The walk-on program is important to many kids. GISH Senior, Andy Gdowski, is one of 16 walk-ons the Huskers officially weldomed into their family on Wednesday. A pretty good read on what the walk-on program means to him and how it is helping him to fulfill a life-long dream of becoming a Husker!

http://www.theindependent.com/articles/ ... 444588.txt

I'd rather not start up a debate, but to me that was a myth. I think we have some stats around somewhere. Sure maybe a little less emphasized, certainly not lost.

It is cool to see how much getting a shot means to the kids who walk-on. Make you root for them to do well when you see how important being a Husker is. I envy them a little.

Sorry, obviously I misstated the point of the article. I thought it was a great read as Gdowski is obviously very fired up. His older brother got a full ride to Colorado State so I'm sure there were full rides waiting had that been the direction that he desired to go.

Again my apologies. I didn't mean to start a war. Just thought it was a great article and I'm very fired up that more emphasis is being placed on walk ons. I changed the thread title and my initial post.

This coaching staff does a much better job of teaching.
That boosts development and utilizes walkons better.

Well said. This, to me, is the essential element of the walk-on program, and of the program under Bo in general. The emphasis is really on developing and teaching. When you approach college football (or most things in life, really) that way you make success a much more likely outcome. It is that approach that makes kids like Andy willing to walk-on - they know they'll be worked with and given every chance to compete.

That's how I look at it. This staff knows how to coach and develop players, the previous staff didn't.

It's this type of sweeping statement that makes me but we all have our own opinions. I do know walk-ons also did well under the prior coaching staff, and players were coached and developed. Certainly on defense, the coaching seems to be way ahead of where it was, but I can't make that same statement, say on the OL or at a few others positions. Carry on!

I think this staff does a great job relating to the players and generating positive expectancy and belief in addition to developing them. Confirmation came from Pelini himself in the post signing presser when he said for us recruiting doesn't end today, it's just beginning. He talked about developing and working with the new recruits as the key.

I think this staff seems like it does a better job at managing all the players. We know from several stories that the previous staff tended to focus on getting starters and key backups ready with the limited practice time. Callahan had the developmental day for developmental players. Different approaches. Walk-ons now feel like they are getting the same sort of look as potential starters. It makes you feel as though if you do well, it will be noticed more.

As far as coaching and developing players, defensively the current staff has done well. Offensively, I would say that's still in doubt.

No worries, you didn't know and you're new here. Our culture is a little different than most boards where there's a strong pro/anti lean. We strive to be here for the enjoyment of the team and talk about things pro and con in a reasonable manner. Whenever there's a good exchange or discussion on a topic, you'll see the giddy socal post talking about how he proud he is to see it.

Since you changed your OP, I changed mine.

Good article.

The walk on program has been , is now and will continue to be a very important spoke on our wheel of success.

We're basically hedging our scholarship recruiting bet. Guaranteed your going to have some of those scholarship guys never work out. Likewise you can take it to the bank a few guys will morph out of the walk on program into solid contributors.

Todd Peterson comes immediately to mind as a walk-on who more than filled the bill. As I recall, the 90's were full of great walk-ons, or at least that is how I remember it. Weren't all the Makovicka boys walk-ons?

Yes