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Many of you watched Kobe Bryant score 60 points in his final NBA game. Or Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors reach 73 wins, breaking the hallowed single-season wins record previously held by the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls.
Most of you probably didn’t notice that Bryant skipped a massive celebration planned for Wednesday night and instead returned to the gym Thursday morning to work out. The morning after his final game as a professional basketball player.
Greatness isn’t a random occurrence, as we’ve been reminded so many times by “five-star” signees.
There’s something satisfying about watching a team come together. Curry played college basketball at Davidson, a member of the SoCon. I was a student-athlete at Samford University, and we migrated to the SoCon during my senior year. Even before then, I was a huge Steph Curry fan. But watching him game by game in the same conference — when he played in front of a couple thousand fans instead of in front of millions — gives me even more satisfaction watching him drain more than 400 3-point shots in one season with the Warriors.
That brings us to this weekend, when seven SEC football teams will play televised spring games.
It’s very possible for some of these teams that we’ll be watching a national championship squad develop. Or that we’ll be watching a future first-round NFL draft pick take the field in his college team’s uniform for one of the first times.
So while these games don’t count as wins or losses, there’s still something exciting about watching a team’s spring game.
Here’s the TV schedule for this weekend, along with some thoughts as to why we’ll be watching.
SEC GAMES
Saturday
Noon ET — Kentucky (SEC Network)
Wildcats fans hope a new starting quarterback (Drew Barker) and a new coordinator (Eddie Gran) can be the key to unlocking a solid collection of running backs and receivers. And this team has made improving at the line of scrimmage a major priority.
Noon ET — Mississippi State (ESPNU)
The Bulldogs running game went south in ’15, even with Dak Prescott at quarterback. Brandon Holloway returns as the lead back, but he’ll need help from Ashton Shumpert, Aeris Williams and Dontavian Lee. Those backs incidentally played very well during last season’s spring game, so part of the impetus is on the offensive line to get better push.
2 p.m. ET — Tennessee (SEC Network)
The starters return mostly intact from the ’15 season, so there shouldn’t be too many surprises. Still, we’re anxious to see if Joshua Dobbs has improved his downfield passing game, despite the fact that the Vols may be playing with a total of four scholarship receivers. And we’ll be watching to learn how Bob Shoop utilizes all the young talent on defense.
3 p.m. ET — Alabama (ESPN)
Yet another quarterback competition should intrigue the fans in Crimson. Cooper Bateman may lead early, but Blake Barnett, David Cornwell and Jalen Hurts remain part of the conversation as well. Bama can’t give all four primo reps in fall practice, so the A-Day game could start to thin the herd.
4 p.m. ET — Georgia (ESPNU)
Kirby Smart’s spring game debut should challenge for the national attendance lead this year, as UGA is making a big push to fill Sanford Stadium. And even if he doesn’t start the 2016 season opener, we admit — we can’t wait to see Jacob Eason in action.
4 p.m. ET — LSU (SEC Network)
This spring, team has emphasized the passing game as much as any year of the Les Miles tenure. So Saturday will be a nice progress check. But we’re even more interested in checking out the Dave Aranda defense, which could be the biggest key to LSU’s chances in 2016.
6 p.m. ET — Missouri SEC Network)
For Mizzou fans wanting to forget about 2015, watching this game could be a good first step. It’s the first time since 2000 that a Tigers team played a spring game with a coach other than Gary Pinkel. As far as football things go, we want to see whether new offensive coordinator Josh Heupel, quarterback Drew Lock and any of the running backs or receivers can give us something about which to be excited.
OTHER GAMES OF NOTE
Saturday
12:30 p.m. ET — Notre Dame (NBC)
Coach Brian Kelly has done an outstanding job with the Fighting Irish, which always seem to be in the national conversation. The team’s quarterback competition between between DeShone Kizer and Malik Zaire is one of the most intriguing in the country.
1:30 p.m. ET — Ohio State (Big Ten Network)
The Buckeyes lost NFL talent in droves after last season — one of the largest single-season exoduses of top college football talent from one team in several years. But J.T. Barrett is a Heisman Trophy candidate. Urban Meyer is 31-1 in regular-season Big Ten games at Ohio State, and is hoping to stay a half-step ahead of Jim Harbaugh’s Michigan team.
2 p.m. ET — Miami (ESPN3)
This represents Mark Richt’s spring debut with the Hurricanes. It appears Richt is borrowing a page from the Butch Jones turnaround playbook, inviting former Miami players to the game in large quantities. He’ll also get to work with quarterback Brad Kaaya, perhaps one of the best in the ACC.
2 p.m. ET — Texas (Longhorn Network)
This is a pivotal year for Charlie Strong, who has made headway in recruiting and worked to restore discipline to the team’s culture, but needs to show on-field results. The team’s quarterback position has remained a perpetual disappointment since ’09, but D’Onta Foreman and Chris Warren make for an outstanding running back tandem.
3 p.m. ET — Houston (CollegeSportsLive.com)
It’s just speculation at this point, but Tom Herman is a hot name in coaching circles. Linked to the South Carolina opening last offseason, some believe that he’d be at or near the top of the list if Texas or Texas A&M should make changes after the season. It’s possible Auburn would have interest as well. If you’re in the camp expecting change as either an Aggies or Tigers fan, this is a chance to scout out Herman as your potential next coach.
6 p.m. ET — USC (Pac-12 Network)
Alabama’s opponent in the Tide’s season opener, the Trojans are on their third head coach in four years. This time it’s Clay Helton. Incidentally, Lane Kiffin hired Helton as his quarterbacks coach in 2010. So there should be familiarity there. Helton says he’ll name USC’s starting quarterback after this game, which should help him seperate Max Browne and Sam Darnold.
An itinerant journalist, Christopher has moved between states 11 times in seven years. Formally an injury-prone Division I 800-meter specialist, he now wanders the Rockies in search of high peaks.
