I believe it’s all about the program/family and building the program/family for the future. You give garbage time first to those who will build your program in the future. Be it building culture or playing experience for future contributors, the goal is build the program/family.

I dislike when coaches don’t play the scrubs in blowouts because it only pads the stats and doesn’t give the upcoming players preparation for next year. It doesn’t build the program (except maybe big stats get publicity and national honors, etc). I’m not a play the scrubs because he deserves it guy. I play the scrubs because they’ll be your back up or starter next year and this PT is going to build him/her for that experience.

But I’ve learned to leave it to the coach. He has to balance all those things and his job depends on getting it right.