JUCO transfers are not junko transfers

There are many arguments that will get a Nebraska football fan’s blood going. Too many to list.

One that recently crossed my mind was how Husker fans, well at least as a broad generalization; tend to have an aversion to recruiting JUCO transfers. Cynics will point to the Bill Snyder era (the first one) at Kansas State along with the Bill Callahan era at Nebraska. Under Bo Pelini, the Huskers have scaled back their emphasis on recruiting JUCO transfers.

This blog entry should not be confused with endorsing a recruiting class full of JUCO transfers but in listening to some people you would think JUCO transfers came with a birth defect.

Yes, they do come with a risk. However, it should also be pointed out that Mike Rozier was a JUCO transfer and went on to become a Heisman Trophy winner. Terrell Farley was also a JUCO transfer and was a key member of the 1995 National Championship Husker team. Granted, Nebraska’s defense had other tremendously talented players (i.e. The Peter Bros., Grant Wistrom, Jared Tomich, and Mike Booker to name a few) but Farley generated numerous big plays. Zac Taylor was also a JUCO transfer and one could argue that his play at quarterback kept the Callahan era from being a complete disaster. Taylor was the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year in 2006.

The 2009 Huskers will have at least two JUCO transfers that will play a role in the team’s success, quarterback Zac Lee and wide receiver Brandon Kinnie. Lee is the starter while Kinnie will likely see time because they are playing positions of need.

In general, I think certain people disdain JUCO transfers (Nebraska fans included) with such an elitist mentality for much the wrong reason because there are more reasons than "just" academics why a kid winds up at a JC.For one thing, as much as we Husker fans love the walk-on program, the bottom line is that kids are not as patient anymore about waiting their turn. Since I cover primarily high school sports, I have seen many kids who were the star on their high school team become hell bent on moving out of their hometown because they want something new. Because they were so much more talented than their high school peers, they didn't really have to work hard for their success. Then, they get to college and realize too late that they have to work much harder for their success. The next thing you know, they're back at their hometown JC but not because they couldn't cut the mustard academically. Plus, we live in an instant gratification world more than ever. The fact is, kids like an Adam Ickes, Todd Peterson or a Ben Eisenhart, who might be willing to forgo scholarships and early playing time elsewhere to wait their turn are fewer and further between than even 15 years ago.I also think that while relying heavily on JUCO transfers can be a risk, they often tend to have a better work ethic than your four and five star recruits from the high school ranks. Why? Nobody handed them anything and they are less likely to take what they have for granted because they have a shorter window of opportunity to prove themselves than a high school kid. Therefore, they push those four and five star recruits in practice to become better ballplayers – similar to the walk-ons. Granted, a JUCO transfer from outside Nebraska might not have Husker football woven into their blood but they tend to have the same work ethic as a walk-on.

To become a great team like what we all hope Nebraska aspires to become again, it's a balancing act. You obviously want five-star recruits but you also need hard-nosed walk-ons and JUCO transfers with talent and intangibles like Taylor.In addition, there are plenty of kids who might have been decent enough students in high school but perhaps lacked a little maturity off the field. For those kids, a JUCO situation is in their best interest. This aspect is also prevalent in non-athletes too. After all, take the kid who graduated from high school with barely enough credits and put him or her next to one who graduated with honors. Often times, they wind up in the same place. The first of which might begin their academic career at a JC and the other at a highly regarded four-year school. The latter of which might be the anointed one but winds out either back at his hometown JC or flunking out of school because he or she partied their life away.

I know I'm rambling like crazy but the same thing can apply in athletics too. Look at former Notre Dame quarterback Ron Pawlus, he was the anointed one out of high school and look what happened. Look at Taylor, he failed at Wake Forest and went to a JUCO before coming to Nebraska. Granted, Taylor has not become the next Joe Montana or John Elway but all I know is this – I want that guy on my team not just for his ability (which I think is pretty good but not great) but for his intangibles. Plus, Pawlus never had a job that ended requiring Sunday work.