The winning team gets steaks, the loser gets hot dogs.
While the prize for winning the Spring Game is considerably weaker than the biggest prize -ยก- the Mid-American Conference Championship - Saturday will be a stepping stone toward the latter goal.
In reaching that objective, however, the team took a step backward. Ball State University linebacker Brad Seiss injured his knee earlier this week in practice. Results from Wednesday's MRI are still unknown. Players vying to replace Seiss at linebacker on Saturday will be Antonio Beasley, Alex Moore, Martin Dunbar and Mike Dorulla.
Defensive tackle Tom Kellar said if Seiss is lost for next season it would be a huge loss.
"You don't want to lose a guy like Seiss," he said. "He was the heart of the defense and it'd be tough to lose him. But if anybody could come back, it'd be Seiss."
Seiss started all eleven games at linebacker last year for the Cardinals.
Saturday's game will feature two full teams, which has not been the case in coach Brady Hoke's first three spring games. Because of injuries and lack of depth, it has been more of a scrimmage being called a Spring Game. Hoke said he's looking for intensity from his team.
"I want to see guys playing fundamentally sound, playing with great technique, great toughness and great effort," Hoke said. "I want to see a competitive football game on the field."
Don't expect to see much trickery with the Cardinal offense on Saturday. With different personnel packages on different teams, the Cardinals will stick to basics. Quarterback Joey Lynch said he is looking for his squad to have some fun and play relaxed.
"It's the end of spring," he said. "For us seniors it's our last spring game. We're going to have fun, compete and play against our teammates in a game-type situation."
With five starters returning and seven others who started at least one game last year, experience will carry them. Kellar said the defense's success will depend on the players knowing what they have to do.
"The defense has been gelling together pretty well," he said. "It's whether or not you're going to go out and do it now. We know what we have to do. It's just a matter of if we're going to go out everyday and accomplish our mission."
With the conference championship a long way away from being decided, the only thing to play for Saturday is pride, and maybe better eats.
"There's always something you're competing for," Kellar said. "It makes you compete a little harder, especially if it's for food. We're going to get after it and we're going to have a good time."
The game will start at noon.
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