[OutsiderFan]

Just getting this on record again...

The term "burning a redshirt" is only accurate in the proper context.  If a player is planned to be redshirted, and then say midway through the season or later, the coaching staff has a True Frosh play out of desperation, yes, the term "burn a redshirt" applies.

But if a guy is ready to play and contribute as a True Frosh within the first few games of a season, then a redshirt isn't being burned as much as being preserved in the case of a season-ending injury. 

Of course, Harrison Phillips is an example of both a redshirt being burned (as the plan was to redshirt him as a True Frosh until injuries and lack of depth forced him to play late in the season), and preserved in the event a season was lost to injury (when he was injured and lost for the season as a Sophomore at Northwestern).

The point is, sometimes a redshirt has no reason to be used, so burning it isn't an accurate connotation.  The term only has merit to be interpreted negatively when a player who the coaches preferred to redshirt, is forced to play as a result of injuries and lack of depth.

[OutsiderFan]

Just getting this on record again...

The term "burning a redshirt" is only accurate in the proper context.  If a player is planned to be redshirted, and then say midway through the season or later, the coaching staff has a True Frosh play out of desperation, yes, the term "burn a redshirt" applies.

But if a guy is ready to play and contribute as a True Frosh within the first few games of a season, then a redshirt isn't being burned as much as being preserved in the case of a season-ending injury. 

Of course, Harrison Phillips is an example of both a redshirt being burned (as the plan was to redshirt him as a True Frosh until injuries and lack of depth forced him to play late in the season), and preserved in the event a season was lost to injury (when he was injured and lost for the season as a Sophomore at Northwestern).

The point is, sometimes a redshirt has no reason to be used, so burning it isn't an accurate connotation.  The term only has merit to be interpreted negatively when a player who the coaches preferred to redshirt, is forced to play as a result of injuries and lack of depth.