Warm Weather Brings Spring Scrimmage Excitement

By Justin Marr

The weather is warm, trees are budding and people are finally outside.
Since people are out, so are the outdoor events cold weather doesn’t permit.
The most anticipated event is the annual spring intrasquad football scrimmage at 6 p.m. Saturday.
Senior Stephanie Powers is less concerned about the game, and more concerned about the festivities.
“I wouldn’t miss the chance to tailgate,” she said. “It’s getting warmer and it’s a great chance to get outside and have some fun.”
Powers said she spent last football season tailgating more often than watching the game.
She plans on doing the same on Saturday.
“I enjoy the tailgating a lot more than the actual game,” she said. “I’m not a real big fan of football, but I love the tailgate scene.”
The festivities will begin at 3 p.m. before the game.
All of the players will be signing autographs from 3:30-4:30 inside the Indoor Athletic Complex’s turf bay.
The Mid-American Conference championship trophy and the Motor City Bowl trophy will be on display in the turf bay until 5:30.
Junior Jacob Webb will partake in as much as possible.
“It’ll be interesting to see the team scrimmage against itself,” he said. “But I’m also going to be tailgating and checking the trophies out as well. I love football.”
The game won’t be played like a normal game.
Instead, the scrimmage will feature an offense-versus-defense format.
It will utilize a modified scoring system that allows the defense to score points by creating turnovers and forcing the offense into negative plays.
“I don’t think the casual fan will enjoy the scrimmage,” Webb said. “I think it’s a great chance to get a peek at what the teams all about. It’s more designed for the die-hard fan.”
Even for those that aren’t die-hard fans at the game, the promotions department will be giving out prizes.
The first 1,000 fans through the gate will receive CMU Bookstore t-shirts. Also, one fan will receive sideline passes to the 2008 season opener against Eastern Illinois.
Webb is excited about the promotions.
“ I’ll take those sideline passes,” he said. “I don’t think I’ll be in any shape to be on the sideline if I’m tailgating before that game. Maybe I’ll just give them away if I do get them.”
All events and festivities are open and free to the public.