[yvonne]

Sam Shober from Archbishop Murphy in Everett, Washington will be a preferred walk-on. Given Stanford's financial aid situation, just what exactly is a preferred walk on?

http://heraldnet.com/article/20120330/BL...7/sports01

[yvonne]

Sam Shober from Archbishop Murphy in Everett, Washington will be a preferred walk-on. Given Stanford's financial aid situation, just what exactly is a preferred walk on?

http://heraldnet.com/article/20120330/BL...7/sports01

[washingtonismoney]

It means you're first in line to pick up any spare scholarships that happen to crop up in the normal attrition of things.

[washingtonismoney]

It means you're first in line to pick up any spare scholarships that happen to crop up in the normal attrition of things.

[FarmBoy]

My impression of a preferred walk on is that you will have a guaranteed spot on the team, but no promises of a scholarship. Many players "walk on" but have to try out to prove they belong on the roster. Being a preferred walk-on just means that if you make it through camp and stick with the team, you'll be given a uniform and allowed to be on the sideline during games.

But a non-preferred walk-on can jump you in the pecking order and pick up a scholarship, should on become available.

[FarmBoy]

My impression of a preferred walk on is that you will have a guaranteed spot on the team, but no promises of a scholarship. Many players "walk on" but have to try out to prove they belong on the roster. Being a preferred walk-on just means that if you make it through camp and stick with the team, you'll be given a uniform and allowed to be on the sideline during games.

But a non-preferred walk-on can jump you in the pecking order and pick up a scholarship, should on become available.

[yvonne]

But what does it functionally mean given Stanford's generous financial packages to all students? What does it mean as far as rules concerning eligibility, practice time? What does it functionally mean?

[yvonne]

But what does it functionally mean given Stanford's generous financial packages to all students? What does it mean as far as rules concerning eligibility, practice time? What does it functionally mean?

[Farm93]

The bigger news seemed to be that he was accepted to Stanford University.  The football stuff is just an extra bonus.  The walk-on with an invite is one that will get to practice, get access to the coaches, etc.  A lot of kids played football in high school.  Most would not be assured they would get that access to the program even if the future student expressed an interest in joining the team. 

[Farm93]

The bigger news seemed to be that he was accepted to Stanford University.  The football stuff is just an extra bonus.  The walk-on with an invite is one that will get to practice, get access to the coaches, etc.  A lot of kids played football in high school.  Most would not be assured they would get that access to the program even if the future student expressed an interest in joining the team. 

[fullmetal]

It probably means that Shober will be given as much FAFSA aid as he qualifies for, and then he'll be given the option of covering the rest with work-study, loans, or personal resources.  I doubt he'll have to pay full price.

[fullmetal]

It probably means that Shober will be given as much FAFSA aid as he qualifies for, and then he'll be given the option of covering the rest with work-study, loans, or personal resources.  I doubt he'll have to pay full price.

[unclechuck]

In addition to the financial aspects that Yvonne is digging into, I seem to recall that there are NCAA related issues with preferred vs eu-walkons. Stuff like transfer & eligibility, when you can practice with the team (I believe even preferred walk-ons can't attend early Fall camp). So, my impression is that in the NCAA's eyes they do have some quasi-official status that may come from something like who contacted who first, or who made an official (i.e. paid) visit.

I think this was kicked around a couple of years ago when we had a particularly flush collection of preferred types. If someone is on top of this it would be nice to know.

[unclechuck]

In addition to the financial aspects that Yvonne is digging into, I seem to recall that there are NCAA related issues with preferred vs eu-walkons. Stuff like transfer & eligibility, when you can practice with the team (I believe even preferred walk-ons can't attend early Fall camp). So, my impression is that in the NCAA's eyes they do have some quasi-official status that may come from something like who contacted who first, or who made an official (i.e. paid) visit.

I think this was kicked around a couple of years ago when we had a particularly flush collection of preferred types. If someone is on top of this it would be nice to know.

[terry]

"Preferred walk-on" seems to mean whatever a school wants it to mean. There's no fixed meaning, so far as I can tell. However, there are a couple of things that often are involved in being a "preferred walk-on."

"Preferred walk-on" can mean that a player is guaranteed a spot on the team. At some schools, being invited to walk on is really just an invitation to a try-out, with the walk-ons at risk of being cut.

"Preferred walk-on" also can mean that the player is guaranteed a spot on the 105-player roster. Under NCAA rules, the number of players in fall camp cannot exceed 105. Once classes start, the 105-player limit no longer applies. At a school on the quarter system, classes don't start until the team has played 2 or 3 games, so players who are not on the 105-man roster must miss several games. For the last few years, Stanford has had more than 105 players on the roster. Unless several players get injured and miss fall camp, it's possible that a few of the walk-ons may have to miss fall camp and the first few games.

[terry]

"Preferred walk-on" seems to mean whatever a school wants it to mean. There's no fixed meaning, so far as I can tell. However, there are a couple of things that often are involved in being a "preferred walk-on."

"Preferred walk-on" can mean that a player is guaranteed a spot on the team. At some schools, being invited to walk on is really just an invitation to a try-out, with the walk-ons at risk of being cut.

"Preferred walk-on" also can mean that the player is guaranteed a spot on the 105-player roster. Under NCAA rules, the number of players in fall camp cannot exceed 105. Once classes start, the 105-player limit no longer applies. At a school on the quarter system, classes don't start until the team has played 2 or 3 games, so players who are not on the 105-man roster must miss several games. For the last few years, Stanford has had more than 105 players on the roster. Unless several players get injured and miss fall camp, it's possible that a few of the walk-ons may have to miss fall camp and the first few games.

[washingtonismoney]

The question I have about walk-ons, whether preferred or not: do they go through normal admissions or are the coaches pushing for them there?

[washingtonismoney]

The question I have about walk-ons, whether preferred or not: do they go through normal admissions or are the coaches pushing for them there?

[honestdisagreement]

http://www.informedathlete.com/ncaa-rule...d-athlete#

[honestdisagreement]

http://www.informedathlete.com/ncaa-rule...d-athlete#

[Extra Point]

I heard somewhere, maybe here, that a school has to classify a kid as a "prefered walkon" if he was approached by coaches as a potential recruit, but didn't get a scholarship. And, a kid who was never approached has to be classified as a walk on.

I had also heard that there is some reason why schools would rather have a player classified as walk on than a prefered walk on.

I don't believe that prefered walk ons have first dibs on a scholarship when one becomes available.

[Extra Point]

I heard somewhere, maybe here, that a school has to classify a kid as a "prefered walkon" if he was approached by coaches as a potential recruit, but didn't get a scholarship. And, a kid who was never approached has to be classified as a walk on.

I had also heard that there is some reason why schools would rather have a player classified as walk on than a prefered walk on.

I don't believe that prefered walk ons have first dibs on a scholarship when one becomes available.

[fullmetal]

I don't think there's a requirement to designate preferred status even if a recruit is approached by coaches, but I could be wrong.

[fullmetal]

I don't think there's a requirement to designate preferred status even if a recruit is approached by coaches, but I could be wrong.

[terry]

I heard somewhere, maybe here, that a school has to classify a kid as a "prefered walkon" if he was approached by coaches as a potential recruit, but didn't get a scholarship. And, a kid who was never approached has to be classified as a walk on.

I had also heard that there is some reason why schools would rather have a player classified as walk on than a prefered walk on.

I don't believe that prefered walk ons have first dibs on a scholarship when one becomes available.

"Preferred walk-on" is not a term that is used in NCAA rules. It doesn't seem to have any official definition. I think it means whatever a school wants it to mean.

"Recruited walk-on" does have some significance. If a walk-on is "recruited," then any financial aid he gets will count against the scholarship limit as soon as he appears in a game. If a walk-on is not "recruited," then his financial aid doesn't count against the scholarship limit.

Actions that cause a walk-on to be deemed "recruited" include an official visit, an off-campus meeting with a coach, more than one phone call initiated by the coaches, or giving the player a letter of intent form.

Of course, if a walk-on isn't receiving financial aid, then he never counts against the scholarship limit, whether he was "recruited" or not.

[terry]

I heard somewhere, maybe here, that a school has to classify a kid as a "prefered walkon" if he was approached by coaches as a potential recruit, but didn't get a scholarship. And, a kid who was never approached has to be classified as a walk on.

I had also heard that there is some reason why schools would rather have a player classified as walk on than a prefered walk on.

I don't believe that prefered walk ons have first dibs on a scholarship when one becomes available.

"Preferred walk-on" is not a term that is used in NCAA rules. It doesn't seem to have any official definition. I think it means whatever a school wants it to mean.

"Recruited walk-on" does have some significance. If a walk-on is "recruited," then any financial aid he gets will count against the scholarship limit as soon as he appears in a game. If a walk-on is not "recruited," then his financial aid doesn't count against the scholarship limit.

Actions that cause a walk-on to be deemed "recruited" include an official visit, an off-campus meeting with a coach, more than one phone call initiated by the coaches, or giving the player a letter of intent form.

Of course, if a walk-on isn't receiving financial aid, then he never counts against the scholarship limit, whether he was "recruited" or not.