Walking on at DI School

Dad - No, he wouldn't have to sit out. He could transfer at Christmas (assuming someone signs him) and play that spring.

I know that there's situations we all hear of with a walk-on being successful, but the odds are very much against them IMO. There are also different kinds of walk ons... those that are somewhat recruited by a school, but not given any money. Then, there are walkons that go to a tryout in the fall to make the team. Most larger schools take none of those kids that come out in the fall. Especially now with their rosters being more limited. I just think it's a very risky proposition and a player needs to go in with his eyes fully open.

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Virginia Dad...

I'll piggyback that..."eyes open"....

Got a few minutes?...many of your questions and arguments from all sides of the Recruited walk on issue are included the following threads...if I were considering such a move, I'd review these three...

http://hsbaseballweb.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/6001069541/m/9991059221

http://hsbaseballweb.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/4686003481/m/9121058722

http://hsbaseballweb.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/4686003481/m/7311050422

44
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Virginia Dad, I have the same aspiration your son has. I am heading to a school in the SEC in the fall and I just couldn't pass up how much I loved the school and the academics to go to a different school to play ball. I'm hoping for the best at the walk-on tryout and good luck to your son as well.

Thanks, gametime, and best of luck to you.

Ill agree WO is a very risky approach. Gametime gives the only good reason I can think of.

Besides the money issue you will get a very limited window in which to show your talent. The NCAA contorls the workouts so tightly it would be hard to prove himself. Also the coaches have invested money in the signed players and they will get preferential treatment and consideration.
If like GT24 that is where he wants to go and the money is dropping off a tree in your back yard. Go for it.

08 position recruits are going to have a difficult time getting scholly $$$ since I would assume most D1 and D2 programs will try to tie up pitching staffs. Now with the reduced roster size to 35 players and the norm being 50% pitchers and 4 catchers that leaves basically only 16 spots remaining and only 8 scholly poitions available (27 total). I can't help but see how walk-ons won't be more in demand. With this in mind could one be recruited as a perferred walk-on with a waived fall tryout and given a guaranteed spring roster spot and this be put in writing?

Also the dynamics of the preferred walk-on player could be a welcomed option that could single an oportunity that many postion players should now really consider at schools they normally wouldn't have considered especially if they can afford the tuition.

And lastly when does a coach have to / or normally notify's his returning team players that they are being released from their scholly for next season? and is this roster of returning players required to be posted?

Why do you all keep saying "reduced roster of 35" ?---I dont know many programs carrying even that many---they only travel with 25

Understood but as I research schools of interest the rosters are listed from 35 players to as much as 46 players at some top programs.

quote:

Originally posted by RYNO:
I can't help but see how walk-ons won't be more in demand. With this in mind could one be recruited as a perferred walk-on with a waived fall tryout and given a guaranteed spring roster spot and this be put in writing?

I would be surprised if gtd roster spots would be the norm. Also does anyone know if Red-Shirts count as part of the 35 man roster.

Also the dynamics of the preferred walk-on player could be a welcomed option that could single an oportunity that many postion players should now really consider at schools they normally wouldn't have considered especially if they can afford the tuition.

And lastly when does a coach have to / or normally notify's his returning team players that they are being released from their scholly for next season? and is this roster of returning players required to be posted?

For the most part the coaches will let the player know immediately after the season, at the latest. There will also be players that will ask for their release throughout part of the summer

RYNO as I understand the schools have to give every rostered player at least 33 % of a full ride if the new rules go through. Walk ons are not a way to avoid giving out a scholarship. I believe ever player in the spring will get approx $10,000. As it is now many players get no or very little. If the rosters drop it will be due to lack of funds. If I am reading this correctly the schools will not carry kids that are not going to contribute. If so it is a shame because many have gone on to be stand outs. Most schools have cuts and red shirts at the ned of the fall so this may be affected as well. Do you carry kids that are not going to compete for a starting position ?

Bobblehead, I'm aware of one major D1 that carries a catcher on their roster that went in knowing his role was bullpen only with no hope of playing time. His goal was to build his resume and become a coach someday and he saw it as a win/win situation. We have heard of other stories of well-to-do parents helping their kids make D1 teams with the understanding that playing time is unrealistic for their sons ability level but they will get a positive college experience. I don't see a problem with these scenarios but do see the new rules affecting some of these decisions. What do think?

quote:

by ryno: when does a coach have to / or normally notify's his returning team players that they are being released from their scholly for next season? and is this roster of returning players required to be posted?

let's not get ahead of ourselves

1) returning players will be returning ...
they'll receive a letter in early July from their school's compliance office summarizing their athletic award AND noting any changes for the coming school year.
you can request a hearing if you have questions/problems - the hearing is w/AA staff not w/coach

2) a player planning to leave the program must request a release,
the request is made to the AD, the release is granted by the AD

3) "rarely" a coach may dismiss a player from his team .. usually both know it's coming & if it's not done during the season, it would happen at the exit meeting/interview at season end

4) posting of fall/spring rosters on websites is a "public courtesy"


hope that helps


TDad, Georgia Tech carries a bullpen catcher who is NOT on the roster, but is considered "student staff" along with student manager/trainer and as such could never see game time

One player I know made the roster and travel roster as a freshman. He played limited as a back up catcher. There were 7 catchers. The second year he was RS in the fall and as Bee says he was dropped at the Exit Interview. BB scholarship not renewed. I hope this turns out well for him. He was a great young man from a nationally ranked HS in TX.
He had little chance of playing so it may be for the best but it must be upsetting for him.
1 MIF who had played 2 years and was on the roster just left after fall to go play at a D1 close to home. I guess he saw the writing on the wall and had a couple strong guys in front of him. I feel the position players have it really tough if they have great guys in front of them.

My best guess is the new rules will impact rosters in a big way if put in place. Less oportunity for the guy who is going to back up a couple strong players. Pitchers probably affected as well but maybe not as much.

There will always be guys who accept that they are not starters or even back up but these new rules may force schools to do as BEE staed. STUDENT ASISTANTS

quote:

Originally posted by TRhit:
Why do you all keep saying "reduced roster of 35" ?---I dont know many programs carrying even that many---they only travel with 25

Just 3 examples:

Gators
Eaters
Beavers

Do a little research before popping off. I only had to look at 4 schools to find 3 roster greater than 35. FWIW - I was surprised to find less than 35 Frogs. They were the 1st team I checked.

dbg

Why dont you look at the "average" schools not the top 5---AND THEY CAN ONLY TRAVEL WITH 25 as is the case in the CWS

I may just have to move to Double OAK TX so I can be as smart as you DBG--YOU amaze me sometimes with you quick lip and lack of thinking

POPPING OFF-- no way--I don't live in your "know it all area"


Why do you all have to cite the major programs which are few in number and not look at the average programs where most kids end up---you are like the Dad telling his 12 year old he will be a NY Yankee---"taint going to happen in most cases

quote:

you are like the Dad telling his 12 year old he will be a NY Yankee-

Trust me when I say dbg would NEVER tell his son he would be a Yankee!!

Thanks for your support Frank.

OK - Some 'average' baseball programs. (My humble apologies to current students & alumni. No offense intended by 'average' - I inherited the characterization from TR.)

Roadrunners
Midshipmen
Eagles

These schools were randomly chosen. Rosters are a little skinnier but still greater than 35. My success rate was the same. See the 3rd school I looked at: Wildcats.

TR - this is too easy. I repeat my previous admonition. Do a little research before chiming in.

quote:

as I understand the schools have to give every rostered player at least 33 % of a full ride if the new rules go through. Walk ons are not a way to avoid giving out a scholarship.

This is not correct. Under the new rules, the max roster size is 35, the maximum number of scholarships that can be given out is 27. That leaves, for the coach that wants to carry 35 players, at least 8 players on the team who are not receiving athletic money. Whether or not you get athletic money is irrelevant to whether you are a rostered player.

RYNO is absolutely correct. A player who can come in with a full academic ride AND can play is going to be a more valued commodity because a coach is going to need to have non-athletic scholarship guys on the team if he wants to carry any more than 27 players.

Thanks for the ex[lanation. As the new rules do not affect my son I have not looked into this.
I got my impression from a magor D1 coach saying that some of the great ball players would have been excluded by the new scholarship rules. If they are givinjg out a total of 27 possible scholarships withy a max of 11.7 fill rides there may be more than 8 without money. I can see how this is much different than before. The only thing is the max 35 roster.

BHD, yeah, my understanding is that it is the 35 man roster that is bothering a lot of them. The school my son is going to normally rosters less than 35.

a few more presumably "average" programs - (by dbg standards)


Virginia - 33

Wake - 33

Clemson - 34

Georgia Tech - 35

Vandy - 36

the 35 man roaster is bothering coaches who can't/won't evaluate players before they recruit them ... so they mis-lead, mis-represent, then bring in a cattle call and cut 10 or 20

DBG

Funny aside to your attitude---I was in yesterday for a battery of tests and the technician had what I thought was a Texas accent so I asked her where in Texas she was from. Her answewr was a very terse " Don't you dare call me a Texan, I am from Arkansas" --- I asked did she have a problem with Texans? She answered "Definitely--they think they have all the answers just because of the size of the state---it matches their ego's"---no kidding that is a true story---I nearly fell off the table laughing---I told I know a few of them---LOL

Come on now, bee. Each of the teams you list made the NCAA tourney. None of my 'average' teams saw NCAA post-season play.

quote:

by dbg: Come on now, bee. Each of the teams you list made the NCAA tourney. None of my 'average' teams saw NCAA post-season play.

my point was that the programs I listed (and many others) work hard to identify, recruit, and bring in only the guys they want. their records show they can win that way.

that type of coach won't bothered at all by the 35 limit -
and ... their method shows they care about the kids
they do NOT routinely cut 10 - 15 whom they had "courted/recruited/promised" each fall only to send them elswhere

the other type deserves to be bothered


jmo

bee - my bad. I missed your intent.

tr - More bait. This is the last time I bite.

I don't know everything & didn't know how common the 35+ player roster was. Contrary to your approach I chose to research some college rosters to test the validity of your observation. Once researched I reported my findings.

With regard to your Texas comments, your insults fall on deaf ears. I'm not a native Texan, but I'm glad I live here.

dbg

I see you do as much research as you accuse me of not doing

The story was not meant as an insult but a fact of discussion-- no research needed

Bobble....
I have always heard that very few (if any) kids get full rides - is thgis true?

Also the new rules about grades and having to sit out a year, cant transfer, if ur grades are bad. Does this apply to all schools? DI DII DII and JUCO or only D1?

quote:

Why do you all keep saying "reduced roster of 35" ?---I dont know many programs carrying even that many---

Not to pick sides but my IMPRESSION when I read TR's comment above was "What rosters has he been looking at???" It seems to me from the various rosters I've skimmed through, the average size would be about 35-40. Some are 40+, some are <35 but it seemed like most were in the 35-40 range so TR's revelation kind of shocked me.

It doesn't prove he's senile or that DBG is "right" and I'm not sure what it's worth but the CWS teams had the following roster sizes:

34, 35, 38 (3), 41, 42, 44



Back on topic for VirginiaDad....I think there has been a considerable amount of "Walk-On" discussion here and it seems like the chances are pretty slim unless it's a preferred WO situation.

quote:

by beeze: It doesn't prove he's senile or that DBG is "right" and I'm not sure what it's worth but the CWS teams had the following roster sizes: 34, 35, 38 (3), 41, 42, 44

hmmm, just wondering which coast it was that stock-piled players?

quote:

She answered "Definitely--they think they have all the answers just because of the size of the state---it matches their ego's"---no kidding that is a true story

She's right.

quote:

Originally posted by Bee>:
hmmm, just wondering which coast it was that stock-piled players?

I forget who they all were now but think OSU had 42.