Tough road pays off for Bronco student-athletes

Corey Ortiz and Tim Gilligan are two different players involved

in two different sports at Boise State.

They do share one thing, however, they both came to Boise as

walk-on student athletes with the same dream of playing for a

Division I school. Ortiz, is a junior on the Boise State basketball

team and Gilligan is a junior on the Bronco football team.

Their journey to make their respective teams was the same,

although in Gilligan’s case something has changed. His status

was lifted to scholarship athlete. On the other hand, Ortiz said he

would continue to play at Boise State, despite his position as a

walk-on athlete.

“I love playing basketball, and my experience at BSU has

been great regardless if my school is paid for. Sometimes I think

of how many kids want to play D-I ball, but never do. I’m

just glad to have the opportunity,” Ortiz said.

Ortiz said that he was hoping to earn a scholarship, but

recognizes the significant role basketball plays in his life, and

said that it is valuable for him in general.

“I play basketball for the love of the game. If I

didn’t play ball I’d probably be getting into trouble

or something. It’s always there for me. You can always pick

up a ball and forget about all the other stuff going on in your

life,” Ortiz said.

A walk-on athlete’s role on a team is the same as the role

of a scholarship athlete. Ortiz said they work just as hard in

practice, and the coaches make the utmost effort to treat everyone

equal. Still, Ortiz said the experience of a walk-on athlete versus

a scholarship athlete varies slightly.

“Scholarship athletes have the luxury of working your way

from the top. As a walk-on, you have to work from the bottom on

up,” Ortiz said

In Ortiz’ years at Boise State the basketball

program has seen its ups and downs—for the most part downs.

But Ortiz maintains the program is on the rise, strongly due to the

coaching transition that took place prior to this season. First

year head coach Greg Graham brings with him a tradition of winning,

something that has been lacking in the Boise State basketball for

years.

At the opposite end of the spectrum lies the Bronco football

program. Led by head coach Dan Hawkins, the team has enjoyed

unprecedented success, finishing the season ranked 12th in the

ESPN/USA Today Coaches poll, and 15th in the Associated Press media

poll. Hawkins said his program consists of 25 to 30 percent walk-on

athletes, and insists that the role of the walk-on athlete cannot

be undervalued.

“Walk-on athletes are very important. We need to have

enough people to fill out the squad, as scholarships do not cover

every need. The opportunity is there for every person to show what

they can do. Some of our best student athletes have been

walk-ons,” Hawkins said.

Gilligan is one of those best athletes. He played for two

seasons as a walk on, before he was rewarded in May of 2001 with an

athletic scholarship. Gilligan said the day he received word of his

scholarship was both gratifying and emotional.

“Coach Hawk called me and asked how my grades were. He

thought they were good enough so he said he was going to put me on

scholarship. It was one of the happiest moments of my college

career. I immediately called my mom to tell her that her hard work

was done,” Gilligan said.

Regarding the contrasting experience of a walk-on athlete to

that of a scholarship athlete, Gilligan said there are similarities

and differences.

“The experience was different in a way because I was not

playing, but that might be the same for scholarship players not

playing. One significant difference was that it seemed like the

longest two years of my life. Maybe having the comfort of having

school paid for makes it go faster,” Gilligan said.

Walk-on and scholarship athletes receive equal treatment

according to Gilligan. He said coaches always put the program

first.

“Coaches put the best players on the field, regardless of

status. That is in the best interest of the team,” Gilligan

said.

Ortiz and Gilligan both have their senior seasons to prove their

worth. Ortiz will be a part of coach Graham’s second year and

the team’s campaign to make their mark in the Western

Athletic Conference. Gilligan will be an integral part of the

Bronco football team’s offense, and defense of its WAC

championship. One maintains his status as a walk-on athlete, the

other has earned the rank of scholarship athlete. Both have the

distinction of playing in division I programs. Both are living

their childhood dream. Two different players, two different

programs, are not so different after all.

 

 

 

 

Andrea Trujillo, Commentary, The Arbiter

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