Josh Milinichik: The Unsung Senior

Coming into the 2009 season, fans and media alike have been paying close attention to the Seniors, and for good reason. You can tell a lot about a team by watching the way it's Seniors carry themselves. They are the ones that the underclassmen look to for examples and insight, they have the ability to set the tone for an entire season. This year, Toney Baker, Willie Young, Alan Michael Cash and Jeraill McCuller are the ones getting a lot of the attention, but there are other Seniors that need to be recognized for the work they do and the impact they make. One of those Seniors is walk-on Josh Milinichik.

Milinichik grew up loving the game of football. He also grew up loving The NC State Wolfpack, in part because of his father, Joe Milinichik. Joe was a standout offensive lineman for the Pack in the early eighties, and later went on to be drafted in the 3rd round by the Detroit Lions in 1986. After a stint with the Lions, he went on the play for the Rams, and then the San Diego Chargers who made it to Super Bowl XXIX.

Growing up just down the road from NC State, Josh starred at Apex High School and was starting to make some waves in the recruiting circuit. James Madison University came at him the hardest, but NC State was also in the mix, recruiting Josh as a walk-on. With James Madison offering to pay for his school, he chose to leave for Virginia. However, after two-seasons, Josh began to rethink his decision to attend James Madison, and decided it was time to make a move.

"Throughout my transition there I kind of started to grow away from the coaches, so I decided to to come back home to NC State" said Milinichik

Since transferring to NC State as a walk-on, Milinichik hasn't been given the opportunity to show what he's capable of on Saturday's, yet he's never stopped going at it 100%. In fact, when waiting for interviews after practice, many media members were already walking back to their cars when Josh finally walked off the field. He had stayed behind to help push the others who were getting in some extra reps before hitting the showers. He explained to us how he stays motivated as a walk-on in a high profile football program.

"I love the game, and as a walk-on you really have to love the game. You can't be in this for the glamor, because if you are then you'll become bitter and uncomfortable and you'll fall away from it. You can't fall into the traps of quitting or become a negative aspect of the team, because then they'll just get rid of you anyway. You really just do it because you love the game."

While it's easy to tell the feel good story of a walk-on turned starter, we think that it's also important to tell the story of the walk-on that never quit. The guy that comes out everyday and goes 100%, pushing the starters to become better and never complaining when his number is not called on Saturdays. So remember that behind every good team, there is a group of guys like Josh Milinichik that give it all they've got. Not for the glamor and the glory, but for the love of the game.

That love for the game has Josh interested in coaching at the college level when he's finished at NC State this year. He plans to complete his degree in Sociology, marry his long-time girlfriend, coach football and enjoy hunting and fishing in the off-season.