As a kid growing up in the 1960’s the Spring Game for us kids was a big deal. Maybe not to the adults, but for us to see the guys that would take the field next year was huge. For us kids, those players were larger than life. At school the topic of discussion was “who are you pulling for? crimson or white?”. The side with most of your favorite players tended to be the one.
I grew up in a lower middle class blue collar family. We didn’t go to Alabama games then. We couldn’t afford it. But getting the chance to feel “a part of it” by attending the spring game meant the world to us kids.
Finally, I think Bryant made the Spring Game a priority in his early years because of his upbringing as a poor kid in Arkansas. Bryant wanted Alabama football to be part of all citizens’ lives in this state, from the poorest all the way up. At that time in this state there wasn’t a lot for us to hang our hat on, pride wise.
Hey, I get it. Why put forth a real “game” when you can do a glorified practice and milk a few more NIL dollars from the masses. I’m sure the NIL offering plate will get passed around in more ways going forward.