18 hours Ago
Hayden Dalebout hasn’t missed a Utah football game in five years. The University of Utah sophomore grew up watching the Utes with his family. And, now that he’s attending the Salt Lake City campus as a student, his football fandom has gotten even more intense.
But he has he paid much attention to the Utes’ annual spring game — now called the 22 Forever Game — at Rice-Eccles Stadium. This spring carries a different feeling, however. Dalebout can feel the buzz surrounding Utah’s football program, especially since head coach Kyle Whittingham and the Utes are deploying a new-look offense for the first time since 2019.
On Saturday afternoon, fans will get their first opportunity to see a glimpse of new offensive coordinator Jason Beck’s squad, led by the New Mexico transfer quarterback Devon Dampier. “The way last season ended, this spring game is just so much more important to so many people,” Dalebout said. “I’m just excited to get to kind of know these guys.
” This year, spring games, a tradition of most major football programs across the country, also have a new meaning. Teams across the country have uprooted tradition, canceling their games or replacing them with other fan events. (Anna Fuder | Utah Athletics) Utah offensive coordinator Jason Beck speaks to players during spring football practice in Salt Lake City on Thursday, March 20, 2025.
Around 20 major college football programs, including Nebraska, Texas, USC and Oklahoma, decided to forgo their annual spring games this season. In-state programs BYU and Utah State are not having the exhibition. Utah also considered ending the game ahead of spring camp, according to Whittingham.
“We talked about it, and we had the conversations,” Utah’s head coach said. “But we have enough players that will benefit from the work that we think that offsets any of the other implications.” Some programs and head coaches have cited concerns over player poaching, as name, image and likeness (NIL) and the transfer portal continue to take over recruiting.
If a player showcases talent in the scrimmage, there’s a chance another donor-rich program could recruit them during the spring transfer portal window. Others have cited injury concerns. The Utes have decided to buck the trend for now.
“I guess there’s validity to that,” the Ute coach said of transfer portal concerns. “But, you can’t be scared to do everything. We have to get guys better.
That’s our number one objective.” But, with the trend of cancellations happening across the Power Four, Dalebout feels that this could be the last Utah spring game ever. That’s something he’s not taking for granted “Once it’s put away, I don’t think we’re ever going back,” Dalebout said.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) University of Utah head coach Kyle Whittigham yells out to his team as the Utah Utes hold their first of two major scrimmages of spring practice at Rice Eccles stadium on Saturday, March 30, 2019, prior to the April 13 Red-White Game. ‘It’s valuable’ Like Kyle Whittingham, South Carolina head coach Shane Beamer still sees the value of having a spring game. The Gamecocks hosted their scrimmage on Friday night under the lights at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, South Carolina.
In Beamer’s mind, it’s a chance to simulate the pressure of an SEC contest in a primetime atmosphere. “We talk about competition all the time, and it’s a core value of our program,” Beamer told The Salt Lake Tribune. “You hear people talk about, ‘Man, he’s a gamer.
He steps up when the lights come on.’ “It’s valuable to be able to put guys in an environment like that.” Beamer says he’s never watched spring game tape to recruit other players.
He also doesn’t think “anybody that’s good at their job” is having to watch tape from the scrimmages to know what teams look like or what personnel a program might have on its roster. “I think people know who our best players are, and they don’t need to watch a spring game to determine that and whatnot,” Beamer said. “I don’t look at it from a ‘what could happen standpoint.
’ I look at the positives of having this game.” Norm Chow, who was Utah’s offensive coordinator in 2011 and served as Hawaii’s head coach from 2012-15, speculates that his old friend, Whittingham, is still keeping the spring game around for the Utah fans. “The schematic part doesn’t matter because it’s all very vanilla,” Chow said.
“But the anticipation and the atmosphere and people coming is worth it. They can sit in good seats, and pay a cheap ticket. .
.. I mean, those kinds of things should override some of the coaches’ worrywarts.
” Guy Holliday, a former Utah wide receivers coach from 2016-21, can remember Whittingham’s strategy for the Utes’ annual 22 Forever spring game. He’d let the first-stringers play for a series or two. Beyond that, the backups got most of the action due to injury concerns “I can tell you, 90% of all college coaches could care less about a spring game,” Holliday said.
“You can only lose, especially if you get somebody hurt for the start of next season. “That’s why you dread it.” While there are different reasons for Power Four programs either cancelling spring games or keeping them around, Whittingham and the Utes are standing pat on the age-old tradition, for now.
Whittingham thinks the competition will benefit the program more than it could hurt it. “There’s a lot of guys in this program right now that can use this spring game to get better,” Utah’s head coach said. Evolving formats (Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) The Ken Garff Red Zone at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City was officially unveiled in a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Thursday, Aug.
12, 2021. When Jason Miller was hired as the senior director of brand and strategy for Arizona State last July, he was tasked to help fill the void left behind by the program’s annual spring contest in 2025. The defending Big 12 champion Sun Devils opted not to have a spring game this year.
In its place, they’re hosting a practice during an evening fanfest. “In the past, it was really about watching the football team play in what was, basically, an elevated practice,” Miller said. “Now we are going to have bouncy houses everywhere.
We’re going to have a video game truck. We’re going to have face painting and airbrushes. We’re going to have picture stations that people love.
” The goal, Miller said, is to replace the cut-and-dry football experience with a Friday night event that the entire Tempe, Arizona, community can take part in. ASU will still prioritize player-to-fan interactions, so fans can still get to know the football team. Miller said the school will have meet-and-greets and on-field events that numerous coaches and players will take part in.
“This is an event for the fans, and we’ll do everything that we can to continually build that bond,” Miller said. “We’re leaning in saying there’s an even bigger opportunity here.” Utah’s Big 12 rivals in Colorado and Oklahoma State have suggested another alternative.
This spring, the Buffaloes tried setting up a non-conference scrimmage with the Syracuse Orange. The two programs worked together to make a pitch to the NCAA, but the institution’s rules and bylaws prevented the schools from holding the spring intercollegiate exhibition. Cowboys head coach Mike Gundy, meanwhile, recently suggested that OSU should have a spring home-and-home series with in-state rival Oklahoma.
The Sooners recently moved to the SEC, which ended the Bedlam rivalry for the foreseeable future. Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy jogs onto the field at the start of an NCAA college football game against Tulsa, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2020, in Stillwater, Okla.
(AP Photo/Brody Schmidt) Dalebout likes the idea of Utah having a nonconference spring exhibition. “I think that it could be really fun. I think that it would obviously be kind of preseason-ish, just like what the NFL does.
These guys aren’t going to go out there to kill each other,” Dalebout said. “I’d like to see Boston College in the ACC. Or maybe they could dip into the Big Ten and face a program like Maryland or Iowa.
” So does Utah fan Hunter Birch. He suggests the Utes take on an in-state FCS school. “We see Utah play some of these FCS programs every year, and the play is watered down anyway,” Birch said.
“I would really like to see that in the spring. I wouldn’t have any problem paying somewhat normal in-season ticket prices to come see that event.” But, even while the future of spring games remains in limbo, Utah’s players and fans are still embracing the experience this spring.
“I mean, it’s cool for the most part,” Utah transfer running back NaQuari Rodgers said. “It’s cool getting all the love back from the fans.” Don Saunders, a Texas A&M transfer cornerback, added: “Being a new guy in Salt Lake City, you want to get the fans excited — and when they show up, we have to show out.
So that’s my mindset going into it. I’m excited for sure.” Even if Dalebout has concerns about the exhibition returning in 2026, he’s excited to enjoy cool weather and sitting in RES.
And, of course, he’s ready to watch some college football. “There’s nothing like watching some ball in person,” Dalebout said. “It’s just fun and a great time.
” Note to readers • This story is available to Salt Lake Tribune subscribers only. Thank you for supporting local journalism..
