Freshman Football Team

grandpasknee

grandpasknee

All-Conference
I remember when the Freshman all played on their own team. The Freshman team would play the varsity teams from UNO, Morningside and such if I remember correctly. Does anyone have any more details on that program? Did it end when the number of players was limited, or the number of scholarships was limited? Or was there just so much pressure to put Freshman in the big time that it died? Were Freshmen eligible to play on Varsity back then if they were stand outs, or was it a hard line?

Thanks guys...just got to thinking about this today...

 
grandpasknee said:
I remember when the Freshman all played on their own team. The Freshman team would play the varsity teams from UNO, Morningside and such if I remember correctly. Does anyone have any more details on that program? Did it end when the number of players was limited, or the number of scholarships was limited? Or was there just so much pressure to put Freshman in the big time that it died? Were Freshmen eligible to play on Varsity back then if they were stand outs, or was it a hard line?

Thanks guys...just got to thinking about this today...
Click to expand...
Actually Frank Solich was a freshman coach at one time. It was great training for the coaches to be totally involved in their own practice plans/game strategies/ etc.

I believe it ended when they could no longer find enough opponents and/or the NCAA intervened.

At the end of the year, their "bowl game" was a full contest against the redhirts and scout teams iirc.....

That was great preparation for the players into the Nebraska system.

 
I remember Turner Gill was on the Freshman team for a short while. Air Force had a freshman team too and that was always a good game.

 
Last edited by a moderator:
Most of the teams had freshman teams.

For a long while, freshman were not eligible to play varsity. Scholarships and more importantly the limiting of the amount of coaches is what really did away with the freshman program.

Also, freshman became eligible to play.

It used to be about the student athlete, but once those young men proved they could produce, the business side of things took over and the change was made.

I remember as late as 1988 the Nebraska freshman team played a scrimmage/game agaisnt Bethany College from Lindsborg, KS and beat them badly--but got payed.

 
I am I said:
Most of the teams had freshman teams.

For a long while, freshman were not eligible to play varsity. Scholarships and more importantly the limiting of the amount of coaches is what really did away with the freshman program.

Also, freshman became eligible to play.

It used to be about the student athlete, but once those young men proved they could produce, the business side of things took over and the change was made.

I remember as late as 1988 the Nebraska freshman team played a scrimmage/game agaisnt Bethany College from Lindsborg, KS and beat them badly--but got payed.
Click to expand...
I thought it was pretty widespread....and I'm sure that $$$$ was the downfall as you said...

 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top