DENVER - As a chubby, unathletic middle-schooler I repeatedly watched Rudy because it made me feel like I had a chance of playing organized sports beyond the high school level. I was a decent prep baseball player so in college I tried out for the University of Iowa baseball team in hopes of becoming a walk-on. It was about seven minutes into the try-out that I realized I had a lot more in common with Sean Austin -the actor who played Rudy and later, a 3'8" hobbit from Middle Earth- then I did with a Division I walk-on.

When I met with Andrew Lay (Denver, Colo.) and Patrick Rogers (Portland, Ore.), two University of Denver men's lacrosse players and former walk-ons, I was once again reminded of how little of a chance I ever had of playing Division I college sports.

Lay, a Denver native and senior captain for the Pioneers was a four-year letter winner during his prep career and the leading scorer on Denver East High School's 2006 state-runner up team. As a senior, Lay was a first-team All-State selection for the Angels and was named the Denver Athletic Club's Athlete of the Year.

Despite his prep success, Lay flew under the radar of many college lacrosse programs.

"There were some teams on the east coast that showed some interest," said Lay, a marketing and international business major. "But as I was considering these schools I knew I would probably be going as a walk-on."

Knowing that he was most likely not going to be awarded a scholarship, Lay decided to stay in the Denver area and give DU a shot.

"I knew [former head] coach Jamie Munro was not necessarily looking for walk-ons," Lay added. "But I decided it would be smart to stay in Denver, go to a great school, and if lacrosse did not work out I would be able to make the next decision from a good place."

Things did work out for Lay and for the Pioneers.

As a freshman, Lay saw action in seven games and tallied two points. Lay came into his own as a sophomore, scoring 15 points, including 11 goals and seeing the field in all of Denver's 15 games. As a junior, Lay had earned his keep and started in all of the Pioneers' contests, scoring 15 goals while adding five assists.

Lay, now a three-year letter winner has been a contributor for the Pioneers so far this season. He has amassed four goals and three assists, started in all games and continues to hold down the Pioneer midfield for head coach Bill Tierney.

"Playing here has been amazing," Lay said. "Denver is a great school and playing for Coach Tierney has been a great experience."

Junior Patrick Rogers came to Denver with an equally impressive résumé. He was a three-time First-Team All-State selection for Portland's Lincoln High School and was twice voted to the All-American team. Rogers led the Cardinals to the state title as a senior and was named Oregon Lacrosse Player of the Year. He was selected as offensive MVP of the National Senior Showcase West Team and earned Lincoln High School the No. 11 ranking in the West Region in the LaxPower's final 2008 poll.

Rogers made the decision to try and walk-on at the University of Denver because of the nature of the DU program.

"I knew the success Denver had in the past," Rogers said. "I wanted to be a part of an elite program."

Rogers has lettered in each of his two seasons as a Pioneer. As a freshman he appeared in 11 games, started one and racked up five points. In his junior year, Rogers saw action in 17 Pioneer games, starting in 10 of them. He finished fourth on the team with 20 goals and tallied five assists.

So far this season, Rogers has four goals for the Pioneers, but has recently been sidelined with an injury.

"Denver has been great so far," Rogers added. "I am hoping to be a part of another great season."

Rudy was good for Hollywood and it made people like me think that walking-on to a major Division I sports program was feasible as long as you worked hard and persevered.

Besides reminding me Charlie Sheen once played the most dominant fictional pitcher in Hollywood history, Lay and Rogers also made me realize being a walk-on takes a little more than persistence. It takes a lot of talent as well.