Ole Miss football will not have a Spring Game for the second consecutive season. It's no surprise that many college teams are looking to move away from the traditional spring games despite fans' locating the concept.
Instead, the program will host a 'Meet the Rebels' day on April 12, where fans can meet the current Ole Miss roster inside the Manning Center.
It follows from last season, with Lane Kiffin deciding not to have his team partake in a spring game. There was heavy criticism at the time, with the media mocking their chosen format.
Certain media personalities called it a mockery of college football when Ole Miss had a games day that included a slam-dunk and hot dog-eating contests, the latter with a hot dog-eating world champion Joey Chestnut in attendance.
However, more teams are heading the same way, moving off of spring games. Lane Kiffin is often seen as a trendsetter, and he has done that again.
There are many reasons for the decision. The biggest is the spring transfer portal; having a spring practice allows the opposition to see their team's players. If they perform well, tampering may occur, which, although illegal, is said to happen still.
Also, it gives players on the roster a chance to see where they are on the depth chart. A second-string quarterback may look to find a new home where he could be a starter. This leaves his current team short at the position heading closer to the season.
Despite fans not loving the change, from the perspective of a football program, it makes a ton of sense.
It shouldn't be too long until everybody follows suit. That is until rules change around the transfer portal and NIL.