Call it smart or call it paranoid, Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule isn’t taking any chances this spring. In a Saturday news conference, Rhule said he highly doubts a traditional spring game is played due to concerns over tampering from other teams.
“The word ‘tampering’ doesn’t exist anymore,” Rhule said. “It’s just an absolute free open common market. I don’t necessarily want to open up to the outside world and have people watch our guys and say, ‘He looks like a pretty good player. Let’s go get him.’”
Nebraska has one of the more popular spring games. A reported 60,452 fans attended last year’s game, which was broadcast on Big Ten Network. Rhule said six players entered the transfer portal following the game.
While there’s room for debate on whether or not Nebraska moving away from a traditional spring game is a big deal or not, it’s the NCAA’s lack of oversight that’s led programs to this point.
The unregulated transfer portal and tampering is nothing but a headache for coaches to navigate. There is no trust or security in a roster. What’s more, what few rules exist can be bent in an instant. Former Wisconsin safety Xavier Lucas recently transferred to Miami without entering the transfer portal, setting a precedent that may create more chaos for the sport.
Perhaps Rhule is paranoid, but it’s a good bet he’ll be a pioneer as well. The lack of rules and consequences in the recruiting game have made it the Wild West. Notably, Rhule did say Nebraska would hold some sort of alternative event to the spring game, but will it bring in the same revenue?
Money matters are at the forefront of athletic departments’ issues as revenue sharing begins July 1. For Nebraska, the money is there according to Rhule, but others may not be able to say the same.
Should spring games perish, it will be because of the tampering and fear of transfers. It’s unregulated and increasingly detrimental to the sport.
It’s high time the NCAA find solutions to the problems.
