Hudspeth identifies with walk-on players

[NewsCopy]

He doesn't exactly belong to the club. But he may as well be an honorary member.

So when he's able to finally award a scholarship to one of his walk-ons at UL, Ragin' Cajuns head football coach Mark Hudspeth feels a kinship.

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[Lexhead]

When does a walk-on deserve a scholarship? After he letters twice? When he earns a starting spot?

What do you think of a coach that starts a walk-on, but doesn't give him the scholarship?

[Turbine]

When does a walk-on deserve a scholarship? After he letters twice? When he earns a starting spot?

What do you think of a coach that starts a walk-on, but doesn't give him the scholarship?

To me, it depends in part on the players finances

[CajunEXPRESS]

No, it should never be about the players parents ability to support him. IMO a walk on is a try out, if you make the team and contribute beyond simply practice you deserve a scholarship. I understand that coaches make commitments to high school players to join the team, but many never produce on the field, and it just seems a little unfair, and unethical to use a kid on the field of battle and not reward him with a scholarship. That scholarship means more than just money, it means you earned your way on the team, and are being recognized for the hard work.

[Turbine]

Player finances would include existing educational scholarships.

In the end scholarships come down to an either or proposition.

[Lexhead]

I can see why you say that T. You are looking at it from the perspective of the program. You can get a kid for "free" if a scholarship isn't needed to hold him. Look at it it from the perspective of the kid instead. I can't speak to the way Hud handles his business because I just don't know, but in many organizations the walk-ons are not treated the same as the scholly players. That may be because most of the walk-ons don't stick, or it may be because most walk-ons won't ever be anything but glorified tackling dummies. That scholarship makes you a part of that team. Without it, you are always just a little less. For a walk-on to earn his scholarship is the ultimate goal. Those walk-ons take a beating ... sometimes for years. To put a kid through that and then now reward him when he comes through the other side and contributes to your program seems wrong to me.

[CajunEXPRESS]

Turbine once you make the team, no other academic scholarships can be kept. NCAA says if he is on the team in basketball, or football the kid pays his own way or on a scholarship. I mean really there are lots of smart kids who could give up their scholarships in football and get some other grant and aid to help their team, but the NCAA says no.

I think they are allowed a Pell grant regardless of athletic scholarship or not.

[CajunAmos]

Actually, athletes can make use of any type of scholarship or grant that any other student can.

http://www.ncaa.org/wps/wcm/connect/...olarships+work

[VObserver]

Pell Grants are allowable, as are scholarships clearly not associated with the school. (eg: GI bill in any form, academic scholarship through parent's employer, TOPS, etc.) Academic scholarships from the school or booster not allowed.

[CajunAmos]

Pell Grants are allowable, as are scholarships clearly not associated with the school. (eg: GI bill in any form, academic scholarship through parent's employer, TOPS, etc.) Academic scholarships from the school or booster not allowed.

I thought this was sport specific, and depended on the total amount of athletic scholarship money received. I thought they set a number, and if your athletic scholarship money was less than the total acceptable, then other scholarships could be used to make up the difference. I know baseball, with only 11.7 scholarships available for a 35 man roster, has folks who are on academic scholarships.

[VObserver]

I thought this was sport specific, and depended on the total amount of athletic scholarship money received. I thought they set a number, and if your athletic scholarship money was less than the total acceptable, then other scholarships could be used to make up the difference. I know baseball, with only 11.7 scholarships available for a 35 man roster, has folks who are on academic scholarships.

If they have an academic scholarship from the school it is counted as an athletic scholarship. TOPS is from the state, not the school, so it is allowable. There are lots of academic scholarships out there that ARE allowable and lots of partial scholarship sports staffs that are very good at finding them and helping their players get them. But if it is from the University or a booster, it is a no-no. I am very certain this is true if the athlete receives any athletic scholarship money.

It is possible that such scholarships are allowable for true walk on players; but you can bet that the NCAA is watching very closely if a contributing player is getting money from the school in any way that might be seen as an attempt to circumvent the scholarship limits.