OK, I don't watch much college sports, so this has always bugged me. What is "red-shirting" and what purpose does it serve?
Basically, you can "redshirt" a player if he isn't ready to play right away and you get another year of eligibility from him. He isn't allowed to play at all his redshirt year, but he can still practice with the team and learn the system. The redshirt year doesn't count against the player's 4 eligible years. It's a good thing to do if a talented player comes in and isn't ready to play for whatever reason his freshman year. For instance, if there is a talented player a year ahead of him at his postion. You redshirt him and the next year, he's still a freshman even though he has a year of learning behind him.
A redshirt can be given to any player once regardless of classification. It is usually given to true freshmen though. It saves a player from losing a year of eligibility.
Ohhhhhhh K... So, a player redshirts his freshman year and then plays for four more years. He'll graduate from college but still have a year of football eligibility. What does he do during that last year of football, hang out at the student center and play ping pong all day long? oh wait, that's what student athletes do, anyways.
There are exceptions to red-shirting. If he is the third or fourth string QB and the 1st 2 are injured, he is allowed to play. This is happening with Alabama, where the horrible first string QB had his shoulder separated 2 weeks in a row and the horrible 2nd stringer had his non-throwing shoulder separated. The current starter is a red-shirt freshman who threw maybe 3 passes the entire game on Saturday. The usual 4th-now-second stringer is a former pitcher for the Orioles. EDIT: I'm actually not 100% clear on this particular incident of red-shirting. After I consulted this website, he may not get the eligibility back. I think I'll go ask someone who would know the definite answer.
not true BJ Symons of Texas Tech is only taking 1 class this fall and will graduate in December. He red-shirted his freshman year I believe
A coach can "take off" a kid's redshirt at any time. It isn't something that is officially done before the season or anything.
Yeah there is no official red-shirt list (just the coach submits for a red shirt after the year is complete). I didn't know there was exceptions (if starters get hurt). I know alot of buzz in the Fiesta Bowl last year was wheter Miami would play Gore after Maghee was hurt. In that case their was an injury but all indications said if he played he lost teh year (again it was only 1 player getting hurt and not the backup). Also I thought players had to be full-time students (I know there are often 5th year seniors whio are working on their masters). Again I could be wrong here as well but it would surprise me if a student only taking classes part time woudl be eligible to play (perhaps it's one class and a internship which combined for minimum hours)
Ya I'm 99% certain that EVERY player must be enrolled into 12 hours of more in order to play. If BJ Symons is taking only 1 class, perhaps the NCAA should take a gander over at Lubbock...
well for the REAL students.. some use that 5th year as their first year at graduate school........ such as some on my schools team
http://www.ncaa.org/library/membership/division_i_manual/2003-04/2003-04_d1_manual.pdf See Bylaws: Article 14.01.2 Academic Status To be eligible to represent an institution in intercollegiate athletics competition, a student-athlete shall be enrolled in at least a minimum full-time program of studies, be in good academic standing and maintain progress toward a baccalaureate or equivalent degree. A waiver of the minimum fulltime enrollment requirement may be granted for a student enrolled in the final term of the baccalaureate program (see Bylaw 14.1.8.2.1.3). Also, a student may represent the institution while enrolled as a graduate or professional student or while enrolled and seeking a second baccalaureate degree at the same institution (see Bylaw 14.1.9). 14.1.8.2.1.3 Final Semester/Quarter. A student-athlete may compete while enrolled in less than a minimum full-time program of studies, provided the student is enrolled in the final semester or quarter of the baccalaureate program and the institution certifies that the student is carrying (for credit) the courses necessary to complete degree requirements. The student granted eligibility under this provision shall be eligible for any NCAA championship and for any postseason certified bowl game or National Invitation Tournament that begins within 60 days following said semester or quarter, provided the student has not exhausted the five years for completion of the individual’s four seasons of eligibility (see Bylaw 14.2). Thereafter, the student shall forfeit eligibility in all sports, unless the student completes all degree requirements during that semester or quarter and is eligible to receive the baccalaureate diploma on the institution’s next degree-granting date. The Management Council, or a committee designated by the Management Council to act for it, may waive the 60-day requirement when an NCAA championship, postseason certified bowl game or National Invitation Tournament is conducted at the conclusion of the traditional playing season but begins more than 60 days following the end of said term. (Revised: 1/10/92, 1/16/93, 1/10/95)
here is the explaination from NCAA.org Redshirt Definition The term "redshirt" is used to describe a student-athlete who does not participate in competition in a sport for an entire academic year. If you do not compete in a sport the entire academic year, you have not used a season of competition. For example, if you are a qualifier, and you attend a four-year college your freshman year, and you practice but do not compete against outside competition, you would still have the next four years to play four seasons of competition. Each student is allowed no more than four seasons of competition per sport. If you were not a qualifier, you may have fewer seasons of competition available to you. You should know that NCAA rules indicate that any competition, regardless of time, during a season counts as one of your seasons of competition in that sport. It does not matter how long you were involved in a particular competition (for example, one play in a football game, one point in a volleyball match); you will be charged with one season of competition.
