A few days after the NCAA denied joint practices and a scrimmage between Syracuse and Colorado, SU head coach Fran Brown spoke for the first time since the decision.
His response to the NCAA was a humorous one.
“We should have just told Coach Belichick and Bill O’Brien to come up with it,” said Brown. “You know damn well they weren’t about to allow Coach Prime and Fran Brown to be the first two guys to do it… I’m just messing NCAA. Don’t get mad and call my AD and try to fine me. I’m literally joking.”
Coach Brown isn’t wrong. Who knows what would’ve happened if some of the other established football coaches had sent the proposal to the NCAA. Especially when you’re talking about former NFL head coaches, including Belichick’s renowned career with the New England Patriots, and O’Brien’s tenure with the Houston Texans from 2014-2020.
It makes sense why the NCAA disapproved the proposal, citing concerns about unfair repetition and playing time for other schools that wouldn’t be able to compete at the same level.
That said, this trend is something to look out for going forward. Who’s going to turn down the potential for more revenue for the NCAA if broadcasts get involved and local teams are able to scrimmage each other occasionally during the offseason. Oklahoma could play Oklahoma State, and why wouldn’t Arizona want to drive to Tempe and match up with Arizona State?
We’ll see if the NCAA does anything to capitalize on this potential money-maker. Beyond the financial incentive, it also makes sense for individual schools to improve their skills, and treat it as a tryout for players to showcase their abilities against legitimate competition, rather than just an intersquad or a scrimmage amongst a team.
Overall, future spring games between various schools might add another exciting element to college football’s already growing popularity.
