College Football 2012: Are Spring Games Worth the Time or Just for Show?

If college football is the most important sport in the South, what's the second-most important? Spring football.

College football fans flock to the campus of their choosing every spring to get their college football fix. But like most addictions, spring games usually leave fans—and writers—with more questions than answers. Television coverage, running clocks and confusing scoring systems have forced spring games to evolve from must-see events to annual disappointments.

Now more than ever, it's apparent that college football is a business. We've seen Missouri—a team that is not in the South, East or Southeast—become a member of the Southeastern Conference in order to gain access to the St. Louis and Kansas City television markets, the No. 21 and No. 31 markets in America, respectively.

The move to expand was a clear indication that the SEC plans to re-work its lucrative television deal, which already includes coverage of spring football games.

That's a problem for fans who would potentially attend a spring game.

Now, you can make the 11-step commute to your 70-inch plasma to watch your team's spring game. In a game that often includes players with the same numbers and situational football dictated by coaches on the fly, watching on television is usually more informative than being there in person anyway.

Plus, it's not like we are learning anything anyway. Coaches are afraid to show any new wrinkles because their opponents are also watching through the same marvels of modern technology that we find in our living rooms and man caves.

Just how much do coaches hide? In 2010, Cam Newton was still technically in a quarterback battle when Auburn took the field for A-Day. On the day, Newton completed only 3-of-8 passes for 61 yards and didn't have a rushing attempt. Last I checked, he had a pretty good 2010.

If you're going to a spring game for the festivities and not the football field, it's not worth it. Most games kickoff around noon—a sign of mediocrity during the fall—and feature a running clock at some point in the game. By the time you get to campus and set up your semi-tailgate, it's time to go to the game. Once there, you see the stars make an appearance and then players you've never heard of take over.

Plus, coaches insist on keeping score in a game that doesn't matter. You have red vs. black, first team vs. second team and even offense vs. defense scoring schemes that seem like they were concocted over a beer or 20.

Attendance at spring games can be used as a point of pride for fan bases, but in reality, the game itself is an afterthought.

Go for the party, stay for the football, but don't read too much into the result of spring games. These days, the spring game is probably the least important of all of the spring practice sessions.