STATESBORO — Saturday scrimmages are one thing. The spring game before a live audience is another.
Georgia Southern will conclude — so to speak — spring practice at 1 p.m. on Saturday at Paulson Stadium. The spring game is open to the public with free admission.
Traditionally, the spring game is a split-squad affair played under game conditions, marking the end of spring practice. But this years game will be strictly offense vs. defense, and there will be some practices next week as the Eagles fulfill their allotment of 15 practices.
Under the format used Saturday, the defense will have opportunities to score.
The scoring system will give the defense points for three-and-outs, causing turnovers and holding the offense to field goals in certain situations.
In addition to traditional scoring for touchdowns, field goals and extra points, the offense can also get points for long plays and consecutive first downs.
The game format is another indication of how this year spring practice has not been a normal one for the Eagles.
The biggest news was, of course, that Georgia Southern was leaving the Southern Conference for the Sun Belt Conference.
While school and Sun Belt officials were making denials left and right until the Wednesday morning of the news conference announcing the new conference affiliation, head coach Jeff Monken had to tell his team two days earlier that there would be no championship, either conference or national, to be played for this season.
By declaring prior to June 1 that they were moving up to the FBS level, the Eagles begin a two-year transition this fall, and under NCAA guidelines they will not be eligible for postseason play until the 2015 season.
While the Eagles are making the mental adjustment to going from championship contender to one that can only hope to be a spoiler, they are doing so without several of their leaders who were idled by injury.
The most notable of the missing are quarterback Jerick McKinnon, fullback Dominique Swope and All-America tackle Garrett Frye, who are all sitting out with injuries. Backup quarterback Izayi Youyoute has also been out of action as he has spent the spring focusing on shoring up his academic standing.
Hes not ineligible, Monken said earlier. But he needs to focus and improve his grades so it doesnt become an issue.
Several other starters or key backups have been limited, too, because of injuries or surgery rehab.
What this has meant is several backups, especially redshirt quarterbacks Vegas Harley and Kevin Ellison, have been getting nearly all the snaps in practice.
This has led to some frustrating moments for Monken and his staff as the younger, less experienced players learn the intricacies of the triple-option.
And, as a result, the Eagles have spent more time in the classroom than normal, hence the extension of spring practice past the spring game.
Monken has also expressed concern about the effort put forth by his depleted squad. He talked about it following last Saturdays scrimmage, and again after practice this past Tuesday, one of two for the Eagles this week.
I have talked to these guys every day since Ive been here about making the most out of every day, Monken said. Its disappointing when we dont. We had the same conversation last Saturday, and I didnt think it was to start practice (Tuesday).
A lot of has to do with the fact were really short on some lines, and guys are getting tired. (With) others its just not having the right attitude when they come out here.
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