The Valparaiso University football program will host its annual spring game on Saturday at 1 p.m. at Brown Field, the first of the Andy Waddle head coaching era.
 
"It's been great to get a chance to work with these guys," Waddle said. "Credit to the University and to the staff that was here before me, they recruited some outstanding young men and great people. Those types of people are drawn to Valpo as an institution. It was one of the appeals of coming here to know that you'd get to work with high-quality students and student-athletes. I've been impressed with the character of the young men, and this spring has been very positive." 
 
The format will resemble a traditional game with the team split into two squads rather than an offense vs. defense format that has been used in the Valpo spring game in recent years. The event is free and open to the public. Spectators attending the game are encouraged to park free of charge in Lot 45 (ARC Lot), Lot 30 (off LaPorte Avenue), Lot 32 (off LaPorte Avenue) and Lot 35 (off LaPorte Avenue).
 
"It's exciting to get out and showcase some of what we're planning to do next fall on Saturday," Waddle said. "We're going against each other, so in the spring it's hard to get too excited if the offense has a dominating performance or if the defense puts together a dominating performance, but at the same time you want to go out and see your guys execute at a high level. We're looking for guys who are going to be able to make plays as opposed to guys giving up plays. We're looking for clean, high-level football with very few mistakes. We're looking for guys who are going to be doing the right things, playing assignment-sound football and making something happen. We're excited to evaluate our players with the referees out there and the competition getting a little bit closer to being real."
 
Concessions will be available for purchase at the game including hot dogs, brats, nachos, chips, candy, pop and beer (patrons age 21 and over). Fall 2025 Valpo football schedule posters will be given away free of charge, and a postgame autograph session will take place.
 
Fans will have their first opportunity to purchase Fall 2025 football and volleyball season tickets at Saturday's spring game. Season ticketholder benefits will include exclusive communication about events, a free "I Love Valpo" yard sign (one per account, available with a purchase on site at Saturday's game) and access to an exclusive preseason season ticketholder event (details will be distributed at a later date).
 
On Friday, Valpo football will hold an event in partnership with the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP), previously known as Be The Match, encouraging individuals to sign up for the National Bone Marrow Association Donor Registry. To learn more about this personal cause for head coach Andy Waddle, click here to read the full story. There will be tables to sign up for the registry from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday inside the following buildings on Valpo's campus – Athletics-Recreation Center, The Harre Union and the Arts and Sciences Building (ASB).
 
"Young, healthy men are the best donors because the cell regeneration is best with those young people," Waddle said. "Those are the people who I am connected with as a football coach. Because of my wife's history with having a bone marrow transplant from an unrelated donor from the registry, this has been a powerful cause for me. People who are looking for a bone marrow transplant typically have no other cure. Statistically, about two percent of the people who sign up will end up donating and saving a life, so we're hoping to sign up a couple hundred people and save a handful of lives through the process of us doing that on Friday."

Click here for spring game rosters.

Click here for a video interview with Andy Waddle previewing the spring game.