Expensive concessions, stinging sunburns and the sound of whistles all herald college football’s brief but exciting return.

This weekend, The University of Alabama will be hosting a spring scrimmage for the public’s entertainment.

Last year, Auburn’s 2014 A-Day ended with the blue team beating the white team 55-3, but Auburn’s spring game pitted the entire first team against 
the backups.

Some schools, like USC, completely throw out the traditional football set up and just pit the offense against the defense for the entire game.

Offenses usually score like normal, and occasionally, bonus points are given out for first downs. Almost every play a defender makes could earn his team a point. In fact, a cornerback who returns an interception for a score in the USC spring game actually scores not a pick six, but a pick twelve.

During Alabama’s A-Day, the first team is pitted against the first team. When the ball changes hands the second team offense will attempt to score on the 
second team defense.

This model makes for a more competitive football game. That competitiveness also happens to make the game more entertaining to watch and also gives younger players the best chance to show off for the coaches and the fans. The teams playing in The University of Alabama’s A-Day probably won’t light up the scoreboard as much as other spring games do, but they will be playing actual football in a competitive format.

What else would they do?