Listen Here
By Erin Moran
morane@findlay.edu
The University of Findlay football team is hosting a spring game on April 17, paired with an alumni tailgate to reconnect the past and present Oilers in an engaging, community-focused event.
The Oilers are set to return to the field for the spring game with a non-traditional way of play. The night will be filled with portions of standard play, various drills, 1v1s, and a punt, pass, kick competition that will include representatives from other athletic teams on campus.
“It’ll be super interactive,” said head coach Tyler Johns. “We’re setting bleachers up on the field, and the fans are going to be on top of the players. They’ll hear play calls and see everything happening, so it’ll be really a cool experience for a fan.”
The event is designed to be less traditional than a typical spring game and will provide more of a relaxed and engaging atmosphere.
“The spring game is kind of the cap of the hard work that the guys put in through the winter and through their practices,” said Johns. “It is where the guys get to relax a little bit.”
“Obviously, there’s still work to be done, and there’s an expectation that the guys are locked in and perform at a high level. But it’s not as intense, it is a little more relaxed, and it is an event where they can have more fun”, said Johns.
The spring game follows the very successful fall the Oilers had and the coaching transformations that occurred post-season.
“This is kind of the ultimate page turn on a new chapter,” said Johns. “It’s something I think the kids deserve.”
“We had a really good football season, and then we got a new head coach. So there’s always uncertainty from athletics, and this is a great way to get the football alumni to come back and see that we’re not missing a beat,” said Lee Ireland, director of alumni events. “They’ll get a view of what the team’s gonna look like in the fall.”
“Coach Johns is new, and so this is a great way to introduce him to everyone, and it’ll give peace of mind,” said Ireland.
The nontraditional format of the event reflects a broader shift in college football due to the transfer portal. Many programs are moving away from traditional spring games because of concerns about exposure and transfer opportunities.
“From a tampering standpoint, there is a risk with it, but you just have to hope that your kids are enjoying their experience enough that they stay,” said Johns.
Ireland organized the tailgate to serve multiple purposes with a central focus on bringing the community together.
“I wanted to do a tailgate for the spring game because it’s always fun to get alumni to come out, and I think people like to come back for something specific,” said Ireland. “ So this is a great way to bring alumni back to Findlay.”
Ireland emphasized the impact of events like these and the connections between alumni and students.
“I want alumni to be engaged and feel welcome here,” said Ireland. “I also want students to feel like they matter, and to meet and interact with the alumni.”
The tailgate will be located in the parking lot of First College Church, located in front of the Dick Strahm Champions Field, at 5 p.m., with the game starting at 6 p.m. Food trucks, including June Bug Coffee, The Whaling Onion, and Pava Subs, will be present, along with raffles for signed Oiler Football memorabilia and other prizes.
The first 250 students will receive free T-shirts. Arrangements have also been made for students to receive food vouchers for the food trucks present.
The goal of the event is to renew a sense of connection to the university and to have fun.
“I just want people to remember why they love the University of Findlay,” she said. “If they come back, have fun and feel connected again, then we’ve done what we set out to do.”
“We want people to come back, feel that excitement again, and want to be part of it moving forward,” said Johns. “That’s how you build something special.”
