[LUFlamer09]

Hopefully he never plays.

[sweetnahmah1]

I would like to see him get in there.

[LUFlamer09]

The way this team is playing, I'd hope not. But I guess from a standpoint of expanding our rotation, it makes sense.

[coolhandluke]

Basically he will be replacing Austin in our rotation, from what I gather. Austin redshirting will give us only 3 players on our bench, Bill Weaver, Johnny Stephene, and James Spencer. It would be 4 if Tyler Baker was healthy. But now with Summers we are assured that we have 4 bodies on our bench. Plus from what I have heard, he is quite the basketball player, so I think this only helps our depth.

[Chris Lang]

Austin Smith isn't redshirting.

[sweetnahmah1]

Austin redshirting

Name your sources Ed Werder.

[coolhandluke]

Austin Smith isn't redshirting.

we'll know for sure if he is redshirting tomorrow night. If he plays, he can't redshirt. If he doesn't play then he will probably redshirt. We have already had this discussion!

[Chris Lang]

He's already appeared in seven games. He can't redshirt, unless for medical purposes, and he may have already passed that threshold.

[coolhandluke]

My understanding of being able to redshirt is playing in more than 20% of the games in a season disqualifies a player from redshirting.

So if you count all 31 of out games, Austin has played in 7, making it around 22% of of schedule.

But if we only count division one teams on our schedule, Austin has played in 5 games with 28 games on the schedule, good for 17% of the season.

Is it possible that only division 1 games count against a players redshirt?

I guess we will find out tomorrow night. If Austin is going to finish out the season, and not redshirt, then he will see the floor against Anderson. If he does not play, then maybe he still can redshirt.

[SuperJon]

He can't redshirt. I'm going with Chris on this one. He's played too much.

[Chris Lang]

http://www.ncaa.org/wps/ncaa?ContentID=420

Key section:

Redshirt Definition

The term "redshirt" is used to describe a student-athlete who does not participate in competition in a sport for an entire academic year. If you do not compete in a sport the entire academic year, you have not used a season of competition. For example, if you are a qualifier, and you attend a four-year college your freshman year, and you practice but do not compete against outside competition, you would still have the next four years to play four seasons of competition.

Each student is allowed no more than four seasons of competition per sport. If you were not a qualifier, you may have fewer seasons of competition available to you. You should know that NCAA rules indicate that any competition, regardless of time, during a season counts as one of your seasons of competition in that sport. It does not matter how long you were involved in a particular competition (for example, one play in a football game, one point in a volleyball match); you will be charged with one season of competition.

[Chris Lang]

The rule definitely hasn't changed. Otherwise, you could just pluck one of your redshirts off the bench during a key conference game when you have injuries and play him for one night. That's just not legal.

[coolhandluke]

I don't know the rules too well. But I have a feeling Austin would have seen the floor against Clemson if he wasn't going to redshirt. Maybe I'm wrong, but I don't know.

[Chris Lang]

Luke, the rule is listed a few posts up. He can't redshirt. The only reason Tyler Baker was able to redshirt last year because he was hurt. Also the only reason that Brittany Campbell can redshirt this year.

[SuperJon]

The 20% rule only applies to medical situations.

Otherwise, if you step foot on the floor/field, you have now used a year of eligibility unless you get hurt.

[SuperJon]

The only reason Tyler Baker was able to redshirt last year because he was hurt.

Technically they denied his request for last year. He's got to appeal it. As of right now, he lost a year of eligibility last year. It's likely they'll give him a sixth year if they apply for it at the end of next year, but nothing's guaranteed.

[coolhandluke]

okay... I was told differently. But if those are the rules, then those are the rules. Then basically with Chris Summers with have 5 guys on the bench and if we get Tyler Baker back, that's 6. That will be a lot of depth.

[Chris Lang]

The only reason Tyler Baker was able to redshirt last year because he was hurt.

Technically they denied his request for last year. He's got to appeal it. As of right now, he lost a year of eligibility last year. It's likely they'll give him a sixth year if they apply for it at the end of next year, but nothing's guaranteed.

Good point. I keep forgetting he's a junior. I assume they'll get it if they appeal for it. Then again, the NCAA has done stranger things than deny a medical redshirt request for a guy that played 10 minutes and missed the rest of the year.

[Fumblerooskies]

The reason it was denied was b/c he already had one medical redshirt. You have to appeal after the 5th year to get the 6th.

[Cider Jim]

Hopefully he never plays.

According to the local paper, Summers originally signed with Louisville to play both football AND basketball.

[Rooster Cogburn]

Hopefully a basketball sticks to his hands easier!

[jcmanson]

Hmm, coolhandluke vs. Chris Lang. Who should I trust?

[TDDance234]

From Rivals:

"He's a big time player. With this being his first full year, he's got so much upside," Mallory said. "When he actually gets involved collegiately, whether it is going to be football or basketball if he ever decides to do one, I think he will be a first-rounder. If he gets the confidence on the football field that he has on the basketball floor, you might be talking about the player of the year in the state of Florida."

http://louisville.rivals.com/content.asp?cid=619353

[SumItUp]

I can almost hear the chatter as the expectations begin to rise.

[Cider Jim]

Anybody who can play basketball for Louisville definitely has the potential to be the Big South freshman of the week!