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Earle Bruce recalls that when he started his assistant coaching career with the Ohio State football team in the 1960s, fans could buy regular-season tickets for $8. Now, fans will pay $5 to watch the Buckeyes' spring game.

"For most of the schools, they've eliminated quite a bit of fans that can go to games during the season," Bruce said. "They have to pay so much to the university and so much for the tickets, which are expensive enough by themselves. I think that's one reason these things have gotten so big."

In the latest round of Who Has The Biggest Spring Game, the Buckeyes will enter Ohio Stadium today, April 19, to complete their spring practice sessions with their version. Such scrimmages have ballooned in popularity for the country's major programs in recent seasons.

Last year, Ohio State set its school record when 75,301 people viewed the game, an increase of 11,652 from 2006. Following a national trend, the Buckeyes' audience grew by 67 percent from 2004 to last spring as increased media coverage, desire to watch early-enrolled players, the chance to see a game inside the stadium and the general itch for college football lead more and more big-program fans to end-of-spring scrimmages.

"When I got here we didn't do much to promote or market the game," said Steve Snapp, who has been a part of the OSU athletic department, mainly in a public relations role, since 1972. "Now, obviously, everyone is making sure their fans know about it."

See the freshmen

Ohio State's spring games of the 1960s and early '70s typically drew about 20,000 people into Ohio Stadium — admission was free — at a time when the teams were allowed many more spring practices. The Buckeyes started charging to offset costs of its spring coaches' clinic, but that hasn't dulled support.

In 2003, following Ohio State's first national championship since 1970, 57,200 people came to the game. Three years ago, there were 22,649 in the stands during an unusually cold and wet spring day. Weather, most agree, can play a role in attendance.

So can new players. Recently, high-caliber players have chosen to graduate from high school early to participate in spring practices, so fans can see these blue chippers before the next season.

Media coverage also has increased. Last weekend, ESPN sent its "College GameDay" broadcasting crew to Gainesville, Fla., for a national television broadcast of the Florida spring game. Texas' affair was available around the state on Fox Sports. More radio shows and Web sites devoted to teams can whet the appetite for football in the spring.

For others, the spring game is a chance to bring families and see football action inside Ohio Stadium, which is much more difficult during the regular season.

"People want to see that stadium," Bruce said, "no matter what's happening in there."

Enticing the fans

Schools around the Big Ten do more with their games, as well. At Indiana, coach Bill Lynch will address the crowd at halftime. Michigan State will hold a youth clinic. Minnesota fans can enter to win $15,000 if they attend the Gophers' game.

The Big Ten Network will try to quench some football thirst with a three-hour show beginning at 1 p.m. today focusing on the conference's spring games, with live look-ins. The channel will broadcast OSU's game on tape delay tonight at 11 and again Sunday (6 p.m.).

All of these factors have led to more people shelling out dollars — at Nebraska, the ticket can cost close to $100 — for the chance to see their favorite teams scrimmage.

"There's always an optimism in the spring," Snapp said. "When we and other places package it with other events on campus, it makes for a nice day."

Spring game fever

College football spring games, the scrimmages that complete spring practices, have become so big that ...

Last year, 92,138 people attended Alabama's, Nick Saban's first as coach

Tickets to Nebraska's are selling for close to $100

A record 75,301 attended Ohio State's last year

Coca-Cola has become the title sponsor for Iowa's

OSU spring game attendance

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