From Matt Scalici of BOL:
According to UA, if the player in question is a walk-on football player who was not recruited by UA's coaches, that player will never count against Alabama's scholarship numbers, even if he plays in every game for all four years.
The above doesn't mention if the person is receiving financial aid. It only addresses whether they are a walk-on or not. I'm guessing a walk-on that gets no financial aid of any kind doesn't apply towards the 85....which makes sense since it's an 85
scholarship limit.
If the player was a recruited walk-on, a student-athlete who was recruited by Alabama's coaches and who receives the Bryant Scholarship, that player does not count against Alabama's scholarship numbers until he sees playing time.
This sounds right too. "Until he sees playing time". As soon as he does seeing game time, he counts towards the 85 because he's receiving financial aid, even if it's from the Dead Bear's Fund.
Again, I'm not arguing my opinion or what I read on my favorite website. I posted the actual NCAA rules regarding this....it seems it's pretty clear...at least to me.