Walk on at Texas

    Posted In: Other Topics

        • Participant
          turtlespeed04 on September 15, 2005 at 7:38 am #11266

          Hi,
          First of all, I started runnign track in my senior year of highschool and ever since then I have fallen in love with running. Put this summer I suffered an injury.  But I want to walk on to the Texas long horn track team. I am an ok athelete, I run the 110HH in 15.8 sec, 100 meter in 11.9, the long jump at 18-6.  I believe that if I work hard that I can be an elite in two years. Do u guys think my times in those events, and my hard work and dedication are enuff that the coach will let me walk on, and practice with the team.

          Any help is apprecaited

        • Member
          800prince on September 15, 2005 at 9:06 am #48543

          Get in contact with the coach. It would take quite a bit of improvement to get to the level you need be. I would say sub 11 is probably what you should shoot for.

        • Participant
          Daniel Andrews on September 15, 2005 at 2:02 pm #48544

          Prince:

          Speaking of which did you talk to coach Forde at ISU?  He started practice already.

        • Participant
          turtlespeed04 on September 15, 2005 at 7:31 pm #48545

          DO you think he will let me walk on though, I don't really care bout atheletic scholarships, I can pay my thru with academic scholarships.  I heard there is an open walk on policy in the NCAA, for sports like track, football, soccer, and such.
          Thanks

        • Participant
          Daniel Andrews on September 15, 2005 at 8:56 pm #48546

          Depends, if you can be competitive and finish the workouts he might.  There is an open walk on policy for track it is called unattached.

        • Keymaster
          Mike Young on September 16, 2005 at 12:48 am #48547

          You would be best trying to be a decathlete. UT has a nice multi-event program too.

          ELITETRACK Founder

        • Participant
          tkelly5 on September 16, 2005 at 2:40 am #48548

          I'd imagine the coach would definitely let you train with them, but as far as being on the school's team, that would depend on your performance.  I'm pretty sure you'll still have to fill out all the NCAA stuff (like clearinghouse, and all the other paperwork) to practice with the team regardless if you are on the team or not.  Best idea is definitely to talk to the coach though.

        • Participant
          turtlespeed04 on September 16, 2005 at 3:16 am #48549

          what should I say when I call him though. SHould I just tell him I'm interested in joining the track team or what.

        • Participant
          lumberjack on September 16, 2005 at 5:13 am #48550

          what should I say when I call him though. SHould I just tell him I'm interested in joining the track team or what.

          Do you go to Texas right now?

          I graduated from grad school at Texas in May and used to hang around the track alot especially with Mario the field/deca coach.  I know all of the coaches very well.
          They limit the numbers of walk ons, because it does still cost the team some money to have walkons, and they take some coaching time away from the point scoring/scholarship athletes.  It also depends on how deep they are at the events you are trying to do.  Texas is ridiculously strong in the decathlon at the moment, they have the returning champion, the returning 3rd placer (who is a jr), and a really good freshman hurdler(13.72) and jumper that they are going to have doing decathlon this year. 

          I don't mean to discourage you, they may let you do it, but the numbers you listed don't sound real encouraging.  There are a bunch of distance runners that go to school at Texas that could make alot of good div 1 track teams that they have asked to walk on that they have turned away because the distance team is so large and strong.  Just talk to Bubba Thornton (the head coach) or Mario Sategna (the field events coach) and tell him that you would like to walk on to the team.  He'll probably ask you about what events you do and what kind of marks you have done and decide from there.

        • Participant
          Daniel Andrews on September 16, 2005 at 5:19 am #48551

          Whatever you do, do NOT call him.  Set an appointment him if at all possible and talk to him about your options.

        • Participant
          turtlespeed04 on September 16, 2005 at 5:54 am #48552

          No I'm not at texas right now, I plan to transfer though, but I am still stuck between Louisville, and texas.  I kinda like Louisville though.  But their track team is not really as good as UT, but i'm guessing that's good in my part cuz then my chances of being allowed to walk on is good, what u guys think.

        • Member
          800prince on September 16, 2005 at 6:04 am #48553

          Yes he had me run a full-out 400m. I ran 53 seconds for 400, never called me back. I thought it wasn't too bad given the conditions (I had to wait 2 hours from the time I was told it would be, while they had pictures. I was warmed up ready to go at 4:00, I was cold, hypoglycemic, and tired at 6:00) and the level of the program. I may end up transferring. I've decided I need to drop about 20lbs, and will mainly run the 800m indoors and add the 400H if my speed is where it need be come outdoor.

        • Participant
          Daniel Andrews on September 16, 2005 at 7:39 am #48554

          Talk to him again then.  Ask him what you need to do, if he still doesn't let you, then ask him about doing unattached at his meets.  53s fullout isn't bad, that means you are probably close to or under 2min 800m in the fall.  If you can go 1:52 you can his 800m runner Meeks.  Using me as a reference may or may not be a bad thing, one of my girls that was interested in running for him backed out.  However, I talk to him about his son when I can, he runs for Normal U High and is their #2 XC runner as a sophomore.

        • Participant
          turtlespeed04 on September 16, 2005 at 9:33 am #48555

          Hey the guys that go to ISU, do u know WHitney beals, she's on the track team.  Runs the 800, 400 i think. I use to be on the track team with her in highschool.

        • Participant
          CoachKW on September 16, 2005 at 4:38 pm #48556

          Guys, I hate to rain on anyones parade, but in the age of men's roster limitations you better be at 10.5-10.6 to walk on at Texas and 53 for a collegiate runner-despite the conditions just isn't DI material-sub 50 would be the bare minimum.  If I were the two of you guys, I would look at DII,III or even NAIA.

          Not trying to be negative, but realistic.

        • Participant
          scarter on September 16, 2005 at 4:59 pm #48557

          Turtle,
              If you are really serious about this, Mike does consult athletes, and he has a ton of experience at that level. I would get a job if you can't pay for it, and start making it happen.

          Respectfully,
          –Smoot

        • Participant
          Daniel Andrews on September 16, 2005 at 8:01 pm #48558

          KW:

          TT performances will hardly ever match what one can do in a competition.  Not only that, it is the fall and it is only prep time not what can I do.  reasonably, I think 48s for 400m at a middle tier DI school is fine for an 800m runner especially one that is walking on, but I would want that 48s in May/June and not September.

        • Participant
          bluesmagoo on September 16, 2005 at 8:39 pm #48559

          I'd try going to a good D-3 program, train with a good coach and then you can see
          whether your potential is realized.  If you get excellent improvement over your current times, you can transfer.

        • Participant
          CoachKW on September 16, 2005 at 9:58 pm #48560

          Danimal:
          No argument on time trial vs. performance.  You must realize that we are talking about the Big IX here and 48 would be the bare dog minimum that it would take to be allowed to walk on with the expectation of 47 or 46 sometime down the road. 

          Texas is not, nor ever will be a middle tier school and 48 without another back up mark probably won't cut it at many mid majors either.

        • Member
          800prince on September 16, 2005 at 10:17 pm #48561

          KW you really overestimate a lot of schools. While mid-majors will have some decent athletes there are VERY few with any sort of depth. What "mid-majors" have several 48 sec 400m runners? Texas is the Big XII,  that's worlds away from the Mid-Continent, Ohio Valley, Missouri Valley….

        • Participant
          CoachKW on September 16, 2005 at 11:50 pm #48562

          Read my entire post though 800.  When you take into consideration roster limits imposed on many men's teams (particularly at the mid majors) then what I'm saying is that you need to be under 49 with a back up mark in the 200 or 800.  I ran for a mid major and live in the same town as one so I think it's a fair assessment.

        • Participant
          bluesmagoo on September 17, 2005 at 12:04 am #48563

          Any D-1, you need to run under 50 in 400 meters.  There's a plethora of HS kids that can run that.  Even the women run close to 50.

        • Member
          800prince on September 17, 2005 at 12:42 am #48564

          48 seconds would put you in the top 100 of D-1. I'm willing to bet there's a lot more 400m in D-1 than that.

        • Member
          800prince on September 17, 2005 at 12:49 am #48565

          A plethora? I was think more along the lines of cornacopia. 50 is no problem, in-season. In august after a few days notice and little training, it's a problem. It's not you're problem anyway, I was responding to danimal, perhaps I should have used u2u.

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