So a Preferred Walk On isn't an Offer of any kind, just a statement that that team will let you dress for them and work out with them. So what is the benefit?

So a Preferred Walk On isn't an Offer of any kind, just a statement that that team will let you dress for them and work out with them. So what is the benefit?

 

Depends. Jarrod Polson was initially a PWO until a scholarship opened up at the last minute. His dream was to be a UK Wildcat and he had chosen to be a PWO at UK and turned down a scholarship offer from Liberty to have a chance to fulfill his dreams. Granted he got a scholarship but had he not he still would have been a national champ at UK. Each kid with their dreams and aspirations are different.

Be very very careful when it comes to taking a NAIA "scholarship" instead. Campbellsville signed a girl in the past few years and she never played a down.

 

I know several kids that played for schools like Lindsey, Campbellsville, etc., and didn't stick around (not just for football, but a variety of sports). Several found their way back closer to home at a state school ... yet still had a ton of debt from the small private school they were out (not to mention credits which might not transfer and classes that might not count toward getting an associates/bachelors/masters, etc).

 

You might play more, sure.

 

But just because you're playing at a lower level and NOT sitting the bench as a walk-on at a D-I might NOT mean you made the right decision FINANCIALLY.

Be very very careful when it comes to taking a NAIA "scholarship" instead. Campbellsville signed a girl in the past few years and she never played a down.

 

I know several kids that played for schools like Lindsey, Campbellsville, etc., and didn't stick around (not just for football, but a variety of sports). Several found their way back closer to home at a state school ... yet still had a ton of debt from the small private school they were out (not to mention credits which might not transfer and classes that might not count toward getting an associates/bachelors/masters, etc).

 

You might play more, sure.

 

But just because you're playing at a lower level and NOT sitting the bench as a walk-on at a D-I might NOT mean you made the right decision FINANCIALLY.

 

Those NAIA JV partials they dole out to local kids to boost up the rosters with local representation are some of my favorites. Unless that kid is rolling in academic grant money, they're going to be paying as much or more than if they'd just went to Western or Eastern in the first place and didn't play.

 

The PWO isn't a bad gig if you're a motivated worker who can juggle the time and the finances. A lot of kids get picked up at least partially by their junior years if they're regular contributors.

So a Preferred Walk On isn't an Offer of any kind, just a statement that that team will let you dress for them and work out with them. So what is the benefit?

The benefit is you get a chance. Yeah, you could walk on somewhere smaller. But why would you go to UK where no one knows anything about you and only have a few weeks to prove yourself. Especially when you could go to Michigan where a coach already knows about you and you'll get a couple months to show your worth instead of a couple weeks. It's about the opportunity. If you don't take it, you'll always have that what if. if it doesn't work, you can always try again somewhere else!

Most of the kids in the NAIA programs are paying to play. They have to fill roster spots to practice and a lot of kids are ok with the debt to have a chance to put on the uniform for 4 more years. The kids that these schools really want end up getting very expensive educations for $0. Even though there is a max amount of dollars for NAIA scholarships athletically $10000 I believe there are pretty deep funding for those they believe will truly help the program. It's actually pretty interesting to see how these packages are put together.

This has bothered me for some time. How all the small colleges in Ky who most are connected to some religious denomination do this JV deal to me is just plain immoral.

They give a kid a couple thousand dollars in scholarship money, the kid gives them 10,000 and the kid gets to say they played college ball. Very few if any ever move up to ever play on the varsity and get any real money. The schools know what the score is. They get enrollment and money in exchange for extending a dream that they know is likely not to end well. I think this is a farce that should end at all our small colleges.

This has bothered me for some time. How all the small colleges in Ky who most are connected to some religious denomination do this JV deal to me is just plain immoral. They give a kid a couple thousand dollars in scholarship money' date=' the kid gives them 10,000 and the kid gets to say they played college ball. Very few if any ever move up to ever play on the varsity and get any real money. The schools know what the score is. They get enrollment and money in exchange for extending a dream that they know is likely not to end well. I think this is a farce that should end at all our small colleges.[/quote']

 

Let's assume the coach doesn't tell the kid he is varsity. How is it immoral ?

I think the coaches know that most if not all of these kids have no chance to ever play varsity. At the local college in my area they have taken several kids who cannot even play on there high school team. I have been told by one coach that the college gives them a number they need to get and if they don't get that many kids they are going to be in trouble. IMO the JV basketball programs are just a way to raise funds, and increase enrollment by giving these students a small discount on tuition in exchange for chasing a dream that the college knows is not going to happen. I think if the college wanted to tell the kid that in the last 10 years we have had 1 or 2 or 0 kids move from JV to varsity and receive more substantial scholarship money I would be OK with it. But IMO for religiously connected schools to use the JV program to raise money and enrollment in this manner knowing there is little or no chance these kids can move up is immoral.

In the Spring of 1991 there was a plan presented to the governor by a football staff member at the University of Kentucky to start programs at all Community College Systems throughout the State (12) total programs. At that time there were not many schools in Kentucky that had gotten their NAIA programs up and running. This staff member felt that there was great deal of talent in Kentucky that just had not been full developed, and maybe with a couple of years they would be college ready. If not for UK, but for any program that offered Grant in Aide. Bottom line it was money to start the programs, even though it could have been done and still should be done, unless it is the right persons' idea then it will never happen. It saddens me that players from across the state that could benefit from a couple of more years of school to get an associates degree, or even to get a Division I offer it just would give players more opportunities. There are literary 100's of players in KY that could play if given the opportunity. I have talked to my Senator on a number of occasions about this and he says there is no money? I just tell him we are failing many kids that just need the same opportunity that they have in states like Indiana, California,Mississippi, Florida, Georgia, Texas, and many more. If you live in South Carolina and go to a public college, as long as you pass with a C average, tuition is free.

I totally agree!

In the Spring of 1991 there was a plan presented to the governor by a football staff member at the University of Kentucky to start programs at all Community College Systems throughout the State (12) total programs. At that time there were not many schools in Kentucky that had gotten their NAIA programs up and running. This staff member felt that there was great deal of talent in Kentucky that just had not been full developed, and maybe with a couple of years they would be college ready. If not for UK, but for any program that offered Grant in Aide. Bottom line it was money to start the programs, even though it could have been done and still should be done, unless it is the right persons' idea then it will never happen. It saddens me that players from across the state that could benefit from a couple of more years of school to get an associates degree, or even to get a Division I offer it just would give players more opportunities. There are literary 100's of players in KY that could play if given the opportunity. I have talked to my Senator on a number of occasions about this and he says there is no money? I just tell him we are failing many kids that just need the same opportunity that they have in states like Indiana, California,Mississippi, Florida, Georgia, Texas, and many more. If you live in South Carolina and go to a public college, as long as you pass with a C average, tuition is free.

 

Would these have been junior college-type teams?

Jim, these would of been Community College teams, like City-College of SanFrancisco. I am pretty sure that Mississippi still does this but will only take Lineman from out of State no skill guys. I Still like the idea 24 years later. More player playing!

Jim, these would of been Community College teams, like City-College of SanFrancisco. I am pretty sure that Mississippi still does this but will only take Lineman from out of State no skill guys. I Still like the idea 24 years later. More player playing!

 

I meant in that would they be 2-year programs or 4-year. Kind of thinking of the old Paducah Junior College where an old roommate played baseball.

Only three community colleges in Kentucky that I know of -- Elizabethtown, West Kentucky and Jefferson -- have sports.

 

ECTC has men's basketball and both soccer.

WKCTC has men's basketball and cheerleading.

Jefferson has men's basketball.

 

That's it.

 

I think they could start an in-state CC men's basketball league. Maybe women's hoops too if they could get the interest.

 

Football would take a while -- and a ton of money -- to pull off.