Like many, I find the 11 meaningless seconds a bit confusing. If you are going to pull a redshirt, then get the kid some experience beyond a single hand off.
But, do we remember the Alamo? (Someone had to say it). The second best center on the team, Jake Hanson, had spent the entire season as a redshirt and the coaches did not want to waste that in a less meaningful bowl game. Had he played early, even for 11 seconds, that decision would have been easy; redshirt is already burned - play him.
Quarterbacks get injured in the Oregon offense. It happens. could Helfrich's decision have been a pre-emptive strike against the 'fear' of burning a redshirt should Prukop get injured? Possibly. That adds a new dimension to this season and the narrative picture that is being painted.
Yes, I still think he should have got more than 11 seconds, but suppose Prukop gets injured at the end of the first half against Oregon State. Would you rather see the fourth string QB than the second string so that a redshirt can be protected? Now, no such dilemma will exist; if Prukop goes down, Herbert is coming in.
Was this the strategy all along? We will probably never know because no one will answer that question honestly. Just an intriguing thought that came to mind.
