Redshirt Likely for Holloway

[Deleted]

I don't get that either. Playing a game or two now would be "burning a year", unless she became a starter.

I think she's getting the most she can out of this year given her unique circumstances.

I'd even go so far as to say that if this was the intention all along (or even most of the time), it was a pretty thoughtful move on Cook's part. But I have no idea what the intention was. Even if it wasn't, it's seems like it's going to work out well for everyone concerned. And isn't that the way it should be?

[SakiBomb25]

If Nebraska does win a national championship this year, it doesn't guarantee Griffin or Busboom anything. Look at Flordia - in 2003, Lauren Moscovic set her team to the Championship Final... and then the following year, she gets benched for Angie McGinnis. One would think that Moscovic's experience would win her time on the court, but Wise certainly didn't think so. I bet Holloway beats out one or both the setters next year and get significant playing time.

[SaltNPepper]

ruffda said:

I don't get that either. Playing a game or two now would be "burning a year", unless she became a starter.

I think she's getting the most she can out of this year given her unique circumstances.

I'd even go so far as to say that if this was the intention all along (or even most of the time), it was a pretty thoughtful move on Cook's part. But I have no idea what the intention was. Even if it wasn't, it's seems like it's going to work out well for everyone concerned. And isn't that the way it should be?

I recall either in a interview or in an article a few years ago, that Cook made the statement that he wasn't generally in favor of a student going into the season with the plans of redshirting. He felt that there was a tendency for those athletes to kind of go through the motions that season without the personal challenge of believing they could be called upon at almost any time if they were needed. That being said, if a players health is less than 100% and they end up not being "needed", then redshirting seems like a great solution for both the athlete and the school. With the demands of sports, it can be pretty tough for even the best students to get their degree in 4 years so the redshirt year can and does fit in very well with a 4 1/2 or 5 year plan. Or even offer and opportunity to begin work on a graduate degree if they are able to pull it off in 4 years.

[FreeBall]

saltnpepper said:

I recall either in a interview or in an article a few years ago, that Cook made the statement that he wasn't generally in favor of a student going into the season with the plans of redshirting. He felt that there was a tendency for those athletes to kind of go through the motions that season without the personal challenge of believing they could be called upon at almost any time if they were needed.

This part of your post got me thinking back to the early 1990's when I first began to follow the Husker VB team closely. As I remember it, Christy Johnson came in and redshirted one of her first two years. Nikki Stricker was the starting setter both of those years.

I don't recall Christy going through the motions as a redshirt or as a backup. In fact, I remember hearing at the time that she was frustrated and felt that she deserved to be starting ahead of Best. Obviously she stuck it out and went on to start her last three years and led the Huskers to the title in 1995.

I would appreciate hearing from other Husker fans who recall the sequence of events in the early 1990's better than me. I'm also wondering how Cook might handle a similar situation with Griffin/Busboom and Holloway next season. Will he be loyal to the returning starters as Pettit appeared to be, or will he go with the most talented player(s)?

[2c]

freeball said:

I'm also wondering how Cook might handle a similar situation with Griffin/Busboom and Holloway next season. Will he be loyal to the returning starters as Pettit appeared to be, or will he go with the most talented player(s)?

Well, Mancuso was a starter towards the end of the 2003 season... does that help?

Seriously, I think Cook will put the best team on the court next year. Even this years setters are not really connecting great with the Middles this year (and especially last year). Had Holloway entered 2-a-day practices completely healthy and rested, I think she would of had as good a shot at winning 1 of the 2 setting positions as Griffin or Busboom. At this point, into a third of the season, the team dynamic and chemistry (I know, it's such a junk-concept but does have some merit) has been established and it's no longer a matter of who the best 2 setters are.

That changes after the Huskers last match of the 2005 season and the setter position is up for grabs again.

[2c]

sakibomb25 said:

If Nebraska does win a national championship this year, it doesn't guarantee Griffin or Busboom anything. Look at Flordia - in 2003, Lauren Moscovic set her team to the Championship Final... and then the following year, she gets benched for Angie McGinnis. One would think that Moscovic's experience would win her time on the court, but Wise certainly didn't think so.

Not exactly the best example.

[2c]

ruffda said:

I don't get that either. Playing a game or two now would be "burning a year", unless she became a starter.

I think she's getting the most she can out of this year given her unique circumstances.

I'd even go so far as to say that if this was the intention all along (or even most of the time), it was a pretty thoughtful move on Cook's part. But I have no idea what the intention was. Even if it wasn't, it's seems like it's going to work out well for everyone concerned. And isn't that the way it should be?

Wow, if I didn't know better, I'd almost think that was a non-critical comment regarding Cook.

I do agree, what might be more beneficial... going through the motions of another HS season (when you're pretty much done with HS classes) and then another club season with FR... and Miret which I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy. OR train in a system without the pressure to lead a leading Nat'l Title contender to that title so that when you do take over the reins you'll have a year under your belt... didn't seem to hurt Elmer too much.

[Gorf]

If redshirted this season she would still not only be able to practice the entire season with the Huskers, but she'd also be able to participate in spring training and maches and anything the team does together over the summer without the coaches.

That's a lot of extra high level training and experience she wouldn't get if she hadn't enrolled at Nebraska for this year.