College football is constantly evolving. With the rise of the NIL era and ongoing conference realignments, tradition is becoming less of a priority as top programs focus more on the transfer portal and the expanded College Football Playoff. One tradition that could be fading is the annual spring game. And Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian reignited the debate on this tradition with his comments.

During an Up & Adams segment on Feb 20, host Kay Adams asked Sarkisian if fans should expect the usual spring game hype. His answer? A casual “No, we’re actually not gonna have a spring game this year.” Cue McCoy’s inner linebacker instincts. “The Spring Game, although to some players is just another practice, to others it’s the only time they’ll have an opportunity to perform in front of that crowd,” he argued, channeling his inner Denzel from Remember the Titans: ‘This is a chance to see who’s who.‘

Gerald McCoy, the six-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle turned NFL Network analyst, isn’t mincing words. The Oklahoma legend—who racked up 59.5 sacks and 334 tackles in his 12-year career—is firing blitzes at Sarkisian after the Longhorns axed their 2025 spring game. For McCoy, a man who once declared, “You don’t just come in and gain respect. You have to earn it,” Sarkisian’s move feels like a fumble in the red zone of tradition. He said, “Canceling the spring game is a no go!! If that’s the road we’re headed down, college football will truly be lost,” channeling his emotions on the decision.

Sarkisian’s reasoning? “We’ve got a lot of young players… Our approach is gonna be more NFL-driven, kind of like OTA-style.” Translation: Texas has played 30 games in two years (14 in ‘23, 16 in ‘24), sent 25 guys to the NFL Combine, and welcomed 21 midyear high school recruits. McCoy ain’t buying it. “Shoot, even the NFL has night practice showcases during training camp,” he clapped back, adding, “It’s a chance for alumni to fellowship, fans to show up… College football will truly be lost.”

But let’s pivot. Imagine if Ted Lasso canceled Richmond’s friendly matches to focus on drills. Chaos, right? For McCoy, spring games aren’t just scrimmages—they’re sacred. “Some players practice well, but when the fans show up, they can’t handle the lights,” he warned. Texas’ move? A Moneyball experiment gone rogue, swapping heartbeats-for-heartbeats with spreadsheets.

However, McCoy vs. Sarkisian isn’t just a social media beef—it’s a culture clash. For McCoy, spring games are The Sandlot of college ball: messy, magical, and mandatory. For Sark, they’re a relic in a playoff-or-bust era. “College football is evolving,” Sark shrugged, and he’s not wrong. But as McCoy fired back, “I SAID WHAT I SAID!!… I don’t come from that and wasn’t raised like that.”

Sarkisian’s hustle: A $12.3 million bet on evolution

Meanwhile, Sarkisian’s stock is soaring faster than Travis Kelce’s podcast numbers. Fresh off a 13-3 season, a Big 12 title, and back-to-back College Football Playoff berths, the Longhorns HC just inked an extension through 2031, bumping his salary to $12.3M annually. “Fans will understand because it’s all about giving the team the best chance to succeed,” he told Adams, sounding more like Tony Stark engineering a suit than a coach juggling NIL deals.

Let’s break down Sark’s resume: 38-17 at Texas, a 2023 natty as Bama’s OC, and grooming Arch Manning (939 pass yards, 9 TDs in ‘24) into a future Heisman contender. His secret sauce? “Run to win,” he once said, channeling his inner Friday Night Lights mantra. But canceling the spring game? That’s like skipping the Stranger Things finale to study the script—it’s just not done.

Still, Sark’s logic isn’t offside. With Quinn Ewers NFL-bound and 14 Longhorns at the Combine, Texas’ roster is greener than a rookie’s playbook. “The development they need right now is different,” Sarkisian stressed, opting for “OTA-style” practices over fanfare. It’s a gamble—akin to replacing halftime shows with TED Talks—but if anyone can sell it, it’s the guy who turned Texas from “we’re back” memes to SEC title contenders.

Texas’ gamble could pay off like a Hail Mary. Or, without spring game heroes—think Vince Young’s rose-tinted legacy—it might leave fans feeling like they’ve binge-watched a season spoiler-free. Either way, Sarkisian’s $80M deal means he’s calling audibles for the long haul. As for McCoy? “Spring games are a staple in college and one of the things that separates it from the NFL.”  He’ll keep dropping truth bombs faster than Gronk spikes a football. Because in football, as in life, “you have to move on… but scars stay with you.” Even if the spring game doesn’t.