I will probably get roasted for this but it is what it is.
There have been numerous threads about the walk-on program and how it hasn't been the same since Osborne left. Fans have pontificated on how to get it back to being as effective as it once was. The excuses have common underlying themes such as new coaches not embracing the tradition; not enough focus on developing the walk-on program; isolating them; not enough focus on offering qualified Nebraskans; the high cost of tuition paired with FCS schools having solid success and thus have been offering Nebraskans scholarships which is difficult to turn down.
One of the elements of the walk-on program that can’t be replicated is due to the fact that people tend to forget Tom Osborne was called “Dr. Osborne” for a reason. Coach has a Masters and a Ph. D. in Educational Psychology and is extremely intelligent. He had the support of the university and an uncanny ability to identify the potential walk-ons and he created a support structure in order to develop those kids. However, when you drill down into what Coach did with the walk-ons was brilliant.
Coach knew home-grown Nebraskans had the brains, physical characteristics and work ethic but didn’t have the extra "star" to garner a scholarship. So when walk-ons joined the program they were treated as equals and would be paired up with scholarship guys and sometimes they roomed together. Coach learned they would feed off of each other; a trade-off of sorts – inherently gaining certain traits from each other including their approach to academics - developing their minds - learning the Nebraska way. After a couple of years in the program Coach knew the cream would rise to the top and some of the walk-ons developed into depth chart guys but they all weren't a sure thing.
He would comingle new walk-ons with veteran walk-ons and scholarship guys and there was chemistry being developed from top to bottom. An understanding that they were all vital to the success of the program. It was one of the building blocks of the culture within Nebraska’s program. The walk-on program is not simply offering a bunch of preferred walk-ons to Nebraskans. It's about treating them as equals and allowing chemistry to development and ultimately evolved into the complete development, maturation and implementation with scholarship players within the program and to be bought in by everyone in the university.
There have been numerous threads about the walk-on program and how it hasn't been the same since Osborne left. Fans have pontificated on how to get it back to being as effective as it once was. The excuses have common underlying themes such as new coaches not embracing the tradition; not enough focus on developing the walk-on program; isolating them; not enough focus on offering qualified Nebraskans; the high cost of tuition paired with FCS schools having solid success and thus have been offering Nebraskans scholarships which is difficult to turn down.
One of the elements of the walk-on program that can’t be replicated is due to the fact that people tend to forget Tom Osborne was called “Dr. Osborne” for a reason. Coach has a Masters and a Ph. D. in Educational Psychology and is extremely intelligent. He had the support of the university and an uncanny ability to identify the potential walk-ons and he created a support structure in order to develop those kids. However, when you drill down into what Coach did with the walk-ons was brilliant.
Coach knew home-grown Nebraskans had the brains, physical characteristics and work ethic but didn’t have the extra "star" to garner a scholarship. So when walk-ons joined the program they were treated as equals and would be paired up with scholarship guys and sometimes they roomed together. Coach learned they would feed off of each other; a trade-off of sorts – inherently gaining certain traits from each other including their approach to academics - developing their minds - learning the Nebraska way. After a couple of years in the program Coach knew the cream would rise to the top and some of the walk-ons developed into depth chart guys but they all weren't a sure thing.
He would comingle new walk-ons with veteran walk-ons and scholarship guys and there was chemistry being developed from top to bottom. An understanding that they were all vital to the success of the program. It was one of the building blocks of the culture within Nebraska’s program. The walk-on program is not simply offering a bunch of preferred walk-ons to Nebraskans. It's about treating them as equals and allowing chemistry to development and ultimately evolved into the complete development, maturation and implementation with scholarship players within the program and to be bought in by everyone in the university.