Coach and Ozzy Returning to Survivor?

If you're a big Survivor fan you've probably been glancing at the spoiler websites and Reality TV journals, you've probably heard the rumours. Chances are you, the reader, are one of the many fans who disliked CBS' past season of Survivor (disliked may be an understatement here). I'm going to spare you the criticism now that Redemption Island has come and gone and just focus on the next.

Although, that's easier said than done, considering the format for the next season is identical to last season's critical failure. For the twenty-second season, the producers brought back "Boston" Rob Mariano and Russel Hantz; two former Survivors claiming to be the best. In this upcoming season, Survivor: South Pacific (which takes place in Samoa again), two former Survivors will be coming back at their shot at redemption, once again. The Redemption Island twist will also still be in effect. Word around the internet is that Benjamin "Coach" Wade from Survivor: Tocantins and Heroes vs. Villians and also Oscar "Ozzy" Lusth from Cook Islands and Micronesia will be brought back for a second chance. Other than a few apparent "reliable sources" (two nerds on the internet), there does not seem to be much proof supporting these claims. But these reports have exploded among the Survivor fan-sites and more and more followers are reporting these claims as fact.

I, for one, am patient and can wait until the contestants are officially announced, but these rumours just don't seem that believable. There doesn't appear to be a point in bringing back Coach and Ozzy as a pair. Rob and Russel were brought back last season because they both claimed to be the best Survivors ever to play the game and during the HvV reunion show an open challenge was made. That challenge was for the two veterans to duke it out in a future season and see who truly is the best Survivor. Of course, Jeff Probst loved it and made it happen in Redemption Island. This leads me to believe that the next RI season should follow a similar theme with two, somewhat similar returnees. As far as I am concerned, everyone has forgotten about Ozzy since his time in Micronesia. He was a strong competitor in the challenges but other than that, his game has been overshadowed by more recent players. Coach, on the other hand, is a player who is still quite fresh in everyone's mind (and in the media) and will definitely gain the show some ratings due to his wacky character.

But what do Coach and Ozzy have to "redeem"? That idea eludes me.
In the Survivor: South Pacific preview, Jeff specifically mentions that the two returnees will need to redeem themselves. My theory is that they'll bringing back former contestants who very well may have had a shot at the million, eff'd up their strategy, thus getting themselves booted from the game during their season. If you're one of the hard-core fans who analyze every preview diligently, you may have noticed a few things. After Jeff says: "They will be joined by two returning players who will be seeking their own shot at redemption..." the video immediately shows some blurred clips of Matt and Andrea from the previous season. Although this does not necessarily mean they will be in the show, it does hint at the theme the producers are going for. Also seen in this trailer are Erik Reichenbach, and someone who looks a lot like Russel Swan. All of these players would fit the bill of someone in need of redemption (except maybe Andrea).

What do you think?