There are any number of ways scholarships can open up to give walk-on players a chance.
For those players who are paying their way through school, paying for their own food and housing, and balancing life as a student-athlete is difficult. That’s why it’s so special when something like this happens. On Sunday, Utah Utes coach Kyle Whittingham got to make a young man’s dream come true.
They awarded lineman Paul Taola a scholarship.
.@UtahCoachWhitt's favorite part of his job? Awarding scholarships.
Congratulations @paultoala65, you deserve it! #UtahFootballFamily pic.twitter.com/SpTwBQpOd4
— Utah Football (@Utah_Football) August 6, 2017
While speaking to the team, Whittingham calls moments like these his favorite part of coaching in college football. Shortly after announcing that Toala would be on scholarship for the upcoming season, the room erupted, with no shortage of his teammates lining up to congratulate him.
The 6-foot-4 lineman then took to the front of the room to share a word with his teammates.
He dedicated his scholarship to his recently deceased mother, which induced tears and joy all over the room. Toala, now unburdened by the extra-curricular distractions of having to pay his own way through college, can focus on football and his studies full-time.
Congratulations! One of the best FBS moments you’ll see all season.
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