Just thought I would share this bit of fun.

I have a new recruit who accepted a redshirt the first time I tried. His response:

"Hi coach - I just heard that I may be redshirted this season. It's cool, I actually thought you may do that so I was kind of ready for it. Plus, an extra year of hitting the weights will definitely help my game."

After that, one of my other players got injured during the first exhibition game, so I took the redshirt off the guy so that he could play in the second exhibition game and I could rest the injured player.

So, after the game, I re-applied the redshirt to Bailey. This time, he got mad (rejected it). His response:

"Coach, just want to let you know that I was upset with your decision.

I just don't think it's cool that you didn't say that I would be looking at a redshirt season when I got here.

I mean seriously, make up your mind already - first you want to redshirt me, then you don't then you do...do you need some syrup to go with those waffles?"

Since then, I've tried it again about 6 times, and he gives me the same response (rejects the redshirt).

I understand that there is some randomness in the redshirt process, and I'm fine with that. If he'd rejected it first time around I would have been fine and just moved on.

However, it seems kind of dumb that he would accept it the first time around, and then get upset later on. I know the emails don't really reflect real people, but I think he may need some syrup with those waffles. :-)

Lesson learned - don't take the redshirt off of someone once they accept it.

I asked CS about this, here's there reply:

3/5/2010 6:13 PM Customer Support
Scott,

Part of it is that randomness in the response, but he's also upset because you keep changing your mind. That is intended.

I guess I understand this. We all know, for example, that many guys get more upset each time you retract/apply redshirt (although it's well known that some will take it with multiple tries).

It just seems pretty lame that a guy says he was expecting it and is fine with it, then 12-hours later is "furious" about the same thing. That doesn't really pass the reality test, IMO.

I guess all I'm saying is that the "getting upset because you keep changing your mind" makes sense for guys who didn't like it in the first place, but much less sense if they were ok with it to start.

I mean, it's not like we have separate "discuss redshirt" and "apply redshirt" options. I couldn't, for example, tell him he would be redshirted before the exhibition game, then wait until after to actually do the paperwork.

Like I said, I guess the lesson learned is "don't try this at home." I'd never tried it before, but definately didn't expect the results I got.

In my opinion, I'd think that accepting it once would be more like using the "inform of redshirt" during recruiting. It should make them much more likely to accept it a second time. Similarly, rejecting it once should make it less likely they'd accept it a second time.

Do others agree with that logic? If so, maybe I will make this suggestion to Seble on the test site.

I think I agree with you, but this has to happen almost never.

I do see where you're coming from, but partly because you're a smart vet coach, my overriding feeling is that you should've known better. Even a 5% increased chance of him rejecting it is clearly not worth it just to have him play in an exhibition game.

I also think you're way off base in trying to apply the "reality test" to a situation in which you redshirted a kid without warning him, yanked the redshirt off for one game and then tried to re-apply it. That's not reality.

Quote: Originally Posted By srunstro on 3/05/2010In my opinion, I'd think that accepting it once would be more like using the "inform of redshirt" during recruiting. It should make them much more likely to accept it a second time. Similarly, rejecting it once should make it less likely they'd accept it a second time.

No, he shouldn't have to accept it another time. Why would you take it off to have him play in an exhibition game?

The logic of him getting upset the second time makes perfect sense to me. If you told me that I would redshirt, then pulled it off, then put it back on again, I would likely be ****** off too. How can you trust your coach when they do something like that?

I understand your reasoning Srunstro, but I'm with the others on this one. Since he accepted it the first time without you having informed him during recruiting, you probably should have well enough alone and just it on him.

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Yeah, to be honest I actually agree with you guys too.
I think I'm mostly annoyed at myself for doing something pretty dumb.

Somebody told me about 2 years ago that once they accepted the rs they'd always take it again. I'd never tried it before. Clearly wrong.

In any case, not a big deal. I mostly wanted to rs him so I'd have no open spots 4 seasons from now - wouldn't have even thought twice about it if he'd rejected it initially.

As somebody said, this must happen pretty much never.

Communication was the problem. You never discussed the redshirt 'flip-flop' with his parents. Mr. and Mrs. Bailey, and his 85 yr. old grandmother, took a bus from Cross Rivers, NY to Boston, MASS to see their precious son play in his first college game. Imagine their surprise to find out they he'd been redshirted again!!

Bailey just called....he asked if you want some cheese with that whine????