Interesting take from a former Husker

[Huskerwisdom]

Having walk ons and building the program is not the same as exclusively recruiting walk ons in the middle of the OL, as was suggested by Shanle, and apparently trumpeted by others in this thread.

I agree there is nothing wrong with building a walk on program, but you have to recruit good players as well. Since a financial analogy was used earlier I will offer this, it's ok to play the lottery and scratch offs (getting walk on players that eventually start), but only if you are making contributions to the 401k (bunch of good to great recruits).

I can agree with that - although I don't think that was Shanle's intention, at least not long term. He's correct that we need a big influx of talent on the defensive side, but ignoring the OL scholies isn't the right way to do it. That's why Frost got a 7 year deal!

 

[Huskerwisdom]

Who cares about Minnesota, they stopped being competitive and people stopped going there.

Name one program, outside of Nebraska 20 years ago, that even inconsistently competes for national titles.

most of the big players do so - Ohio State, USC, Michigan (although I think theirs are stale and old - IMO), Notre Dame, Bama, Clemson's been competitive as of late and early 80s, Florida and Florida state are consistently there, LSU has had multiple years in contention, Texas, Miami, Tennessee has had spurts, and then us.

The comparison is valid with Minnesota -- we haven't exactly been competitive as of late either.

 

[RealTucoSalamanca]

most of the big players do so - Ohio State, USC, Michigan (although I think theirs are stale and old - IMO), Notre Dame, Bama, Clemson's been competitive as of late and early 80s, Florida and Florida state are consistently there, LSU has had multiple years in contention, Texas, Miami, Tennessee has had spurts, and then us.

The comparison is valid with Minnesota -- we haven't exactly been competitive as of late either.

I didn't write the comparison sentence like I wanted.

Name one program, outside of Nebraska 20 years ago, that is in the situation you claim we are in, that has competed for national titles, even inconsistently.

 

[Huskerwisdom]

I didn't write the comparison sentence like I wanted.

Name one program, outside of Nebraska 20 years ago, that is in the situation you claim we are in, that has competed for national titles, even inconsistently.

none, and that is EXACTLY my point. We are the only ones who were able to work in an integrated set of competitive advantages of our own to work for us:

1. Unique offensive system that was difficult to prepare for and cutting edge (this was a system that was able to use players from point 2 as depth and often as critical players on the depth chart)
2. Use of "cheap" talent allowing us to use additional scholarships for skill positions and speed (i.e., the walk on program)
3. Cutting edge S&C program
4. Consistency of systems and use of point-2 allowing us to build depth over time to overcome recruiting cycles and injuries

Again, that was exactly my point. Wiscy is at least trying to do some of the above, but we haven't in quite a while. Unless we come up with some variation of that list to have for today, we may as well get used to being Minnesota or Iowa if you prefer the upgraded version of mediocre

 

[RealTucoSalamanca]

none, and that is EXACTLY my point. We are the only ones who were able to work in an integrated set of competitive advantages of our own to work for us:

1. Unique offensive system that was difficult to prepare for and cutting edge (this was a system that was able to use players from point 2 as depth and often as critical players on the depth chart)
2. Use of "cheap" talent allowing us to use additional scholarships for skill positions and speed (i.e., the walk on program)
3. Cutting edge S&C program
4. Consistency of systems and use of point-2 allowing us to build depth over time to overcome recruiting cycles and injuries

Again, that was exactly my point. Wiscy is at least trying to do some of the above, but we haven't in quite a while. Unless we come up with some variation of that list to have for today, we may as well get used to being Minnesota or Iowa if you prefer the upgraded version of mediocre

Then throw in the towel brother.

If you wanted an offense that could be successful with a bunch of cheap labor, you picked the wrong coach to lead the team. They should have went after the Navy coach, the Army coach or Paul Johnson.

 

[Ewooc]

they were once a powerhouse also.. just like us, or rather more so as they have 7 titles they can claim versus our 5

name one f'ing school that has a national title and has even inconsistently competed for national titles that is in a location/situation like ours

There looks to be some truth to your theory. I went back the last 20 years and looked and what teams finished in the top. Here is a list and how many times they finished top 5.

34 teams have finished in the top 5 over the last 20 years. But Ohio St, USC, Bama, FL, FL st have dominated for the most part.

Ohio St - 11
USC- 8
Alabama 7
Okla 7
Fl St 6
Fl 6
Oregon 5
Texas 5
Miami 4
Georgia 4
LSU 4
Auburn 3
Mich 2
Neb 2
Tenn 2
Washington 2
Utah 2
Boise St 2
Missouri 2
TCU 2
Stanford 2
Mich St 2
Clemson 2
UCLA 1
AZ 1
V Tech 1
Wisc 1
Oregon St 1
Pen St 1
West Virg 1
Okla St 1
Arkansas 1
Notre Dame 1
South Car 1

 

[Huskerwisdom]

Then throw in the towel brother.

If you wanted an offense that could be successful with a bunch of cheap labor, you picked the wrong coach to lead the team. They should have went after the Navy coach, the Army coach or Paul Johnson.

Part of the reason I wanted Frost (even back when we hired Riley) was so that we could run a cutting edge offensive system that could evolve to be unique enough to give us an advantage and use a few of the parts that are readily available from the walk-on program.

Yes, he needs a ton of speed, but we can us a variety of parts that aren't necessarily on the top of the list for every team

 

[dinglefritz]

Legit question...

Why are Nebraska fans obsessed with walk-ons? What other program is having success utilizing walk-ons?

Well IF I remember correctly the WR that caught the game winner for Clemson when they won the national title was a walk on......so there is that. Former NU walk on lineman Spencer Long is starting at center for the Jets I think. Shanle himself was a walk on originally I think. He played quite a few years in the league after starting for a couple for the Huskers. The funny thing was I remember people bitching about him and saying he was too slow to be playing for the Huskers back then.....hmmm.

 

[kaz36_rivals189319]

Well IF I remember correctly the WR that caught the game winner for Clemson when they won the national title was a walk on......so there is that. Former NU walk on lineman Spencer Long is starting at center for the Jets I think. Shanle himself was a walk on originally I think. He played quite a few years in the league after starting for a couple for the Huskers. The funny thing was I remember people bitching about him and saying he was too slow to be playing for the Huskers back then.....hmmm.

Andy Janovich and Brandon Reilly also.

And to answer @SiberianKnightmare question, another team that utilizes walk ons is Wisconsin. They've put a bunch in the league.

 

[CatColumbia]

Andy Janovich and Brandon Reilly also.

And to answer @SiberianKnightmare question, another team that utilizes walk ons is Wisconsin. They've put a bunch in the league.

Wasn’t JJ Watt a walk on? They’ve had a couple of linebackers and linemen who were also walk-on’s.

 

[WoodRiverJennings]

Wasn’t JJ Watt a walk on? They’ve had a couple of linebackers and linemen who were also walk-on’s.

I think he was.

 

[huskerwa_rivals80749]

Pelini couldn't get defensive players to come here even though we had a top rated defense in 2009. I think it takes a combination of a good opportunity and good recruiters. Pelini had one but not the other.

Pelini scared kids off with his maniac sideline rants.