Buffs should forget redshirting freshman | MX & the Golden Buffaloes

The act of redshirting, the philosophy of redshirting has value to college coaches but rarely works out where the player and school actually benefit.

That's not to say the practice never has advantages because it does but in the case of the Colorado Buffaloes, redshirting shouldn't be considered unless a player is as raw as just-shot game during deer season.

Word is some scribes believe that freshman running back Ray Polk might be better off being benched all season to give the Buffs a talented back if uber prospect Darrell Scott lives up to expectations and dominates and then rushes to the NFL after his junior season.

Nonsense.

The Buffs are hardly USC, Ohio State or other premier programs where they overwhelm the opposition with talent weekly. The Buffs are a construction project which needs every man on board, every man rowing, especially those with mad skills, like Polk reportedly possesses. So maybe Polk doesn't get 20 carries a game with Scott, Demetrius Sumler, Rodney "Take a Picture Fast because I'm Gone" Stewart, and others on the roster but who says he can't utilize his talent in the return game, catching passes out of the backfield and lined up wide and just generally wreaking havoc in any way possible.

CU needs elite athletes playing, skilled players making positive impressions on games, to greatly increase the team's chances at victory. The Buffs are not coming off a 9 or 10-win season. They won 6 in 2007.

Play Polk, play Stewart, play anyone who can help you in any way no matter how much time they will get on the field. The time, baby, is now! Live for the moment.

Besides, you keep a player motivated in class, you keep him feeling part of the team, you keep him happy, not by benching him, but by keeping him involved, immersed in the moment.

If a guy can handle his position, don't deny him the opportunity to play. You rob his spirit. If one needs time to learn and he's way behind others, then consider redshirting, but that should be a rare occurrence.

Football isn't like saving for the future. Football is about spending it all now.