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Here is an article from Terry that was in today's Argus. It talks about "elder" SDSU athletes redshirting this year to give themselves a chance to compete for the post-season next year.
The redshirt strategy
Some SDSU athletes opting to sit out to maximize eligibility
By Terry Vandrovec
tvandrovec@argusleader.com
PUBLISHED: February 12, 2008
BROOKINGS - Redshirts aren't just for freshmen anymore.
In a trend that gained popularity because of the NCAA Division I reclassification process, some South Dakota State student-athletes are sitting out a season other than their first.
The strategic redshirt is not about extending careers - per NCAA rules, Division I student-athletes have five years to complete four years of eligibility. Rather, the idea is that the additional training and practice time will yield greater results and more postseason opportunities - that the eventual pros will outweigh the current cons.
Said Jackrabbits men's basketball coach Scott Nagy: "You can't look back."
Sitting out as a senior
Nagy's squad has suffered so many defections during the D-I transition that it has been both largely unable to redshirt first-year players and, in the case of guard Mackenzie Casey, forced to redshirt a senior.
Left without any scholarship juniors because of the departure of Matt Cadwell and the academic issues of a junior college transfer, the Jacks awarded Casey a newly available scholarship and opted to save his final year of eligibility for 2008-09.
As a result, he'll have a shot to play in a Division I conference tournament - held in his home state, no less - and SDSU will get a backcourt boost in its first year of postseason eligibility.
Although Casey has never averaged even four minutes, three rebounds or two assists in his career, Nagy has seen enough in practice this season to state that the 6-footer's presence would have resulted in four or five more victories this season. (Last in the league in turnover margin, SDSU has lost 10 games when leading in the second half.)
Casey is hoping to add strength, improve his shooting percentage and become a student of the game. Nagy said that the former Red Cloud standout has been perhaps the team's best guard.
"He's been phenomenal this year," Nagy said. "Our first group of kids can't even guard him. He's been killing everybody."
Of course, he's just talking about practice.
Said Casey: "The pressure's off - I should be playing good. I need to keep this year going into next year."
(read more)
Some SDSU athletes opting to sit out to maximize eligibility
By Terry Vandrovec
tvandrovec@argusleader.com
PUBLISHED: February 12, 2008
BROOKINGS - Redshirts aren't just for freshmen anymore.
In a trend that gained popularity because of the NCAA Division I reclassification process, some South Dakota State student-athletes are sitting out a season other than their first.
The strategic redshirt is not about extending careers - per NCAA rules, Division I student-athletes have five years to complete four years of eligibility. Rather, the idea is that the additional training and practice time will yield greater results and more postseason opportunities - that the eventual pros will outweigh the current cons.
Said Jackrabbits men's basketball coach Scott Nagy: "You can't look back."
Sitting out as a senior
Nagy's squad has suffered so many defections during the D-I transition that it has been both largely unable to redshirt first-year players and, in the case of guard Mackenzie Casey, forced to redshirt a senior.
Left without any scholarship juniors because of the departure of Matt Cadwell and the academic issues of a junior college transfer, the Jacks awarded Casey a newly available scholarship and opted to save his final year of eligibility for 2008-09.
As a result, he'll have a shot to play in a Division I conference tournament - held in his home state, no less - and SDSU will get a backcourt boost in its first year of postseason eligibility.
Although Casey has never averaged even four minutes, three rebounds or two assists in his career, Nagy has seen enough in practice this season to state that the 6-footer's presence would have resulted in four or five more victories this season. (Last in the league in turnover margin, SDSU has lost 10 games when leading in the second half.)
Casey is hoping to add strength, improve his shooting percentage and become a student of the game. Nagy said that the former Red Cloud standout has been perhaps the team's best guard.
"He's been phenomenal this year," Nagy said. "Our first group of kids can't even guard him. He's been killing everybody."
Of course, he's just talking about practice.
Said Casey: "The pressure's off - I should be playing good. I need to keep this year going into next year."
(read more)
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