🏈 Why is it that some fans will get upset if a true freshman start a game?

[rick4bama]

I was just wondering about this, because we are having some great plays from some of the Bama players right now. I think if these guys can help the team let them. Like the coach said if it's the first or the last he will play them. But, I want to know what some of you think about a true freshman playing?

 

[sean]

could not care less if they're a true freshman or 5th year senior. if they're the best player for the job, put 'em out there.

and no, i also don't care if a true freshman gets the starting job over a previous starter at that position. that just means that previous starter wasn't doing their job well enough to hold it and the true freshman did his better to take it.

 

[252BAMA]

It is perceived to be a depth problem at that position. Long ago it was unthinkable to start a first year player. Even back when freshmen were ineligible and first year players were sophomores.

Vince Dooley, for example, had no intention of even playing Herschell Walker in 1980 when he was a freshman, much less starting him in any games. Got behind 0-15 to ut in the opener and said what the heck. Put him in and Walker ran all over them. Walker started every game after that as UGA went undefeated and won the NC. Herschell finished third in the Heisman voting in 1980, and to my knowledge, was the first freshman to ever finish in the top 10. Was probably the first one to ever even get a vote.

 

[psychojoe]

Years back, in the limited substitution era, there was a saying that you would lose one game for every sophomore you had started-no frosh eligibility back then either. I think it is due to the perceived disadvantage of a player with no experience at this level being your starter.

From my recliner I would like for all of our starter to have been top recruits out of high school with two or more years experience, but in the real world I accept that the coaches play the guys who give us the best chance to win.

 

[jdpas29]

It seems like it used to be a lot less common to play a freshman. I think the number of players leaving after junior year and also the ability of some of the players has led to many more freshmen playing/starting

 

[alabama mike]

:agree: Ding, ding, ding, we have a winner IMO or at least he and I are thinking the same thing.

 

[rick4bama]

It seems like it used to be a lot less common to play a freshman. I think the number of players leaving after junior year and also the ability of some of the players has led to many more freshmen playing/starting

You right as rain, just look at who Bama has lost to the NFL before their Senior year.