Kickoff for the intrasquad game is scheduled for 2 p.m., with free admission to the game and the first 30,000 receiving commemorative posters highlighting last year’s 2014 Rose Bowl championship team. The game also can be seen on Big Ten Network with former Spartan quarterback and current Washington Redskin Kirk Cousins calling the game.
Head coach Mark Dantonio said he likes to make the game a fun time for the players with plenty of festivities around the controlled scrimmage, such as a player draft and the winning team getting a steak dinner while the losers get beans and franks.
Senior offensive lineman Travis Jackson, who is one of the captains that helped select the White team, said both he and senior safety Kurtis Drummond were taking the drafting process seriously by developing a scheme about selecting players.
“Me and Kurtis had several meetings this past month, so we’ve been planning this, getting together, really talking about it,” Jackson said.
Assistant coaches Jim Bollman and Ron Burton will be the two head coaches, with Bollman leading the Green squad and Burton coaching the White.
Burton said he is excited about his first time head coaching the annual spring scrimmage and is treating the game like any other.
“We had a head coaches meeting (and) we sat down and also talked about where our strengths and weaknesses are and where there’s were (at) too,” Burton said. “That’s part of the gamesmanship and we’ll show you on Saturday.”
The Green team will be led offensively by sophomore quarterback Tyler O’Connor and senior running back Jeremy Langford.
Senior linebacker Taiwan Jones, junior defensive end Shilique Calhoun and junior cornerback Trae Waynes are some of the notable names on the defense for the Green.
On the other sideline, junior quarterback Connor Cook will be under center for the White team, with the likes of juniors Aaron Burbridge and DeAnthony Arnett at wide receiver.
Drummond will lead a talented secondary that includes potential starters this fall in junior safety R.J. Williamson and sophomore cornerback Darian Hicks.
Drummond is one of many that’s been having a good time with the spring game festivities. Drummond, also a captain on the White team, said he is happy with his team, and predicted a big 46-0 win on Saturday.
“I’ll probably get my steak medium well this year,” Drummond said. “And I’ll let (Jackson) pick the sides.”
