Spring Truths

So, your team's spring practice is winding down. The big spring game has come and gone. The depth chart has changed, the freshmen looked promising, next year is your year. Well, let me bring you down a bit. Here are my three eternal laws of spring football:

1. The walk on breakthrough player you kept hearing about, he won't be around come fall camp. He'll still be on the team, but he will go back to his place in the depth chart abyss. For the Dawgs, this player is Jason Johnson. Even last year, the coaches talked Johnson up. He was doing well, catching people's eye, playing his way up the depth chart, maybe even earning a scholarship. Then, when we ran out of tailbacks in the Auburn game last year, did the coaches turn to Johnson? No. They had our fullback move to tailback for the final minutes. Where was Jason Johnson? Ridin' pine, like a walk on should.

You hear about these guys because the second string/scout team players get more reps. I'm sure they do a fine job, but you will never hear of them until next spring because the scholarship guys, the ones who actually play in the games, get all the reps come fall.

2. What is good news for your team is also bad news for your team. This is one thing I hate about spring football, no matter what happens, it's bad for some part of your team. If the offense lights it up, your defense is weak. If the defense dominates, then your O is in trouble. Either way, you should be troubled. I sometimes think about what a good balance would be, but I can't think of one.

3. Injuries tend to outnumber breakout stars. Spring ball is usually good for at least one season ending injury. Just ask Mon Williams. For some reason, spring ball injuries more players than fall ball. The NCAA tried to put in a bunch of regulations on the types and frequency of spring contact back in 1998 to curb injuries, but it didn't seem to work. For every breakout young player, there seems to be a player lost for the year. Georgia seemed to escape the injury bug this year, but after years of shoulder injury purgatory, we were due for a healthy spring.

Spring ball has it's redeeming features: the team gets reps, units get to work together for the first time, the redshirts get a feel for the speed of college. But, spring should be taken with a hint of skepticism.

Plus, spring football is the harbinger of the college sports desert of summer. After Omaha wraps up in a few weeks, you'll have to wade through the summer clinging to baseball and country club sports.