer94 wrote: ↑

Sat Feb 08, 2025 7:59 pm

What are the benefits of having a spring game?

Spring football fix...

rfischer94 wrote: ↑

Sat Feb 08, 2025 7:59 pm

What are the benefits of having a spring game?

I assume it's mainly for the fans, especially for a team with as strong a fan base as MSU has it's good to give them a chance to come watch the team play once during Spring Practice. To me it would be a massive overreaction to cancel it because of some vague worries about our players being scouted for NIL offers.

RICO CAT wrote: ↑

Sat Feb 08, 2025 11:09 am

I think it was Nebraska’s Coach Matt Rhule who stated he’s leaning towards not having a spring game because last year when it was televised, he had to deal with a lot players fielding offers from other programs.

Former MSU Coach Jeff Choate, mentioned he thought spring games were unnecessary and only increased the possibility of player injury.

He thought that about the whole Spring football season, not just the game. The season for no reason. He thought players would be better served having more time with the coaches spread out over the Spring and early summer rather than just a few weeks in March and April.

https://nevadasportsnet.com/news/report ... pring-camp

MSU01 wrote: ↑

Sat Feb 08, 2025 8:33 pm

rfischer94 wrote: ↑

Sat Feb 08, 2025 7:59 pm

What are the benefits of having a spring game?

I assume it's mainly for the fans, especially for a team with as strong a fan base as MSU has it's good to give them a chance to come watch the team play once during Spring Practice. To me it would be a massive overreaction to cancel it because of some vague worries about our players being scouted for NIL offers.

My understanding of the statement about closed practices is just in general not including spring scrimmages more than likely.
In regards to quarterback club members. Not quite sure how was school would protect against someone there just to gather information for recruiting purposes. There’s always gonna be leaks

kwcat wrote: ↑

Sun Feb 09, 2025 10:02 pm

MSU01 wrote: ↑

Sat Feb 08, 2025 8:33 pm

rfischer94 wrote: ↑

Sat Feb 08, 2025 7:59 pm

What are the benefits of having a spring game?

I assume it's mainly for the fans, especially for a team with as strong a fan base as MSU has it's good to give them a chance to come watch the team play once during Spring Practice. To me it would be a massive overreaction to cancel it because of some vague worries about our players being scouted for NIL offers.

My understanding of the statement about closed practices is just in general not including spring scrimmages more than likely.
In regards to quarterback club members. Not quite sure how was school would protect against someone there just to gather information for recruiting purposes. There’s always gonna be leaks

I agree. The original poster on this thread seemed to think that MSU still has open practices, which hasn't been the case for quite a while now.

MSU01 wrote: ↑

Sun Feb 09, 2025 10:12 pm

kwcat wrote: ↑

Sun Feb 09, 2025 10:02 pm

MSU01 wrote: ↑

Sat Feb 08, 2025 8:33 pm

rfischer94 wrote: ↑

Sat Feb 08, 2025 7:59 pm

What are the benefits of having a spring game?

I assume it's mainly for the fans, especially for a team with as strong a fan base as MSU has it's good to give them a chance to come watch the team play once during Spring Practice. To me it would be a massive overreaction to cancel it because of some vague worries about our players being scouted for NIL offers.

My understanding of the statement about closed practices is just in general not including spring scrimmages more than likely.
In regards to quarterback club members. Not quite sure how was school would protect against someone there just to gather information for recruiting purposes. There’s always gonna be leaks

I agree. The original poster on this thread seemed to think that MSU still has open practices, which hasn't been the case for quite a while now.

Yes, I did assume that practices could be visited except during Cat griz which were closed. Also not really aware of the Spring specifics as back in the day, we’d all see them practicing on Dyce Field in the afternoons. Granted that was 40 years ago! Ha

MSU01 wrote: ↑

Sun Feb 09, 2025 10:12 pm

kwcat wrote: ↑

Sun Feb 09, 2025 10:02 pm

MSU01 wrote: ↑

Sat Feb 08, 2025 8:33 pm

rfischer94 wrote: ↑

Sat Feb 08, 2025 7:59 pm

What are the benefits of having a spring game?

I assume it's mainly for the fans, especially for a team with as strong a fan base as MSU has it's good to give them a chance to come watch the team play once during Spring Practice. To me it would be a massive overreaction to cancel it because of some vague worries about our players being scouted for NIL offers.

My understanding of the statement about closed practices is just in general not including spring scrimmages more than likely.
In regards to quarterback club members. Not quite sure how was school would protect against someone there just to gather information for recruiting purposes. There’s always gonna be leaks

I agree. The original poster on this thread seemed to think that MSU still has open practices, which hasn't been the case for quite a while now.

Yes, I did assume that practices could be visited except during Cat griz which were closed. Also not really aware of the Spring specifics as back in the day, we’d all see them practicing on Dyce Field in the afternoons. Granted that was 40 years ago! Ha

More programs canceling spring games.

Well, unable to attach the link but it’s from the ESPN website

AFCAT wrote: ↑

Sat Feb 08, 2025 9:23 pm

RICO CAT wrote: ↑

Sat Feb 08, 2025 11:09 am

I think it was Nebraska’s Coach Matt Rhule who stated he’s leaning towards not having a spring game because last year when it was televised, he had to deal with a lot players fielding offers from other programs.

Former MSU Coach Jeff Choate, mentioned he thought spring games were unnecessary and only increased the possibility of player injury.

He thought that about the whole Spring football season, not just the game. The season for no reason. He thought players would be better served having more time with the coaches spread out over the Spring and early summer rather than just a few weeks in March and April.

https://nevadasportsnet.com/news/report ... pring-camp

Echoing Ruhles comments on Spring ball. I wonder if we’ll see anything different at MSU.

With the changing philosophies on spring games across the landscape of college football, here is another wrinkle Colorado is thinking of doing.