Expert: Thom Brooks - 1/18/2008

Question
QUESTION: Hey, how are you doing man, here's the thing...i never got the chance to actually play football in high school even though i was on the team for a year, a broken wrist took alot more time to heal than expected, when it healed and it became senior year the coach told me that he didnt think i'd be with them, which was a nice way of saying no to me re-joining the team midway through the season, im considered a star in flag football where i have great hands and rarely drop a pass on any kind of route, im 5'11 and 190 pounds, i'll be going to a D1 university(UL Lafayette) in the fall, even though it's a D1 school it's football program is not top of the line(record 3-9) like lets say LSU which is an hour away and was my planned university until i changed my mind on my major(i wouldnt have thought about walking on if i actually decided to go there), anyway i want to know what are my chances to get accepted as a walk-on on that kind of a team? Also ive had trouble working out after i broke my wrist and used to be able to bench 225, but have dropped down quite a bit barely lifting 165...but i think my wrist is fully healed that i can get back to where i left off before the fall of 2008

Sorry for the long question man,

Thanks

ANSWER: Moatassem, hello!

With limited experience, a school like LSU would be hard to make that team.  However, if you can get a chance for a tryout with them, your skills may impress them.  If your wrist is still a factor and if your weight training is still behind schedule, it could postpone your making a team.  They could make you a 5th year redshirt Freshmen if you may not make the team.  Hopefully, you will regain the strength in your wrist.

Decide on the coach you will be playing for and their staff will evaluate your injury and ability to play.  

Take care,

Thom Brooks

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks for the quick response, but i think you understood me wrong, LSU is not the school i'll be going to anymore, UL Lafayette is the university that im thinking of trying out for, the football program there is no where near LSU, they play in the Sunbelt conference and went 3-9 this season, that's why i think i may have a shot. Do you think that i'll have better odds in such a school?

Thanks

Answer
Moatassem, hello!

Yes, you would have an excellent chance of making the UL-L team.  Even though they had a bad season, you could make a difference to help turn them into a 9-3 squad.  Many teams are only a few Leadership positions away from being competitive.  Write your goals down.  Keep a log of your athletic workouts, your diet, your sprint times.  Buddy up with people that have similar goals in order to keep you motivated and focused.  Regardless of a team's record, you will have to work hard to make the team, so clear the Mechanism and start contacting the Coaching staff.  

Take care,

Thom Brooks