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The University of Mississippi Athletics
The Life Of A Redshirt
10/16/2002 | Football
Oct. 16, 2002
OXFORD, Miss. - Imagine going from being one of the top football players in your area to being relegated to the college scout team in just a matter of months.
Welcome to the life of a redshirt.
And while some might think such an assignment would be unwelcome, Ole Miss center Tony Bonds says that's not the case.
"It was (frustrating) for a little bit, but then after a while, you realize there are people out here who are better than you and you're just the low man on the totem pole," said Bonds, a freshman from Russellville, Ala., who was a redshirt in 2001. "You have to work your way up. It's just like in high school when you got there as a freshman."
Head coach David Cutcliffe says one of the advantages of redshirting a player is that it gives him time to mentally adapt to college football.
"We try to spend some extra time gaining a mental edge and learning what to do mentally, where you're not going out in spring practice and re-teaching all the first-time stuff," said Cutcliffe. "One of the first things any player will tell you is how fast the game is compared to what it is in high school. That one year is a significant advantage."
Aside from allowing time to mentally adjust to the college game, a redshirt season also has another obvious benefit: time for physical development.
"Being a redshirt gave me a chance to lose some weight and get stronger and faster," said Jimmy Brooks, a freshman defensive lineman from Ripley. "Now I come off the ball a whole lot faster."
The physical and mental strides that come from a redshirt season add up to another important result: confidence.
"I know that if I had to be counted on, I know I could fill the job," said Ryan Jones, an offensive lineman from Brandon. "You're more secure about yourself after that redshirt year, because you've had a whole year to work on nothing but your technique and speed at the SEC level."
"We certainly believe in trying to redshirt anytime we can," said Cutcliffe. "Long-term, we think a fifth-year senior can be a very effective football player."
