SPORTS
A YEAR THE RE When the passion an athlete has for their sport comes to a crossroads with their ability to succeed on the field, court or track, the choice to redshirt arises as an option Stepping away from competition is a hard decision and can take an abundance of strength and determination. Those on the outside of collegiate athletics have hardly been given the chance to see into the experiences of redshirt players …until now.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE A REDSHIRT PLAYER? For those less familiar with sports terminology, being a redshirt player is a complex concept. To be a redshirt player means to give up competition for a year to either hone their skills or heal from any injuries they may have, in order to extend an athletes playing eligibility. There are different sports to redshirt in, different positions, and different reasons why an athlete would refrain from competing for a year. “We always talk about redshirting as trading your worst year for your best year,” says Head Football Coach Christopher Fisk.
FOOTBALL The concept of redshirting in football is strenuous and considerably demanding. For football players that redshirt, the demands of being a team player, as well as student athlete, are everyday from 5:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. making the days long and the reward of gametime obsolete.
story by Elliott Watkins photos by Dylan Hanson design by Evan Brown
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FALL 2022
Fans don’t see the hard work and dedication that student athletes have for their athletic careers. Fans don’t see what goes into being a successful player off the field. “Win, lose or draw we measure these student athletes on whether they’re successful on the field and we probably don’t give them enough respect or credit for what they do just to be on the field,” says Fisk.