The Tennessee Vols announced on Monday that the program won't hold a traditional spring game in 2022.

UT was forced to cancel the spring game due to the ongoing improvements that are being made at Neyland Stadium.

There was some speculation that Tennessee would hold its spring game in Nashville at Nissan Stadium. But scheduling conflicts made that impossible. There was also some talk about possibly holding the spring game in Chattanooga, but logistically and financially it just didn't make sense.

Instead of a traditional spring game, UT is holding an "All Vol Weekend" which is a "fan-focused" spring weekend that includes a broadcast of the football's team spring scrimmage (which won't be live-streamed anywhere else).

Spring games are a tradition in college football, but what do they really add? They're basically just an excuse to get fans to the football stadium in April. We don't really learn much from a spring game. I've been to countless Tennessee spring games and none of them are particularly memorable. Not playing the spring game really doesn't seem like that big of a deal.

However, the Vols' traditional spring game is expected to return in 2023.

There's a great idea to change the spring game moving forward and Tennessee Vols AD Danny White should lead the charge

The Athletic's Andy Staples had a great idea this week on how to make the spring game — and college football in general — a better product.

Staples suggested moving an FCS vs FBS game — such as Tennessee vs Tennesse Tech — to the spring and having it serve as an exhibition game. Programs could then replace that game on the schedule with another Power-5 non-conference matchup or just add another conference game to the schedule (which makes sense with looming conference expansion).

This feels like an absolutely brilliant idea by Staples.

This would be much more exciting than a glorified scrimmage for so many reasons.

• It would attract more fans than a scrimmage
• A spring exhibition would be great for recruiting
• It helps the team's preparation for the upcoming season from a pure football standpoint
• FCS programs would still get paid for the game
• It would eliminate a "snoozer" game in the fall
• It's better for television (maybe some of these could be primetime games)
• Fans would satisfy their spring football itch
• It would be incredibly entertaining, assuming the FBS coaching staff is Mic'd up

I don't see any downside to this. The risk of injury is no different than it would be in a traditional spring game or a practice (which is where most injuries happen anyway).

It's a win-win for everybody.

Tennessee athletic director Danny White is known as an innovative guy who likes to think outside the box. That's why I think he's the perfect athletic director to help influence this change. White listens to the fans. He knows how to take the temperature of the room and do things that make sense. This isn't a change he can make on his own, but he can publicly lead the charge.

I know college football is all about tradition — and that's one of the main reasons a lot of us are so passionate about the sport — but there's nothing wrong with starting new traditions. And this is a new tradition that would be great for the fans, the FCS programs, and the FBS programs.

It makes too much sense not to happen.

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