[Husker] Pelini Article

[Mike Nolan]

>       It is very possible many schools don't open up their program that 
> anyone that wants to come out for football can do that.  It is likely 
> many schools only allow those out for football that are on scholarship.  
> 85 players suited up for a game is a lot of players.  My guess are most 
> of the the National powers operate this way.  

And I think you would be wrong.  Last year I recall seeing a list of 
the walkons at all of the Big 10 schools (though several of the schools 
didn't call them that, they called them something more prosaic like 
"Players not on athletic scholarships".)  Even Northwestern had a couple 
of them.

Wait a few weeks then check into the full team rosters at the schools in the
Top 10 (which I think get put on the NCAA's website), I'll be surprised if 
any of them are much under 100.

Now, these schools might not suit up 85 players for every home game, but 
Nebraska hasn't always suited up everybody on the roster, either.  (They 
probably suited up most of them, because part of what made the walkon 
program so special and successful was that many if not most of the walkon 
players got to run on to the field before the game, participate in 
warmups, etc, all of which made them feel like they belonged and were
important.  Which they did and which they were.
--
Mike Nolan