Tailgate was small, but as usual it was fun to see everyone. Thanks to Snow for bringing his dog so that my nieces and nephews could chase her around all day. Weather was cool, and the breeze was chilly, but overall is was a very pleasant afternoon. Thanks Sacky!
As for the Spring Game.... is it me or have they wayyyy dialed back the pomp surrounding this event? There was nothing going on when we arrived at the stadium around 4pm. Nothing setup for kids, no garage sale (was that being held somewhere else???). My greatest annoyance centers around the event staff. I'm sure everyone is surprised! For the past five years I have been able to walk right into the stadium with no issues. No bag searches, no one harassing me for bringing in snacks, no lines.... nothing. This year I tried to go in on the east side, where the student entrance is normally. Sure enough, I get stopped to have my bag search.
Argus event douche: "You can't bring your snacks in here"
Me: "I've been bringing snacks to the Spring Game for the last five years with no issues. You're telling me that I can't bring three apples, peanuts, and an unopened box of crackers into the SPRING GAME"
Argus event douche: "No, these rules have always been in place"
Me: "Well, they've never been enforced for the Spring Game. Three of the kids with me can't eat gluten, and my wife is a vegetarian - what are we supposed to do inside where there is only two concession stands open?"
Argus event douche: "I don't know, but you can't bring your snacks in"
Me: "Fine, I am going to head over to another entrance"
Argus even douche: "They will tell you the same thing over there. Read that sign [he points to a sign], it tells you what you can and can't bring in"
Me: "I don't need a sign buddy"
And I walked off. I went about five gates over on the west, near Balch, and walked right in with a nice Argus event non-douche handing us four roster handouts on the way in. No bag searches, no line, no hassle.
That really soured my mood, because it seemed another in a growing line of items that is hurting the gameday experience, and CU in general. I'm sure Tini will sympathize with the event staff, and he will get on my case for being upset with the ridiculous rules and regulations that popped out of nowhere for attendance the SPRING GAME. Lame if you ask me.
Inside the game was fine. This was the least attended Spring Game I had been to. Seemed to me like there were less than 10k there. Band was fun, good to see football again. I don't have much analysis to provide on the football, because I was mostly watching my nieces and nephew run around. Defense seems like a concern. RBs looked good. QB's seemed fine. WR's made some good plays, but also seemed like there were lots of drops. FG kicking was fair. I really enjoyed watching the kickoff drill they were doing. Looked like a lot of fun, and there were some really athletic plays made.
The video boards were miserable. The north one has worsened since the season ended.... it was displaying in black and white! Glad they're getting replaced.
Was also disappointed that the kids couldn't get on the field after the game for autographs. I know they had a lacrosse game, but my nieces and nephew love meeting the players every year, and they didn't have much opportunity to do that. Yes, there were a few players who were nice enough to stand over by the ramp where Ralphie runs out of, but would have been good to interact with more of them.
Seeing Ralphie run for the first time in 6 months was great!
Overall - it was nice to get out and spend some time on campus, and to spend some time watching football. The event of the spring game was worse than it has been in the past, but I'm still happy I made the trip up.
As for the Spring Game.... is it me or have they wayyyy dialed back the pomp surrounding this event? There was nothing going on when we arrived at the stadium around 4pm. Nothing setup for kids, no garage sale (was that being held somewhere else???). My greatest annoyance centers around the event staff. I'm sure everyone is surprised! For the past five years I have been able to walk right into the stadium with no issues. No bag searches, no one harassing me for bringing in snacks, no lines.... nothing. This year I tried to go in on the east side, where the student entrance is normally. Sure enough, I get stopped to have my bag search.
Argus event douche: "You can't bring your snacks in here"
Me: "I've been bringing snacks to the Spring Game for the last five years with no issues. You're telling me that I can't bring three apples, peanuts, and an unopened box of crackers into the SPRING GAME"
Argus event douche: "No, these rules have always been in place"
Me: "Well, they've never been enforced for the Spring Game. Three of the kids with me can't eat gluten, and my wife is a vegetarian - what are we supposed to do inside where there is only two concession stands open?"
Argus event douche: "I don't know, but you can't bring your snacks in"
Me: "Fine, I am going to head over to another entrance"
Argus even douche: "They will tell you the same thing over there. Read that sign [he points to a sign], it tells you what you can and can't bring in"
Me: "I don't need a sign buddy"
And I walked off. I went about five gates over on the west, near Balch, and walked right in with a nice Argus event non-douche handing us four roster handouts on the way in. No bag searches, no line, no hassle.
That really soured my mood, because it seemed another in a growing line of items that is hurting the gameday experience, and CU in general. I'm sure Tini will sympathize with the event staff, and he will get on my case for being upset with the ridiculous rules and regulations that popped out of nowhere for attendance the SPRING GAME. Lame if you ask me.
Inside the game was fine. This was the least attended Spring Game I had been to. Seemed to me like there were less than 10k there. Band was fun, good to see football again. I don't have much analysis to provide on the football, because I was mostly watching my nieces and nephew run around. Defense seems like a concern. RBs looked good. QB's seemed fine. WR's made some good plays, but also seemed like there were lots of drops. FG kicking was fair. I really enjoyed watching the kickoff drill they were doing. Looked like a lot of fun, and there were some really athletic plays made.
The video boards were miserable. The north one has worsened since the season ended.... it was displaying in black and white! Glad they're getting replaced.
Was also disappointed that the kids couldn't get on the field after the game for autographs. I know they had a lacrosse game, but my nieces and nephew love meeting the players every year, and they didn't have much opportunity to do that. Yes, there were a few players who were nice enough to stand over by the ramp where Ralphie runs out of, but would have been good to interact with more of them.
Seeing Ralphie run for the first time in 6 months was great!
Overall - it was nice to get out and spend some time on campus, and to spend some time watching football. The event of the spring game was worse than it has been in the past, but I'm still happy I made the trip up.
