There was an adage not long ago in college football stating that a team can chalk up a loss for every true freshman who has to play.
Alabama coach Nick Saban goes further back than that.
"Way back in the day when freshmen weren't eligible, I remember when Woody Hayes said that you lose one game for every sophomore you played," Saban said this week. "So we've changed quite a bit. It's just the culture now relative to the number of guys you have on scholarship, and the expectation for these kids when they come in is that they all want to play.
"With the number of guys who seem to go out early for the draft, I don't think the focus is on redshirting as much as it is that if somebody can help our team, let's go ahead and play them."
Five-star recruit Calvin Ridley could be a useful option at receiver for the Crimson Tide in Saturday's season opener against Wisconsin.The Crimson Tide will open their 2015 season Saturday night against Wisconsin at AT&T Stadium in the Dallas suburb of Arlington. This will be the sixth neutral-site opener since 2008 for Alabama, which has won the previous five by the combined count of 177-81.
Alabama's dominance in those games has been the result not only of preparation and the production of experienced players but also the dazzling talents of the newcomers.
In the Tide's 34-10 surprise thrashing of Clemson in the 2008 Chick-fil-A Kickoff Classic, Mark Ingram rushed for 96 yards and 5.6 yards per carry in his collegiate debut, while Julio Jones had a third-quarter touchdown reception. In their 41-14 drubbing of Michigan at AT&T Stadium in 2012, T.J. Yeldon burst on the scene with 11 carries for 111 yards and a touchdown.
Even in last year's 33-23 win over West Virginia in Atlanta, freshman punter JK Scott averaged 50.5 yards in two kicks.
At least half a dozen Alabama freshmen could play noticeable minutes Saturday night, including tailback Damien Harris and receiver Calvin Ridley. Harris is the Tide's third-string tailback behind junior Derrick Henry and senior Kenyan Drake.
Harris and Ridley were five-star signees in February who arrived in Tuscaloosa this summer.
"Running back and receiver are probably the two areas that are the simplest to play, because you can minimize what they have to know," Saban said. "Other positions are a little more difficult, like the offensive line. Cam Robinson had a lot to learn last year, and he had to know what to do on every play, but he handled it extremely well.
"If you're a defensive player, you have to understand the system and the scheme, and you can't make a lot of mental errors. Maybe corner on defense is a little simpler, but there is a lot for a guy to know."
Minkah Fitzpatrick, a five-star cornerback from New Jersey, not only will play Saturday night but could start.
"This is not to anyone's surprise because we thought he was a good player when we recruited him, but Minkah Fitzpatrick has been able to pick up and do things very, very well," Saban said. "I would think that Minkah's role could be more at playing the star in this game and not necessarily corner."
Another potential freshman starter is five-star nose tackle Daron Payne, who is bracketed with junior Darren Lake on the first team.
"Daron is very explosive and quick, and he can play with power," Saban said. "We're very pleased with the progress he's made. Our players respect the fact that this guy has shown a lot of ability and has an opportunity to help us as an inside player."
Sprinkling touted freshmen amid a proven roster is a desired situation that not everybody gets to experience on an annual basis. Tennessee coach Butch Jones has talked of playing more than 20 true freshmen for a second consecutive opener, while Ole Miss counterpart Hugh Freeze is thankful that not every year is like 2013.
Freeze's Rebels signed a star-studded class that year that included receiver Laquon Treadwell, tackle Laremy Tunsil, tight end Evan Ingram, defensive lineman Robert Nkemdiche and safety Tony Conner. They opened that season against an eventual nine-win Vanderbilt team in Nashville and had to play their newcomers as much out of necessity as for their abilities.
"It was quite nerve-racking," Freeze said. "You knew you had some talented freshmen, but you're never sure how they're going to respond in those arenas. I remember that night very well. I thought Laquon played well, and Tony Conner was one of the biggest pleasant surprises of the night. Evan Ingram and (receiver) Derrick Jones played well.
"Certainly mistakes were made, but I was pleased with the outcome, and I'm really glad I'm not feeling that way this year."
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.