UI is missing the boat on what a great recruiting tool a spring game is...

[Letsgohawks411]

A spring game full of family festivities, a band, tailgating followed by the game with about a 6pm kickoff would be an amazing tool. If a recruit goes to a school that has a good spring game and then goes to our ho-hum scrimmage, it's like going from a sorority to a retirement home. Missing the boat big-time on this one!!!

 

[mpls_hawki]

Originally posted by Letsgohawks411:
A spring game full of family festivities, a band, tailgating followed by the game with about a 6pm kickoff would be an amazing tool. If a recruit goes to a school that has a good spring game and then goes to our ho-hum scrimmage, it's like going from a sorority to a retirement home. Missing the boat big-time on this one!!!

I wouldn't get your undies in a bundle over this. Iowa once had great spring game attendance when we actually put on a real scrimmage but much like everything else Kirk has reduced it to a joke.

However, there are only a few teams that put on a big show for the spring game (Alabama, OSU, Nebraska, PSU) and maybe a few others but there are many more Top 25-35 teams that have the same type of numbers that we now have.

 

[El Simbolo]

What is the format next Saturday? My son is signed up for this Kamp Kinnick program at the stadium (at 11:00, I believe). Is the open spring practice/scrimmage just immediately after that?

 

[MepoDawg#]

I believe the open spring practice is after the camp. At least it was a couple years when my son attended.
Posted from Rivals Mobile

 

[MepoDawg#]

Iowa won't get a huge turnout with a lot of the young kids/parents in traveling baseball/softball or rec and traveling soccer on spring weekends. Not to mention the Drake Relays going on in Des Moines. Small state population doesn't help either. Not many want to watch a glorified practice.
Posted from Rivals Mobile

 

[StormHawk42]

For those who have attended the Spring Game and the open practice at Valley before, is there much difference? Valley had lots of drills and not a whole lot of actual 11 on 11. Is the Spring Game at least more live ball action?

 

[northside_hawk]

Family festivities? All it is, is a showing of fat angry old men who need another excuse to drink excessive amounts and b!tch and moan that there tax dollars are being wasted by KF and Obamacare. Enjoy life, you don't need football 24/7.

 

[Ladell-hawk]

Originally posted by Letsgohawks411:
A spring game full of family festivities, a band, tailgating followed by the game with about a 6pm kickoff would be an amazing tool. If a recruit goes to a school that has a good spring game and then goes to our ho-hum scrimmage, it's like going from a sorority to a retirement home. Missing the boat big-time on this one!!!

A 6 pm kickoff time for a spring game/scrimmage would not be attractive to very many people.

 

[Rocket98]

over 60 minutes of 11 vs. 11 at Des Moines? I thought there was plenty of live action. It was much more than I expected.

 

[StormHawk42]

Originally posted by Rocket98:
over 60 minutes of 11 vs. 11 at Des Moines? I thought there was plenty of live action. It was much more than I expected.

Should have clarified that I left after the first two hours instead of staying for the whole thing. I'm basically asking if there are drills and such in addition to the live action.

 

[ichawk24]

Originally posted by northside_hawk:
Family festivities? All it is, is a showing of fat angry old men who need another excuse to drink excessive amounts and b!tch and moan that there tax dollars are being wasted by KF and Obamacare. Enjoy life, you don't need football 24/7.

The same guys bring sharpies and mini-helmets that they expect the players to sign.

 

[Hawk and Awe]

I really struggle with what some consider "recruiting tools" on this board. A freaking Spring Game is a recruiting tool now? Do you really think guys showed up for Ohio State's Spring game and were impressed by the fan support? Or what am I missing?

It's a stale program yes, but this isn't the low fruit they should be looking at.

 

[SigMaintHawk]

Originally posted by Hawk and Awe:

I really struggle with what some consider "recruiting tools" on this board. A freaking Spring Game is a recruiting tool now? Do you really think guys showed up for Ohio State's Spring game and were impressed by the fan support? Or what am I missing?

It's a stale program yes, but this isn't the low fruit they should be looking at.

I don't know how "impressed" recruits were at the OSU spring game, but they saw a crowd of over 99k cheering the Bucks on...

 

[St_Henry_Buckeye]

Yes absolutely they are impressed by fan support at these games. That is one reason tOSU was able to secure five commits over the weekend.

Originally posted by Hawk and Awe:

I really struggle with what some consider "recruiting tools" on this board. A freaking Spring Game is a recruiting tool now? Do you really think guys showed up for Ohio State's Spring game and were impressed by the fan support? Or what am I missing?

It's a stale program yes, but this isn't the low fruit they should be looking at.

 

[cidhawkeye]

Recruiting tool? Yes. Pretty easy to make this a more impressive event. Might not drive big numbers initially and there is some doubt that between marketing and the football program and public safety that they could pull it off but it could be far more than it is.

 

[Letsgohawks411]

A 4* WR recruit at the Auburn spring game:
On the atmosphere…
"I've been to a lot of spring games, but the whole place was packed. You would have thought they were playing Alabama or something. It's just great to see that they have a lot of support. People are cheering your names and seeing little kids trying to get autographs. You feel appreciated as a player here."

It can't hurt, it could only help.

 

[Mohawkeye]

Recruits are making their decisions in the Spring now. A bunch of young boys with Spring fever on campus with the college coeds at a big football party is going to sell what they are buying.

 

[icparkerhawk]

Re: UI is missing the boat on what a great recruiting tool a spring g

Didn't the recruiting coordinator, Wallace, just say during his media time last week that Iowa has made a conscious decision NOT to use the spring game as a recruiting weekend because they feel like they can't spend enough quality time with recruits and would rather have them come in June/July?

I get wanting to put in 1 on 1 time with them, but the costs outweigh the benefits there imo. You're not getting kids on campus early, when there's a crowd and the team and coeds on campus and instead bringing them in when Iowa City is a completely different town in the summer.
Posted from Rivals Mobile

 

[rivercityjazzman]

This year's UI spring game kickoff is at 1pm CST. Admission is free, I believe. Specialists usually hit the field to warm up 1 to 1.5h before kickoff. I believe the stadium gates open at 11:30am.

The team typically goes through warmups and drills, then usually plays 11 on 11 for several series including refs/time-clock, etc.

I think the game offers a big opportunity for recruiting, in that the recruits see: 1) Kinnick with people in it (the more, the better, IMO); 2) the team outside, working with coaching staff on position drills and full 11-11 as well. It's a different atmosphere than the spring practice held in Des Moines, with typically 4-5x more people there. It's more like a regular season game, in that there's tailgaiting/vendors. When recruits don't attend a regular-season game, they typically tour the facilities including Kinnick, but it doesn't provide the impact that it does when the team and fans are present.

In response to the OP, there will be several recruits in attendance (see Tom K post on the topic as to who will be there).

 

[N.Legend]

"Family festivities? All it is, is a showing of fat angry old men who need another excuse to drink excessive amounts and b!tch and moan that there tax dollars are being wasted by KF and Obamacare. Enjoy life, you don't need football 24/7."
____________________________________________________________________
Spoken by a fat, angry old man who's in the know.

 

[ichawk24]

Your national title may have had a wee bit more impact than your spring game.

Originally posted by St_Henry_Buckeye:
Yes absolutely they are impressed by fan support at these games. That is one reason tOSU was able to secure five commits over the weekend.

Originally posted by Hawk and Awe:

I really struggle with what some consider "recruiting tools" on this board. A freaking Spring Game is a recruiting tool now? Do you really think guys showed up for Ohio State's Spring game and were impressed by the fan support? Or what am I missing?

It's a stale program yes, but this isn't the low fruit they should be looking at.

 

[HAWK-N-402 (4)]

Im not saying jerseys, twitter, a more promoted spring game, etc are going to improve our recruiting and performance but it is amazing how many people are against these new ideas if for no other reason than they are different. We are getting passed by more and more programs everyday people why wouldnt we try.

 

[theIowaHawk]

Who has said they are "against" these "new ideas"? The people ridiculing the OP are discussing the hyperbole that LOOK AT OSU, THEY SIGNED FIVE 5* RECRUITS! IF WE DID IT, SURELY WE COULD TOO!

.....continue ignoring the top-3 coach at OSU and the National Title.

Serious question: How many did Nebraska host, did any verbal afterward?

 

[ChrisVarick]

Iowa won't get a huge turnout with a lot of the young kids/parents in traveling baseball/softball or rec and traveling soccer on spring weekends. Not to mention the Drake Relays going on in Des Moines. Small state population doesn't help either. Not many want to watch a glorified practice.
Posted from Rivals Mobile

True statement. My daughter will be running at Drake so I'll miss the practice. You have to assume that most of the highest level athletes in the state of Iowa will be in Des Moines this weekend. I guess it makes the staff feel better that fast kids can't learn the playbook. I kid I kid.

 

[SPGroth]

What I hope a lot of people do......is go to the Spring Game/Practice.......leave a little before 3pm then head over to Duane Banks Field to catch Game #2 of Iowa/Nebraska baseball. This is a battle for the 2nd spot in the Big Ten! Come watch these kids. They play fun baseball and Coach Heller has started to build this team up!

 

[David1979]

Well you must have missed the fact they have been hosting prospects during spring practices for the last couple weeks. They also have a few of their top targets coming in this weekend in Nick Niemann, Jovan Swann, Barrington Wade and Martell Pettaway, another kid is visiting too Lindrell Mitchell. I am sure there will be some instate kids there as well. I saw on another site that Kyle Taylor will be there as well which would be huge.
Like they said, and I agree, it is better to have fewer prospects in at the same time so that they can spend more time with them individually and build a stronger relationship then have some big cattle call for the spring game.

 

[Vroom_C14]

Neb had 76k in attendance - can't find anything on commits.

 

[Panthergrowl13]

Neb had 76k in attendance - can't find anything on commits.

Spring football games should be fun for everyone attending and can be used as a recruiting aid.

This years Spring Game at Highmark Stadium had over 50 former Pitt Football players including past and current NFL players.

Some of the Pitt players attending this years spring game included Larry Fitzgerald, LeSean McCoy, Aaron Donald, Curtis Martin, Jimbo Covert, Bill Fralic.

HAIL TO PITT!!!!

 

[Vroom_C14]

Some reason I see Iowa having about 14k in attendance, if that.

 

[Ladell-hawk]

I wouldn't get your undies in a bundle over this. Iowa once had great spring game attendance when we actually put on a real scrimmage but much like everything else Kirk has reduced it to a joke.

However, there are only a few teams that put on a big show for the spring game (Alabama, OSU, Nebraska, PSU) and maybe a few others but there are many more Top 25-35 teams that have the same type of numbers that we now have.

It is a real scrimmage. They will scrimmage for a long time. have you ever been there?

 

[Hawk and Awe]

Ohio State also uses "The" in their title. When will KF and co learn to market this program to college kids?Another golden opportunity missed.