[Husker] Summarizing

[Bob Beach]

      We were discussing the walk on program last weekend.  I am not 
trying to have the last word but as I think about things I am not sure I 
did a good job of explaining myself.  First and foremost I am not 
against the walk on program.  If the team can find a diamond in the 
rough on occasion and at the same time make the fans feel good I am all 
for it.  My feeling, though it helps on occasion, if the NCAA would rule 
that walk on programs be eliminated would it severely hinder the Husker 
program?  I really doubt it.  That is really all I was trying to say.


     I also made the statement that with the walk on program population 
were the school is located shouldn't be a huge factor.  I know on the 
list the sentiment was what kind of dummy is this guy?  Of course if you 
have more people there are more to pick from.  It's that obvious.  Bob 
just doesn't get it.  Here is where I was coming from.  When you are 
talking recruiting then population ala Texas, Ohio State, USC, Florida, 
Florida State, and the like have an advantage in that they don't have to 
travel as far to recruit.  Pete Carroll has more quality recruits in the 
city of Los Angeles than NU has in the whole state of Nebraska.  That, 
and the recruits build a base that want to go to those schools from a 
large population base.  I get that. Walk ons don't come from the general 
population.  They come from the student population.


      But, schools are not limited to recruiting within the boundaries 
of the state they are in.  NU can recruit the same kids as can any other 
school.  They may have to travel farther to do it but they can do it.  
With the exception of a few years NU seems to recruit very well.  So, 
now you recruit and fill out your 85 scholarships which would consist of 
Freshman, Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors.  Every school can have 85 
players on scholarship so no one is at an advantage that way.  Now, 
after all that is done you can take walk ons.  And, one would want to 
limit how many can walk on.  It really wouldn't be too manageable if 200 
kids walked on and your first priority is still the scholarship 
players.  I can see where a walk on program can be helpful and can see 
where you may get to rely on it somewhat.  But if it is vital I am not 
convinced.  Because of what I just mentioned I don't still see why NU 
needs walk ons to stay competitive any more than anyone else.  If they 
have walk ons and they help then great.  But is it essential to NU's 
success?


      Thanks for allowing me to ramble.  I really appreciated all of the 
comments on this.  Obviously, I don't agree with some of the opinions 
but if everyone agreed all the time lists like this would be pretty 
dull.  This may not be my last word on wal ons forever but I'll drop it 
now for a while.


Bob Beach