Spring Game News--lie detector edition

So, the Spring Game was today.  Circumstances prevented me from making it down there, but a couple observations based on reports.

The biggest news was that Clayton Nicholas has transferred to Abilene Christian.  Nicholas originally went to Texas Tech, transferred to BG, sat out last year per NCAA rules and then did not beat out Matt Johnson for the starting job.  At that point, as Coach said, his future was to compete with Knapke for the backup job, and Nicholas has apparently decided not to do that.  By transferring outside the FBS, he does not have to sit out and can play next fall.  The implications for BG are non-existent as long as Matt Johnson is playing effectively, but it means that if Johnson goes down then BG's backup situation is exactly the same as it was last year when he went down.

Also, Andre Givens has left the program.  Apparently he is staying in school.  Givens was a big-time HS player who has had issues at the college level.  He did contribute at BG when Greene and Coppet were injured.  He had 38 carries for 157 yards against Kent State last season--the carry total being the 4th highest in BG history.  He averaged 5.2 yards per carry in his BG career and scored 12 times, including 8 last year.  If I had to guess, I'd say that with Domer and Wilson on board that he was probably not going to get much action.

Speaking of RBs.  I know nothing makes BG fans more excited than getting a transfer from a P5 school, but when thinking of Domer and Wilson, it is important to note what Coach said today, which is that none of his running backs come close to Travis Greene right now.  (Greene did not play in the Spring game)

Another slow your roll moment is with the kicking.  Yes, Tate missed some kicks.  The team has been indoors for most of the spring, so he just isn't sharp yet.  Coach says his level of concern is "zero" and he can "pass a thousand lie detector tests on that."  I would agree, for what it is worth.

Coach said it was a give and take scrimmage.  Essentially, the offense struggled with long fields and succeeded with short fields.  It was a situational scrimmage, so those were all set up.  Coach feels like the whole spring has been give and take.  No offer to take a lie detector.  (I kid, I kid).

The team did give up 9 sacks, but those were quick-whistle scrimmage sacks and might not have been real sacks under game conditions.  At least I hope not.

Overall, coach said it was a clean day and no one got injured, which are two things you are looking for, no doubt about it.

Austin Valdez had a big day on defense, as did Nate Locke, Malik Brown, Shannon Smith, etc.  On offense, Moore, Dieter and Patric Hannon each scored twice.  Donavan Wilson had 79 yards on 14 carries.