Redshirts- are they always used in year 5?

[zeke573]

I would like to know what the policy on scholarship redshirts has been at NU. If Nebraska has a player eligible for a 5th year, has it been a consistent policy to bring him back even if he has almost zero chance of playing? As an example, NU has a 4th string QB who has a fifth year available. I'm expecting he will be back because I have not heard otherwise.  He has been here 4 years and should have been able to attain his degree. Given that,why bring a player back for a fifth year when he will never be a contributor? Seems the Scholarship could be better used.

Another school (ND) has a good system in regards to this issue. They decide after the players senior(4th) year whether they will be asked to come back for a fifth year. I would say on average, they bring back around 50% of the eligible players. The other 50% are considered guys who will never see the field, so they are not asked back. These players were still able to get their degree in since they had 4 years in the program. I'm sure there are other schools who use a similar system in deciding redshirts.

I don't understand the logic in keeping a player in the program after his 4th year, if he will never play. Why use the scholarship? The player had the opportunity to earn his degree so it's not like the school is out of line in asking the player to move on.

I have not heard this issue addressed. It would be good to know what the policy has been. Does anyone know if any players with a possible 5th year were NOT asked to come back? It seems most players are asked back at Nebraska.

[destroyer71]

Jordan Adams and Titus Brothers are two players that come to mind from recent years who have had a fifth year of eligibility available but either through their choice or Callahan's choice they didn't use it however I do believe they did retain their scholarship although it didn't count against the limit of 85.

[RED ED]

during a red shirt year the player cannot play , he watches and thats it . A player can pitition for a additional year if they were hurt 1 season without playing more then a certian amount of snapps. so a red shirt is usually taken during the fresh season. the other after injury is as a senior

[HCHusker]

Nebraska's current "Policy," although it is nothing in writing, it is more or less a philosophy of how these kids should be treated, is to allow the player his fifth year.  They do not pull scholarships just to free one up.  They may be asked to leave or give up a scholarship but it is by their choice and not the coaches' or the university's.  When offered a scholarship a vast majority of schools will guarentee it, as long as the player abides by team rules.  No injury or lack of development will cause the scholarship to be revoked.

I am sure this is not your arguement, but I just wanted to share my opinion on the matter.  I, for one, am completely against taking a scholarship away from a kid, even if it can be better used somewhere else.  That kid made a commitment to you and you made a commitment to them.  You cannot take back a car and get a refund if it turns out to be less than you hoped, so why should you be able to take back a scholarship?  If you know a dealer that does that, I would like their name because my car is crap  :wink: .  It is just not the right way to treat someone.  To me, integrety is more important than winning.  And I hope our program continues on the path of treating its players like important people and not just an football machine that can be thrown aside for the next, better model.  Thanks for allowing the rant.

[g_mystro]

If I'm not mistaken, Jordan Adams gave up his football scholarship for the benefit of the team and was able to recieve academic scholarships that paid for everything the football scholarship would have. Ploys like this could be effective if teams have guys smart enough to earn these academic scholarships.

[GAHusker72]

Nebraska's current "Policy," although it is nothing in writing, it is more or less a philosophy of how these kids should be treated, is to allow the player his fifth year.  They do not pull scholarships just to free one up.  They may be asked to leave or give up a scholarship but it is by their choice and not the coaches' or the university's.  When offered a scholarship a vast majority of schools will guarentee it, as long as the player abides by team rules.  No injury or lack of development will cause the scholarship to be revoked.

I am sure this is not your arguement, but I just wanted to share my opinion on the matter.  I, for one, am completely against taking a scholarship away from a kid, even if it can be better used somewhere else.  That kid made a commitment to you and you made a commitment to them.  You cannot take back a car and get a refund if it turns out to be less than you hoped, so why should you be able to take back a scholarship?  If you know a dealer that does that, I would like their name because my car is crap  :wink: .  It is just not the right way to treat someone.  To me, integrety is more important than winning.  And I hope our program continues on the path of treating its players like important people and not just an football machine that can be thrown aside for the next, better model.  Thanks for allowing the rant.

A commitment should be honored by the school and coaches.

[Raidsker]

That would be pretty low of a program to pull a scholarship in the last year.  And just because you don't think they will play remember anything is possible the names Monte Cristo and Matt Turman come to mind.  Or the 2002 Rams.

I personally think it is crap that they are basically one year scholarships anyway.  You could start cutting scholarships after their freshman year but I would think the backlash would be pretty bad.

[GloryDaze]

Nebraska's current "Policy," although it is nothing in writing, it is more or less a philosophy of how these kids should be treated, is to allow the player his fifth year.  They do not pull scholarships just to free one up.  They may be asked to leave or give up a scholarship but it is by their choice and not the coaches' or the university's.  When offered a scholarship a vast majority of schools will guarentee it, as long as the player abides by team rules.  No injury or lack of development will cause the scholarship to be revoked.

I am sure this is not your arguement, but I just wanted to share my opinion on the matter.  I, for one, am completely against taking a scholarship away from a kid, even if it can be better used somewhere else.  That kid made a commitment to you and you made a commitment to them.  You cannot take back a car and get a refund if it turns out to be less than you hoped, so why should you be able to take back a scholarship?  If you know a dealer that does that, I would like their name because my car is crap  :wink: .  It is just not the right way to treat someone.  To me, integrety is more important than winning.  And I hope our program continues on the path of treating its players like important people and not just an football machine that can be thrown aside for the next, better model.  Thanks for allowing the rant.

Most academic scholarships are renewable in 1 year increments, dependent upon upholding a pre-determined standard, like a minimum GPA to keep them.  Athletic scholarships should be the same IMO, and that is why they are for 1 year increments.  It is at the coaches discretion whether to renew it.  I think if you're not contributing and are dead weight, it is the coaches responsibility to the rest of the team and the program to cut you off.  It happens all the time.
In the scenario described above, if a player is here 4 years and has no forseeable chance to contribute in the last year of 5, I would have no problem making room for someone else who can/does--for example give BD's scholarship to a walk-on next year who has been contributing.
JMO

[helenahusker]

Givent he time commitment of playing (even if it is just practicing) major college football, I think the premise that 4 years is enough to graduate so adios for your 5th year is very unfair, less so, however, for those who are able to stay on scholarship of another kind for a 5th year.  I say they've bled and sweated for the team, so you damn well ought to let them finish it up right!

[HCHusker]

Givent he time commitment of playing (even if it is just practicing) major college football, I think the premise that 4 years is enough to graduate so adios for your 5th year is very unfair, less so, however, for those who are able to stay on scholarship of another kind for a 5th year.  I say they've bled and sweated for the team, so you damn well ought to let them finish it up right!

My sentiments exactly.  As I said, giving someone a scholarship is a commitment to them, if you are not willing to commit to their academic and college football career, don't give them a scholarship.  I think it makes coaches and schools that much more diligent and careful in going after particular kids, otherwise kids would constantly be thrown aside for "the next big thing."  It comes down to program integrety and commitment.  If this became common practice I have a feeling there would be a lot of, what I would consider, dirty programs developing.  That is when the program sees winning as more important than the individuals putting the product out on the field.  No program should be more important than the kids who are asked to play.

[Section 104]

This also could pose a problem for the required graduation rates.  If you start yanking scholarships and the guy quits school, its going to hurt the program.

[GloryDaze]

Givent he time commitment of playing (even if it is just practicing) major college football, I think the premise that 4 years is enough to graduate so adios for your 5th year is very unfair, less so, however, for those who are able to stay on scholarship of another kind for a 5th year.  I say they've bled and sweated for the team, so you damn well ought to let them finish it up right!

I've known dozens of football players at NU who graduated in 4 years--they typically take 12-14 hours (very light) during the fall and spring semesters, and almost all of them take 2-3 summer courses for a supplemental 6-10 hours per summer--that will graduate you in four years with credits to spare.
The ones that don't graduate in that time generally either switch majors several times or only take classes to stay eligible and never really intended on getting a meaningful degree.  I would say the majority that I knew, if they spent 5 years in college, graduated in 4 and were taking graduate courses in their 5th year.  With the academic support available at UNL for athletes, there really is no excuse not to graduate in 4 years--I would say the majority of them do.

[a Hsker]

Givent he time commitment of playing (even if it is just practicing) major college football, I think the premise that 4 years is enough to graduate so adios for your 5th year is very unfair, less so, however, for those who are able to stay on scholarship of another kind for a 5th year.  I say they've bled and sweated for the team, so you damn well ought to let them finish it up right!

I've known dozens of football players at NU who graduated in 4 years--they typically take 12-14 hours (very light) during the fall and spring semesters, and almost all of them take 2-3 summer courses for a supplemental 6-10 hours per summer--that will graduate you in four years with credits to spare.
The ones that don't graduate in that time generally either switch majors several times or only take classes to stay eligible and never really intended on getting a meaningful degree.  I would say the majority that I knew, if they spent 5 years in college, graduated in 4 and were taking graduate courses in their 5th year.  With the academic support available at UNL for athletes, there really is no excuse not to graduate in 4 years--I would say the majority of them do.

Agreed. With academic support and light summer school graduating in 4 years is easy and is all we should "promise" to scholarship players even if redshirted.

[HCHusker]

Givent he time commitment of playing (even if it is just practicing) major college football, I think the premise that 4 years is enough to graduate so adios for your 5th year is very unfair, less so, however, for those who are able to stay on scholarship of another kind for a 5th year.  I say they've bled and sweated for the team, so you damn well ought to let them finish it up right!

I've known dozens of football players at NU who graduated in 4 years--they typically take 12-14 hours (very light) during the fall and spring semesters, and almost all of them take 2-3 summer courses for a supplemental 6-10 hours per summer--that will graduate you in four years with credits to spare.
The ones that don't graduate in that time generally either switch majors several times or only take classes to stay eligible and never really intended on getting a meaningful degree.  I would say the majority that I knew, if they spent 5 years in college, graduated in 4 and were taking graduate courses in their 5th year.  With the academic support available at UNL for athletes, there really is no excuse not to graduate in 4 years--I would say the majority of them do.

Agreed. With academic support and light summer school graduating in 4 years is easy and is all we should "promise" to scholarship players even if redshirted.

Graduating in 4 years is not necessarily as easy as you say, many majors take more than the minimum graduating requirement of hours.  For example I believe it is 127 hrs at most schools to graduate, well for me, it took 164 hrs for me to get my degree (that is counting the classes towards my major + gen. eds), and I never changed majors.  So it was nearly impossible for me to graduate in 4 years while playing football.

[a Hsker]

Givent he time commitment of playing (even if it is just practicing) major college football, I think the premise that 4 years is enough to graduate so adios for your 5th year is very unfair, less so, however, for those who are able to stay on scholarship of another kind for a 5th year.  I say they've bled and sweated for the team, so you damn well ought to let them finish it up right!

I've known dozens of football players at NU who graduated in 4 years--they typically take 12-14 hours (very light) during the fall and spring semesters, and almost all of them take 2-3 summer courses for a supplemental 6-10 hours per summer--that will graduate you in four years with credits to spare.
The ones that don't graduate in that time generally either switch majors several times or only take classes to stay eligible and never really intended on getting a meaningful degree.  I would say the majority that I knew, if they spent 5 years in college, graduated in 4 and were taking graduate courses in their 5th year.  With the academic support available at UNL for athletes, there really is no excuse not to graduate in 4 years--I would say the majority of them do.

Agreed. With academic support and light summer school graduating in 4 years is easy and is all we should "promise" to scholarship players even if redshirted.

Graduating in 4 years is not necessarily as easy as you say, many majors take more than the minimum graduating requirement of hours.  For example I believe it is 127 hrs at most schools to graduate, well for me, it took 164 hrs for me to get my degree (that is counting the classes towards my major + gen. eds), and I never changed majors.  So it was nearly impossible for me to graduate in 4 years while playing football.

If a player wanted a 164 credit undergrad, I would tell him two things. 1. Are you crazy? 2. Plan on being really good year four if you hope to have a fifth-year on scholarship.