It's "Win Now" in college football. It is no longer acceptable to sacrifice the season and rebuild your program. $16-Million dollars in BCS money means you must pound the panic button at the threat of a 7-5 season and play pimple faced kids who are four months removed from their prom. The maturation process has given way to the unrelenting pressure that does not subscribe to the term, "rebuilding."

One of football's toughest transitions is going from dominating the high school ranks to being a force in college. When you make the jump to big-time collegefootball, the cornerbacks do not look like Rudy and defensive coordinators do not double as science teachers. This is big business where blue chip athletes are met with open arms and told "we love you, but you better be the real deal."

The frantic need to win now is destroying the foundation needed to build a program and sustain long-term success. This attitude and mentality has effectively killed the art of redshirting, and nobody proves it like Notre Dame.

Last week, the nations top-ranked recruit, Jimmy Clausen was thrust into the starting role as the struggling Irish played before 100,000 screaming Penn State fans in Happy Valley. The Nittany Lions are a far cry from the teams he faced at Oaks Christian and showed it by holding Clausen and his offense to only 3-points.

People will argue that trial by fire is the best way to go and nothing beats game experience. I disagree. If you look at the quarterbacks for the nation's top-3 teams, you will see guys who all waited their turn and spent time in the system. USC's John David Booty learned under Matt Leinert; Matt Flynn has LSU 2-0 after spending 3-years absorbing Les Mile's system as JaMarcus Russell's understudy; and Oklahoma's Sam Bradford was not "jammed in there" when the Sooners faced a quarterback crisis in 2006.

But things are different amongst the shadows of Touchdown Jesus. Clausen has been thrust into the starter's role despite being a true freshman who was unable to win the job during camp. As matter of fact, he finished third in a three horse race. And he has now been given the keys to a castle where he must exceed expectations with no experience and an equal amount of playmakers. The sad truth is that Clausen will continue to struggle and Notre Dame will be no better for it. Additionally, Clausen's career in South Bend will be cut short just about the time he is in full stride and the team is flush with talent, potentially forcing the school to repeat the process all over again.

Playing kids who are not ready will continue to be a problem as long as coaches take their cue from tried-and-true fans. Coaches need to see the big picture, teach their system and further remind their boosters that they will not trip over pennies on the way to dollars.