Walk -on

Fungo,

I enjoyed your story. Have you ever heard of a situation where the walk- on actually earned a starting position?

Thanks.

Happens all the time with schools only getting a max of 11.7 scholarships. Eight of Oregon State's starters last season began there career as walk-ons. A walk-on in football will have a tough time finding playing time with 84 scholarship players to complete against. One college head coach told me he uses most of his money on pitchers. Walk-ons in baseball are needed at most colleges.

BBMagic,
I'm not privy to any information about who is a walk-on and who is a scholarship player. The only way I know his situation is because this has already been discussed on the team's website. It seems as if this young man is in line to get the starting position in RF as a walk-on. Their first game is the 13th of Feb. I'll update at that time.
Fungo

Never argue with an idiot. They drag you down to their level, then beat you with experience.

This story is very similar to that of Bruce Sprowl, a Knoxville resident. Played his high school ball at Bearden High School. All that played with or against him knew his ability. The kid was a "gamer."

Played one year at a juco transferred to a major DI as a walk-on.

Started 61 games and batted in the lead-off spot last season. Listed at 5'-9" and 170 lbs. Both might be slightly generous.

Not recruited by the local DI program, out of high school.

Oh yeah .... he plays for the LSU Tigers!

It can happen. The player needs to believe in his ability and have a strong support system around him that also believes AND is realistic about his skill level.

Bob,
"Doing nothing is still a course of action"

Bob/Fungo: Thanks for these "There's always hope stories" for those who work hard and persevere. This can be a very trying times of the year, especially when you thought you would be safe in he arms of your dream team, doing what you love the best...other than the girlfriend. All these young men need our thouhs and payers. They are in their first time at being away and are totally responsible for their actions. Hopefully, we have instilled the ground rules as they grow up. Proverbs 22:6 says, "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it. I can only hang on to this promise.

These moments will never be repeated, but always cherished. Bizazz

My good friend and former teammate .. Tommy Starck at Valparaiso University was a former walk-on .. as a junior last year he was the mid-continent co-pitcher of the year..

At UCLA last fall there were about a dozen players who walked on, and they only kept one. A youngster who is a RHP and not very big. His name is Kevin Brophy, and he was the class valedictorian in HS. Today, in a wild,walked filled high scoring game, they brought him in and he threw strikes and got his first college win in his first college appearance.

A very smart kid who knew that throwing strikes is the key, and went out and did it. He is majoring in chemical engineering and got into UCLA on his own.

quote:

---

Their first game is the 13th of Feb. I'll update at that time.

---

So? What's the verdict?



D'oh!

AT NC State here is what is on the website:

Heading into the fall, the plan was to move Camp to shortstop and have sophomore Tim Holt, a transfer from Bellevue (Wash.) Community College; freshman Bobby Hubbard, an all-state shortstop from Asheville; and redshirt-junior Matt Devine, a transfer from Allen County (Kan.) Community College and Auburn Univeristy; compete for the nod at second base.

<b>Freshman Jonathan Diaz, a walk-on</b> from Coral Gables, Fla., scrambled those plans with his dazzling defensive play at shortstop. The only question about Diaz appeared to be his offense, but he showed enough bat control and understanding of the game in the fall to win MVP honors in the Wolfpack's Fall Intersquad World Series.

"Jonathan understands the game and plays the game probably as well as anyone I've had here at NC State," Avent said. "He's a switch-hitting shortstop with outstanding hands, and great footwork and instincts. I can't say enough about how well he understands the game. He plays the game exactly the way it should be played. He's very steady."

The 2 games they have played, he has started.

Great story about the shortstop, 02 Mom.

- Fungo I'm still wondering - what's the update on your right fielder?

D'oh!

UPDATE...The young man that was a walk-on DID start in the first game of the series and went 1 for 4. He was replaced in the last part of game one and did not see action in game two and three.
Fungo

Never argue with an idiot. They drag you down to their level, then beat you with experience.

hmmm...what do you think Fungo...what's your take on this...

2004,
What's my take?

Success is never final and failure never
fatal.

Reminds me of the two toad frogs that fell into a churn of milk. One gave up and drowned within the hour while the other toad was found setting on a mound of butter the next morning!

Fungo

Never argue with an idiot. They drag you down to their level, then beat you with experience.

fungo...I was just fishing for more details...like how the two who played did...they're hitting stats...why you think he didn't play...? I'm just being nosey...


and I do know the frog story...I like that illustration...

Texas2004,
I understand your curiosity but I really don't know anything more. I can tell you he defied the odds by starting the opener in RF. We all knew on the front-end it would be an uphill battle for him. I feel sure he will continue to work hard and I’m sure good things will come his way.
Fungo

Never argue with an idiot. They drag you down to their level, then beat you with experience.