Sandeep Prasad has spent the past three years of his life dedicating himself to the game of football. He has sweated through August two-a-days, put himself through grueling offseason conditioning sessions and spent countless hours learning the game in meetings and film rooms.

A 6-foot, 189-pound senior walk-on at Division I-AA Bucknell, Prasad is still waiting for the opportunity to play in a game. He is like many walk-ons throughout the country who anxiously wait for their number to be called -- not youth football, not junior high football and not high school football.

Prasad, a first-generation Indian-American, grew up playing tennis, soccer and lacrosse. Even though he wanted to play football as a high school student, he could not because his parents sent him to Vincentian Academy, a Catholic school in McCandless that does not field a football team.

Prasad captained the lacrosse team at Vincentian but never lost sight of his football dream. He became encouraged to continue his dream in college when a Penn State lacrosse coach spoke at a high school lacrosse camp and told the players that many lacrosse players transition to college football because the athletic traits needed in football -- such as speed, quickness and agility -- are also needed in lacrosse.

So Prasad walked onto the Bison football team as a freshman and is now in his fourth season with the team. He is a receiver and mimics the opponents' plays throughout the week to help prepare the first-team defense for games.

"We couldn't be blessed with a better person than Sandeep," said Bucknell receivers coach Matt Lintal. "He's just a great kid. The role he has on our team is unique. He'll never be the star on a Saturday, but every day he's going to show up for practice and do what's asked of him."

Prasad knows he will never be a star. He knew that from the moment he decided to join the team. But he does desire the fulfillment that would come with playing in a game.

"I didn't expect to get playing time as a freshman or sophomore," said Prasad, a resident of Butler. "It didn't hit me until junior year. It was tough. I was putting in extra work, even more than the starters. I was wondering, 'Will I ever get my shot?'

"Just to get into a game would mean a lot to me. Even in the scrimmages, you get that adrenaline going. It's the best experience you can have as an athlete. It would make all of those practices worthwhile."

Prasad has worked his way up to third-string receiver. That might not seem like much, but it is an accomplishment for someone who had no idea which direction to run when he arrived.

Prasad did not play in the season-opening loss at Duquesne. His next chance is the home opener tomorrow against Robert Morris.

He has participated in roughly 350 practices throughout his career, not to mention the voluntary offseason workouts. The hours dedicated to the game have become too many to count.

"I never imagined there would be so many meetings and practices," said Prasad, who is a dean's list student. "Football takes up a lot of your time. Sometimes it's hard."

Which begs the question: Why has he continued to put himself through the rigors of the sport without reaping the rewards of competing on those glorious fall Saturdays?

"I've made some great friends no matter what," he said. "And the other thing is I never quit something I start. Not getting the playing time is hard. But there are a lot of players who practice and don't get to play. It's the love of the game that keeps you there."

Prasad said Bucknell coach Tim Landis told him he would do his best to get him into a game sometime this season. It could come tomorrow or it might not happen until the season finale against Holy Cross.

"Hopefully, we'll get him out there before the season is over," Lintal said. "And I'd love to get him a catch. He has paid his dues. When we get the opportunity to reward him, we're going to take that chance. If he catches the ball on Saturday, that will probably be the loudest cheer you'll hear all season. The kids all love him."

Prasad's story does have some of the elements of "Rudy," that sappy 1993 sports movie, and he is familiar with the plot line of the undersized walk-on to the Notre Dame football team, Dan "Rudy" Ruettiger, who had to wait until his final game to play for the Irish.

But Prasad doesn't crave the attention. All he wants is an opportunity -- one opportunity -- to get on the field.

"I kind of hope my story doesn't look like that," he said. "But I do hope I get my moment. I just can't wait for it."