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5 reasons to have Big Ten football played in the spring

By Rees Woodcock

DETROIT, MI - DECEMBER 28: A detailed view of the Big Ten logo painted on the field prior to the Quick Lane Bowl between the Minnesota Golden Gophers and the Central Michigan Chippewas at Ford Field on December 28, 2015 in Detroit, Michigan. Minnesota defeated Central Michigan 21-14. (Photo by Mark Cunningham/Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI - DECEMBER 28: A detailed view of the Big Ten logo painted on the field prior to the Quick Lane Bowl between the Minnesota Golden Gophers and the Central Michigan Chippewas at Ford Field on December 28, 2015 in Detroit, Michigan. Minnesota defeated Central Michigan 21-14. (Photo by Mark Cunningham/Getty Images) /
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COLLEGE PARK, MD – SEPTEMBER 03: The Big Ten logo on the yardage markers at the game between the Maryland Terrapins and the Howard Bison at Maryland Stadium on September 3, 2016 in College Park, Maryland. (Photo by G Fiume/Maryland Terrapins/Getty Images) *** Local Caption ***
COLLEGE PARK, MD – SEPTEMBER 03: The Big Ten logo on the yardage markers at the game between the Maryland Terrapins and the Howard Bison at Maryland Stadium on September 3, 2016 in College Park, Maryland. (Photo by G Fiume/Maryland Terrapins/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** /

2. Easier on high school recruits

I know, I know, the first slide about it benefiting the fans is completely selfish. I realize this. But let’s get into the actual tangible benefits of having spring football instead of the traditional fall season.

If you would move football into the spring, it would be a lot easier for high school recruits. The process right now is recruits practice all week long. They then play games on Friday nights. That doesn’t leave any room to travel if a recruit wants to go visit a program for a big game.

With both high school and college football playing at roughly the same time, this leaves zero room for scheduling. You have to schedule around your current football season, which only leaves a few possible weeks out of the year.

In addition to the scheduling difficulties, high school players have school to attend. Taking the stress off the high school athlete would be a great benefit to the overall health of the player. They could attend school, practice during the week and then play on Friday night without having to worry about what school they are going to visit, etc.

Taking visits to schools should happen out of season. Sometimes kids can’t make a big game of a college program he is eyeing. With college football in the spring, the kid will be able to visit whatever program he wants to visit at any time.

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