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Topic: Arkley's Messenger article on Ohio's walk-on program

Topic: Arkley's Messenger article on Ohio's walk-on program

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Ted Thompson
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Member Since: 11/11/2004
Location: MAC Play
Post Count: 7,720

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Arkley's Messenger article on Ohio's walk-on program

Posted: 8/18/2013 1:59:23 PM

L.C. has often posted about the importance of Ohio's walk-on program. Jason Arkley did a great article about it today's Messenger,

http://www.athensohiotoday.com/sports/ohiouniversity/strength-from-within/article_da9f0c29-d63e-5c94-90f5-1bf3bb4be709.html

He lists all the walk-ons who have earned scholarships under Solich. 32 players, which I found to be an amazing number. In the article, Solich talks about the benefits of a strong walk-on program. Not the least of which is that it allows you to build depth in your program without having to go the JUCO route to plug holes. Give the article a read.

Follow Ohio Football recruiting on the BobcatAttack.com football recruiting database.

MonroeClassmate
General User

Member Since: 8/31/2010
Post Count: 2,165

Status: Offline

RE: Arkley's Messenger article on Ohio's walk-on program

Posted: 8/18/2013 6:21:12 PM

And typically you are getting a young man that chose OHIO then football so there is often the love for school. I'd bet that a number of them having played in high school and weren't scholly types but didn't want to go D-III sat in the stands during their freshman year and came to realize how much they missed the sport. That would be a powerful motivator especially with the winning ways of these Bobcats--the walk-ons love to complete.

L.C.
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Member Since: 8/31/2005
Location: United States
Post Count: 10,497

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RE: Arkley's Messenger article on Ohio's walk-on program

Posted: 8/18/2013 9:48:55 PM

The walkon program is self-propagating, too. Because they have given 32 scholarships to walkons, the best, most driven potential walkons are attracted to Ohio because they know that if they produce, they will be rewarded. At some schools they may take walkons, but walkons are used primarily for practice fodder. If you watch the videos of the drills you see that at Ohio the walkons go through exactly the same drills, and are treated with exactly the same respect. I remember clearly seeing Scipio in "Relentless" last year, being moved from running back to DB, and being encouraged by the other DB's. Last year he earned playing time. This year he's earned a scholarship.

A less obvious benefit to the walkon program is the impact they have on the attitude throughout the program. The walkons come in knowing they have to prove they deserve a scholarship, and trying to get one by out-working everyone else. That hard-working blue-collar attitude becomes the attitude of the whole team, and everyone works harder, and gets better. It's a win-win situation.

A potential negative is that as result of giving out an average of 4 scholarships a year to walkons, Ohio can recruit 4 less Freshmen a year. That, in turn, causes Ohio's recruiting classes to be ranked lower by the recruiting services than they otherwise would be. Does that really matter, though? The 4 scholarships a year end up going to players that are known to deserve it, players you know are going to contribute. Personally I'll gladly take players like Paul Hershey, Ryan Senser, Dak Notestine, and Corey Hastings, that I know will produce, rather than an equal number of unknown and untested Freshmen.

In the end, the only real negative of the walk-on program is that it keeps Ted guessing - he never can keep the scholarship table on his recruiting page 100% accurate.

�We have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak.� ― Epictetus

L.C.
General User

Member Since: 8/31/2005
Location: United States
Post Count: 10,497

Status: Offline

RE: Arkley's Messenger article on Ohio's walk-on program

Posted: 8/19/2013 4:36:57 PM

Going through the list of 32, there are a couple players I never knew were considered walkons in the first place. Blankenship and Bower I thought were offered scholarships as a part of their agreement to transfer. There are others that I never had a clue were awarded scholarship, and I don't think Ted did, either. Keenen Chapman, George Batsakes, Kevin Culver and Andy Fay come to mind. Most of the other names Ted and I have managed to figure out over the years, though.

In any case, congratulations to all of them. Their hard work is the kind of effort that has pushed Ohio to the top of the MAC.

�We have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak.� ― Epictetus

The Optimist
General User

Member Since: 3/16/2007
Location: CLE
Post Count: 5,595

Status: Offline

RE: Arkley's Messenger article on Ohio's walk-on program

Posted: 8/19/2013 6:03:49 PM

This is the sign of a good football program. This takes time to build and many MAC coaching staffs are in and out so quick they don't have time build something like this.

This will continue to pay dividends for us.

I've seen crazier things happen.

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