OPINION & EDITORIAL
Let them play
Looking for a print version?
Simply choose ‘Print’ on your computer and a printer-friendly document will be generated.
Also by Badger Herald Editorial Board:
- A security fee-for-all (December 11, 2007)
- Farewell, Chancellor (December 10, 2007)
- $$FC (December 6, 2007)
- In a bind (December 5, 2007)
- Entitlement Town (December 4, 2007)
Related Stories:
- Bye Bye Barry (November 10, 2005)
- Football tickets ought to be free (November 23, 2004)
- A view from the cheap seats (February 2, 2004)
- Students: Jump Around! (September 8, 2003)
- Keep jumping (September 9, 2003)
by Badger Herald Editorial Board
Monday, January 19, 2004
Students and community members alike will be left with hollow feelings in their stomachs this spring as April comes and goes without the annual spring football game.
The athletic department recently announced the cancellation of the game, citing the $83.7 million renovation of historic Camp Randall Stadium; the construction of new seating behind the south end zone has called for the temporary removal of the goalpost and some of the playing surface. These construction measures have rendered the stadium unusable for a game to be played at the end of the spring practice session.
Another possible reason for this change is that Barry Alvarez and the rest of his staff are weary of inadvertent injuries that have occurred during the spring game. Two years ago, All-American wide receiver Lee Evans tore his ACL in the game, and the team was left without his services for the entire 2002 season. For the 2003 contest, Alvarez limited the tackling and physical play to ensure the health of his players.
However, canceling the game because of the construction and the fear of injuries would be a downright shame. The contest offers nearly the only opportunity for many Badger fans to see the team play in person until the start of the 2004 season, if at all. Being a free event, the game allows fans to get up close to the action that would otherwise be quite costly during the regular season.
The cancellation comes as a disappointment not only to student-age fans, but to many families as well; the spring game is well-attended by parents with young children who get an up close chance to see the team in action in more of a family-type setting than regular-season games provide.
The football stadiums at James Madison Memorial High School or Sun Prairie High School on the west side of the city would offer nearly enough seating to accommodate the several thousand fans who make their way to Camp Randall every spring to see the Cardinal and White play. Not only would this be a way to field the game, it would also bring the Badgers out into the community instead of restricting them to the campus.
Canceling the game is an easy solution, but so is simply choosing to change the location. This is a chance for the athletic department to win points with the community and its supporters by going an extra few steps to ensure a fun tradition will continue.
