A huge success around this time last year, Arkansas State has decided to yet again take a unique approach to its annual spring game.
The football program announced in a press release Monday that “the Red Wolves will once again auction off the rights to act as their head coach during the team’s upcoming spring game on April 17.” This year’s version of the auction comes with a twist, however, as the winning bidder, who will coach one of the two squads, will be permitted to select a friend or family member to coach the other.
Last year’s winner was Nick Bhardwaj, a 25-year-old CEO of a California-based tech company who won the right to coach in the spring game with a bid of $11,700. Bhardwaj’s Black team walked away with a 48-17 win over the Red team, with the one-time coach "[giving] the team’s pregame and halftime speeches and [communicating] with the coaching staff on headset throughout the entire game while making play-calling and fourth-down decisions,” the school said in its release last spring.
Following the decisive win, Bhardwaj was rewarded with the traditional shower of Gatorade.
Because of last year’s resounding success, the football program in general and its head coach specifically wanted to lather, rinse and repeat in 2015.
“I know our staff loved this experience last year, and we want the winning bidder to again walk away with a wonderful experience and memories that will last a life time,” said Blake Anderson in a statement. “I think not only our fans, but a lot of college football fans in general, got a kick out of it too. It just adds another fun dimension to our spring game for everyone involved.”