Spring game an exciting time for players, fans

By Cody Dalton

College football season is right around the corner and on April 21st, it will return, as the UVa-Wise football team hosts its annual spring football game.

Spring football is an exciting time for players, as they get to compete with their teammates and friends. Ray Damm, a graduating senior and place kicker for the Cavalier last season, said the spring game offers a chance to prove yourself and enjoy the competition.

“You want to perform at your personal best, but at the same time it’s a lot fun,” Damm said. “There is a lot of competition and pride is at stake. You want to do better than your buddies.”

For many on the team though, this is going to be a new experience. Some of the younger players will be participating in their first ever spring game. Wide receiver Matt Barbour is looking forward to this experience.

“I’m in a college football mood right now,” Barbour said. “I’m excited about the game and I’m hoping I can keep up what I been doing thus far.”

This game will also serve as preparations for next year. The football team will undergo some changes of play next season. Coach Bruce Wasem feels that these changes will take some time to get used to.

“We will build around this, but it will be a challenge,” Wasem said. “It is not different from the guys thinking on the field, but it will give us a different look.”

In the game, Cavalier fans can look for some of these changes in the player’s positions. Many players will be changing positions from offense to defense and vice versa.

“We moved Joe Bodenheimer over from linebacker to fullback and David Shaffer over to tight end from defense,” Wasem said. “That will be a big adjustment for them. There are always guys who are changing positions, so they will have to learn some new things.”

Regardless of the position, every player on the team wants to start. The guys who are looking to find a starting position on the team will have the spring game to provide a small test to slowly move themselves towards starting.

“The spring game is really important to working towards playing time,” Damm said. “It’s the first impression at making your case for a starting position during the season.”

“You don’t win a starting position in spring ball,” Wasem said. “A guy can take a step towards getting a position, as well as take a step backward. Very little do you write someone out of a position, but you can feel a lot better about someone’s playing ability.”

Other than trying to earn playing time, the game is expected to be a fun and enjoyable time for the team, as well as extremely competitive. You can catch the game tomorrow at 1 p.m. at Carl Smith Stadium. Admission to the game is free.

(April 16, 2007)