Deion Sanders, the head coach for Colorado football, is stirring up a buzz with his bold idea: having a spring game pitting his team against another. Joey McGuire, the Texas Tech coach, isn’t just on board, he’s already scoping out the details. He’s proposed hosting the event at The Star in Dallas with Colorado as their opponent.
However, there’s a bit of a catch. The NCAA currently bars FBS teams from going head-to-head in spring games. But leave it to Sanders to dream big. He’s got his eyes on a setup akin to the NFL: joint practices culminating in a spring showdown. During a recent news conference, Sanders laid out his vision, saying college football could mirror the NFL’s preseason format, complete with collaborative practices between teams.
The enthusiasm hasn’t gone unnoticed. Fran Brown, Syracuse University’s coach, wasted no time jumping in, tweeting his eagerness to take part in this potential face-off by offering to bring his team to Boulder for a three-day stint.
While it’s unlikely NCAA regulations will change swiftly enough to permit spring rivals this year, the spark has been lit. Between Sanders’ persuasive push and the excitement from coaches like Brown, the groundwork is being laid even if Syracuse seems to be leading the charge on this initiative.
Expressing his hopes in an interview with the NFL Network, Sanders extended heartfelt appreciation to his friend Fran Brown, indicating they’ve already started discussions. “Let me show some love to my dear friend Fran Brown at Syracuse. We have been in talks, and I appreciate him so much,” Sanders stated, hoping things align in their favor.
Sanders’ proposal shakes up a trend where many programs are opting out of or canceling traditional intrasquad spring games. Many coaches fear these public games could leave teams vulnerable to player poaching via the NCAA transfer portal. Yet, Sanders is undeterred, suggesting, “I think lining up against another team would be a game-changer. The public would love it.” It’s a vision aiming to breathe new excitement into spring football, no doubt appealing to fans hungry for more.
While this vision is a big one, whether it will come to fruition remains to be seen. But one thing’s for sure, Sanders’ energetic approach and the response it’s eliciting from the coaching community highlights just how innovative college football can become if traditional boundaries are pushed.
