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Oklahoma fans rejoice as spring game likely replaces infamous Crimson Combine

Thankfully the Crimson Combine didn't stick around.
ByDekota Gregory
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SARAH PHIPPS/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Nothing has been confirmed yet, but it seems like a regular spring football game is back for the Oklahoma Sooners.

OU on Wednesday announced that its spring game will be on Saturday, April 18, at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Although fans will mark that date on their calendars, the day itself wasn't what got Sooner Nation excited about the announcement.

OU announces date for spring game

Last year, the Sooners followed a trend throughout college football and canceled their annual spring game in fear of injuries and the possibility of younger players standing out and getting poached by other teams during the spring Transfer Portal window. Instead of the traditional scrimmage, OU came up with the now infamous Crimson Combine as a replacement.

The Crimson Combine was overall a flop. The two-hour event started with OU players participating in drills for about an hour in what was basically a glorified practice while local radio commentated alongside general manager Jim Nagy and various OU coaches. Afterward, fans got an opportunity to briefly interact with OU players and coaches to get pictures and autographs. And worst of all, it cost fans $10, which many felt was a waste of money, and probably influenced what was almost an empty Memorial Stadium.

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Even though the Sooners' recent announcement stated there are still more details to be revealed later, the fact the post said "spring game" was enough to relieve OU fans that the Crimson Combine was likely one-and-done and a regular spring game should be back.

Sooner Nation rejoiced the hopeful return of an actual spring game and the death of the failed Crimson Combine.

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