Great Story on UTEP basketball player Tevin Caldwell

[Coach Bill Lewis]

Tevin is a local kid who was asked to walk on, given a scholarship, and then asked to give it back so the team could sign another post player.

http://www.elpasotimes.com/story/sports/.../80523132/

[Zeleny' Orel]

So refreshing to read about an athlete who doesn't have the "watch me, it's all about me" attitude...his future will be bright!

[greenminer]

This struck me:
 

Quote

 

And, despite the odds and even if there was not a way, Caldwell found a way and played in 30 games as a junior. And then he did something a walk-on almost never gets the chance to do. He redshirted.

"We paid him the ultimate compliment a year ago," Floyd said. 'We redshirted him. We had Julian Washburn one more year and we needed Tevin to help fill that role for us. We don't just redshirt anyone. We only do it if we think somebody can help us. And Tevin has."

 

Why is redshirting such a big deal for walk-ons? I thought any and all athletes had 5 years to play 4...at no cost to the university.  Should I take from this that coaches want faster turnover among their non-scholly athletes?

[Got5onIt]

6 hours ago, greenminer said:

This struck me:
 

Why is redshirting such a big deal for walk-ons? I thought any and all athletes had 5 years to play 4...at no cost to the university.  Should I take from this that coaches want faster turnover among their non-scholly athletes?

He wasn't on scholarship. They felt like he was that important to the team they didn't want to lose him and Washburn at the same time. They gave him a scholarship and redshirted him. Their way of saying we really want you back next year and you can kick back a year on our dime. This isn't football where pretty much everyone redshirts, it's rare in basketball.   

Edited February 24, 2016 by Got5onIt