Megan.Husslein
Guest
Unpopular Opinion: There should be limitations on the transfer portal
Megan.Husslein via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Matthew O’Haren-USA TODAY Sports
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From now until preseason camp starts in August, Land-Grant Holy Land will be writing articles around a different theme every week. This week is all about unpopular opinions. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all our “Unpopular Opinion” articles here.
Ah, the transfer portal. So many good things have come from it (thank you for Justin Fields, Caleb Downs, Quinshon Judkins, etc.). However, I think we all can agree it’s getting a little out of control. Or, maybe just me? It’s certainly a controversial topic, so let’s get into it.
Let me just state right away that I love the transfer portal. I think it is a great tool for athletes to do what is best for them. Perhaps the school they chose when they were 17 or 18 years old no longer suits them. Whether it be a head coach departure, a rough culture or it turned out to simply not be the right fit, the transfer portal definitely comes in handy.
Yet, we must keep in mind that when an athlete commits to a school, they call it a “commitment” for a reason. This athlete pledges to give their everything to whichever program they choose. Do they promise four years? Not usually. But it’s a two-way street.
An athlete chooses a school because they think it is what is best for them individually. The school chooses them because it thinks they can help their program win. Maybe that doesn’t happen in the first year or two an athlete is there, so they jump ship to a different school.
I’m not saying they shouldn’t be allowed to do that. They should have the choice to leave. However, I do think they owe it to the program to at least finish out the season. So many athletes enter the transfer portal — that decision alone can disrupt a team’s chemistry — before the season ends. Or, they just fully transfer.
The most recent fall/winter window officially opened on Dec. 4, 2023, and closed on Jan. 2, 2024, giving athletes 30 days to enter the portal at the end of the regular season. Over 2,000 student-athletes entered the portal, setting a record.
So, many of these athletes skipped bowl games. You might think this isn’t a big deal. But personally, I believe that they shouldn’t be allowed to. Yes, a lot of players sit them out because they are going pro. But most of the time, they still stay with the team for the game.
For the majority of the players on a team, this could be their last game ever. They will not go pro. Therefore, a bowl game is most likely the biggest game of their career. I believe that they should have the best opportunity to win, which means having as much of their core roster as possible. I think an athlete can finish the season with their team before they choose to transfer.
Another piece of the puzzle is how many times should a player be allowed to transfer. The NCAA has no set limit on this amount, as long as the student-athlete remains in good academic standing.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25468485/2149468642.jpg "Florida State Spring Football Garnet and Gold Spring Showcase Game")
Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images
The one-and-done tactic has moved into the college football world but in a different sense. Many players are playing one year for a school before they transfer to another and another. Take D.J. Uiagalelei for example. He started his career at Clemson, before transferring to Oregon State and now he is at Florida State.
This screws up college’s recruiting process and is also making collegiate athletics more like the pros. If a player doesn’t like the team he is on, he can request a trade. In college, they can just transfer. I think there need to be some more regulations, with some exceptions of course in specific situations and circumstances.
The transfer portal is as lenient as it has ever been. We have seen positive and negative effects from it. What do you think should happen in the future of the transfer portal?
Continue reading...
Megan.Husslein via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Matthew O’Haren-USA TODAY Sports
Hear me out...
From now until preseason camp starts in August, Land-Grant Holy Land will be writing articles around a different theme every week. This week is all about unpopular opinions. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all our “Unpopular Opinion” articles here.
Ah, the transfer portal. So many good things have come from it (thank you for Justin Fields, Caleb Downs, Quinshon Judkins, etc.). However, I think we all can agree it’s getting a little out of control. Or, maybe just me? It’s certainly a controversial topic, so let’s get into it.
Let me just state right away that I love the transfer portal. I think it is a great tool for athletes to do what is best for them. Perhaps the school they chose when they were 17 or 18 years old no longer suits them. Whether it be a head coach departure, a rough culture or it turned out to simply not be the right fit, the transfer portal definitely comes in handy.
Yet, we must keep in mind that when an athlete commits to a school, they call it a “commitment” for a reason. This athlete pledges to give their everything to whichever program they choose. Do they promise four years? Not usually. But it’s a two-way street.
An athlete chooses a school because they think it is what is best for them individually. The school chooses them because it thinks they can help their program win. Maybe that doesn’t happen in the first year or two an athlete is there, so they jump ship to a different school.
I’m not saying they shouldn’t be allowed to do that. They should have the choice to leave. However, I do think they owe it to the program to at least finish out the season. So many athletes enter the transfer portal — that decision alone can disrupt a team’s chemistry — before the season ends. Or, they just fully transfer.
The most recent fall/winter window officially opened on Dec. 4, 2023, and closed on Jan. 2, 2024, giving athletes 30 days to enter the portal at the end of the regular season. Over 2,000 student-athletes entered the portal, setting a record.
So, many of these athletes skipped bowl games. You might think this isn’t a big deal. But personally, I believe that they shouldn’t be allowed to. Yes, a lot of players sit them out because they are going pro. But most of the time, they still stay with the team for the game.
For the majority of the players on a team, this could be their last game ever. They will not go pro. Therefore, a bowl game is most likely the biggest game of their career. I believe that they should have the best opportunity to win, which means having as much of their core roster as possible. I think an athlete can finish the season with their team before they choose to transfer.
Another piece of the puzzle is how many times should a player be allowed to transfer. The NCAA has no set limit on this amount, as long as the student-athlete remains in good academic standing.
The one-and-done tactic has moved into the college football world but in a different sense. Many players are playing one year for a school before they transfer to another and another. Take D.J. Uiagalelei for example. He started his career at Clemson, before transferring to Oregon State and now he is at Florida State.
This screws up college’s recruiting process and is also making collegiate athletics more like the pros. If a player doesn’t like the team he is on, he can request a trade. In college, they can just transfer. I think there need to be some more regulations, with some exceptions of course in specific situations and circumstances.
The transfer portal is as lenient as it has ever been. We have seen positive and negative effects from it. What do you think should happen in the future of the transfer portal?
Continue reading...