Wednesday, May 3.2000
The University Daily Kansan
Section B · Page 3
3
Walk-ons' efforts see little glory
Continued from page 1B
The ultimate payoff both for the school and player may come when a walk-on's work is so noteworthy that he earns a scholarship.
"There is probably nothing more gratifying than a young man that comes in, chooses to come to the University of Kansas, and to have enough success that he earns a scholarship." Allen said. "That's a great story."
The walk-ons dedicate as much time to football as the scholarship players — 10 hours to 18 hours per week in the off season alone. The players commit time to practice, mandatory weight workouts and meetings, and they must work classes around that schedule.
Withers is a junior who played high school ball at Shawnee Mission Northwest. He spent most of his time last fall in the weight room with other walk-ons who were trying to get their weight up before practice began. After putting in the hours lifting weights to increase strength, the coaches allowed Withers to start taking part in practice. After almost two years in the program, the spring scrimmage was the first game action Withers experienced as a Jayhawk.
Like Currier, Withers sacrifices because of his passion for the game.
"This is one of the most important things in my life, probably second only to my family," he said. "It means more to me than anything, just the fact that I'm out here doing something I love so much. Being a part of all this, out here with all the guys, running hard, just trying, that's what it's all about. I just want
to run out of that tunnel once wearing that shiny blue helmet."
After they spend one year in the program, Allen allows walk-ons to suit up for home games. It is only in a player's first season, either as a walk-on or a red-shirt, that he doesn't sit up.
Withers admitted that when reality sets in, all the work and no glory can be disappointing.
"We've sat around and talked about it before," he said. "We all know that you can be here for four or five years and beat yourself
Goodrich: a walk on who should receive a scholarship after his performance in the spring game.
to death and the closest you'll ever come to seeing the field is dressing out on the sideline. It's almost a feeling of blind faith. You just hang on to that shred of hope."
Senior quarterback Dylan Smith said he definitively would not play football if he wasn't on scholarship.
"No way, no way." he said. "There is just no way that I'd play without a scholarship. You have to work harder than the scholarship players, basically get no rest in practice, and the coaches just make you keep going. Plus, there is hardly any recognition or media attention."
Senior tight-end Jason Gulley echoed Smith's sentiments.
"I wouldn't walk on anywhere,
he said. "I'd never be able to afford
college without a scholarship. Football is very time consuming and I think a walk-on has other normal student stuff to worry about — working, classes, whatever."
Junior wide receiver Harrison Hill is on scholarship, but he knows how much the walk-ons contribute to the team.
"I think they're real important," Hill said. "You need them every day in practice, whether they're on the scout team, or whatever they're doing. You need the walk-onts to go out there and make you better. That's fundamental on every team: to have the walk-onts go out there and work hard."
Although Allen's policy may be more liberal than many other Big 12 programs, he is not alone in refusing to cut anyone who wants to work hard and be part of the team.
According to Big 12 media relations director Bo Carter, every program relies on walk ons. No school in the Big 12 cuts walk-ons unless it is under penalty from the NCAA and needs to limit the number of players on its team.
The hard work does have some tangible benefits. The walk-ons are part of the team. They receive the same equipment and use all the facilities, from the weight room to the whirlpool, that the scholarship players do. They also have access to the academic support system, which includes tutors and first crack at classes in enrollment.
The end of the rainbow for a walkon is when he earns a scholarship. More often than some might think, walk-on does get scholarships.
Rob Bolks said there were usually three or four athletes a semester who began as walk-ons but earned scholarships through hard work and improvement on the field. Recent former walk-ons who earned scholarships include senior
Director of football operations
wide receiver
A l g e n
Williams and
junior tight-
end Steve
Kullberg.
One player in line to earn a scholarship soon is sophomore wide receiver Barry Goodrich. After his performance in the spring
game where he led the Jayhawks in receiving with four catches for 54 yards, Goodrich's scholarship may come sooner rather than later.
Currier: is in his third season as a walk-on to the football team.
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Goodrich played high school football in Middleton, Wis., and is one of the fastest players on the team. He said he walked on because he thought he could compete at this level and did not want to give the game up.
"It's beneficial all the way around," Goodrich said. "It's enjoyable. I don't regret anything in the past. I just waited on my opportunity. I knew it would come some day and I told myself I'd make the most of it. I just like being part of the team and doing what I can for them. It's always fun to contribute."
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