College Football 2012: Alabama Sets the Pace for Spring Game Attendance, for Now

Spring games have been running since March, but this past weekend was the daddy when it came to spring showcases. Forty-three teams put their teams on display and folks, myself included, made their pilgrimage to the stadiums to watch.

While the teams are playing themselves there is still a little competition between universities, it just has to come in a different form: attendance. Over at Eleven Warriors, the list of reported attendances for some of the big guys is out.

As we talked about last week, the spring game is a big recruiting weekend. Part of that sell is the atmosphere. When kids come to town to take in the game they want to get it all. That means the on-field football experience, but it also means the big feel of the game. Fans showing up, showing that they care and are interested in the team. Interested in their progress. Interested in seeing who is winning position battles. Interested in how that new quarterback looks. Interested in who is going to play the middle linebacker now that the star has moved to the NFL.

In looking at the numbers you can glean a few things: Alabama cares mightily about their team, Pitt and Stanford won't be troubled to draw numbers, and North Carolina just puts anything down on paper. The Tide fills their stadium every week of the season and in April they're no different.

While they didn't pass the Ohio State 95,000 mark, the Crimson Tide did put almost 80,000 in Bryant-Denny. If you're a recruit watching the Tide then you know you've got a good fanbase and that makes success a non-negotiable.

Other spots around the SEC proved their care, although not in the grand fashion of Alabama. Auburn and Georgia put more than 40,000 in the stands, while LSU saw 33,000 come to the Valley to see Zach Mettenberger's big debut. South Carolina had 34,000-plus on hand to see Steve Spurrier's team.

Without a doubt the SEC has the game on lock when it comes to folks showing up in the offseason for their teams. Missouri, with 18,000 fans, will have to step their game up to fit into their new league's offseason program.

Outside of the SEC, you can get a feel for fans' hunger as well. Texas and Florida State set the pace in that regard. The Longhorns are looking to get back on track and fans want to see who wins their quarterback job.

For the Noles, it is all about one thing: is this finally the year? The team is primed and ready to play, this year the Seminoles should hang around the title talk into November. Clemson also had a decent turnout, as Brent Venables gave people a look at his new defense.

Spring games are fun, I spent the weekend at North Carolina taking in the Tar Heels new offensive and defensive debut. Ohio State and Notre Dame are up this weekend, so we'll get more good turnouts as people look at Urban Meyer's new team and how Brian Kelly handles the Aaron Lynch departure.

When fans show up, the prospects notice and this can be an excellent recruiting tool. In the south, it's tough to top Alabama and Ohio State will be looking to do the same for Meyer's debut.