Football Team & Rush

[CrackerBarrel]

Tell them to talk to their coach. Some football coaches (including some in the SEC) won't let scholarship players rush or will at least very strongly discourage it. Fall rush is probably fine though because the houses realize the time commitment of football and will abbreviate or rework the schedule of pledging for athletes who pledge. My house has pledged baseball and cross country athletes before and I believe we did that.

[ClassicUNC]

I know at UNC there is a house with several football players currently (including the starting QB -- who pledged AFTER becoming the starter). I believe they all pledged during their Spring Semester. Most pledged during the Redshirt year. So it can be done.. but it is a timing issue.

[DGwithagrey]

Thanks guys! Would the same apply if they were not on scholarship for some reason? Sorry, despite attending every game and being a proud team mom, I really know nothing about the proper terminology, DH handled all of that

[ClassicUNC]

I think if you're on the team--starter, bench player, scholarship, walk-on, etc-- you have to defer to the coach or your life will be hellish.

On a simplified level... Redshirt means you don't play any games for the year just practice and condition (hit the weights); obviously this mostly occurs the player's freshmen year. Sometimes players redshirt for medical reasons, too. Essentially it allows football players 5 years in total to play ball for 4 years.

[DGwithagrey]

Thanks for clearing it up. I'll tell them to ask their coach (that was what I figured my advice should be).

[ree-Xi]

Originally Posted by DGwithagrey

Thanks guys! Would the same apply if they declined scholarships (money's not really an issue...) and are signed, not redshirting (that's joining without having been recruited, right? Sorry, despite attending every game and being a proud team mom, I really know nothing about the proper terminology, DH handled all of that)

I know that for many students, Greek life (or one's hopes of being Greek) can be a very important factor in choosing schools, but I cannot imagine giving up a scholarship simply to make it more convenient to pledge.

I guess if "money's not really an issue", then you probably have a different perspective. But making such a huge decision based solely on the premise that your sons would have an "easier" time pledging without the burden of a scholarship or coach on their shoulders, to me, is ridiculous.

Aside from that, there is no guarantee they are going to get bids. You might well be throwing that money away for no reason. Even if you can afford it, does it make sense to refuse it based on a "what if"?

BTW are they twins? Or are they in different schools, or different grades at the same school? You don't have to answer that, but you said that both your sons are in this situation.

PS Redshirting does not mean that they are a "walk on". Reshirting refers to the practice of having players benched (practice but not playing) for (usually) the first year to get used to and improve their game. Since NCAA only allows 4 years of play, if they got injured in let's say, the first game, that is one whole year of eligibility out the window. Some players who are injured at the end of a season may redshirt the following season bc they won't be healed enough to play the whole season. Not all freshman are redshirted, and not all reshirts are freshmen, but it happens regularly.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by ree-Xi

I know that for many students, Greek life (or one's hopes of being Greek) can be a very important factor in choosing schools, but I cannot imagine giving up a scholarship simply to make it more convenient to pledge.

I guess if "money's not really an issue", then you probably have a different perspective. But making such a huge decision based solely on the premise that your sons would have an "easier" time pledging without the burden of a scholarship or coach on their shoulders, to me, is ridiculous.

From what I got from her post, whether they are signed or redshirting affects their scholarship status. I don't think they're about to change schools at this point.

You're being way too hard on this mom, IMO.

[ree-Xi]

Originally Posted by 33girl

From what I got from her post, whether they are signed or redshirting affects their scholarship status. I don't think they're about to change schools at this point.

You're being way too hard on this mom, IMO.

I don't mean to be. What I read is that they may be willing to give up the scholarship if it meant that their coach would go easier on them regarding pledging.

To me, throwing away a scholarship "simply" or "only" in order to make it more convenient to pledge, is a waste of money. If there are other reasons to give up the scholarships, and not have the coach/team/campus burden on their shoulders, that's one thing. But from what I read, it would be simply to lessen the conflict of pledging AND playing at the same time.

Mom/OP - can you clarify?

Let me add that it IS your money and if you can afford it, more power to you. I just cannot imagine being in that situation.

[DGwithagrey]

I didn't think you were being impolite; however, I want to clarify that not being on scholarship has NOTHING to do with a desire to pledge. Honestly, my sons don't need an athletic scholarship to attend school--I'd rather not go into further detail in that regard. Thanks for the advice.