The thoughts and opinions in this column are those of the writer and the writer alone. They do not represent Blue Star, Blue Star Report, USJN or Mike Flynn.
Here it comes again. This issue has more sequels than Harry Potter and Star Wars combined. Often topics and controversies on the recruiting front come up during the actual playing season consequently not getting the examination, discussion and debate that they warrant. A few months back the NCAA Division I Transfer Waiver Working Group acknowledged they were considering the concept of the one-time transfer rule once more for football, men’s / women’s basketball, baseball and hockey. Legislation of this type would put the afore mentioned institutional programs in line with other NCAA sports already operating without a year of residency requirement for first time transfers. The ACC office has supported the proposal while the Big 10 leadership offered up a similar proposal of their own a month earlier. No surprise the two conferences stepping forward were both Power Five given the residual benefits in the bigger picture.
It’s only natural the topic comes up again and again and it seems to consistently make the headlines following the end of a football or basketball season. The issue tends to raise its head every time upwardly mobile coaches are hired and those trending downward are fired. Dismayed athletes are again left to their own devices on the campuses they originally chose on the basis of the recently departed staff.
Advocates for athletes continually decry a coaches ability to leave for greener pastures without penalty while athletes must jump through hoops and serve their one year sentence in order to change their own address. Those voicing the need for athletes to have that same freedom constantly and conveniently ignore the fact that coaches are employees and athletes are not…and more so…really should not want to be. Employees in any other employment setting aren’t granted any departure leniency, why it would it be expected here?
Employee status…the great illusion. It’s not about the money or the freedom…it’s about all that comes with it. I don’t want to stray far from today’s actual topic but making and treating scholarship athletes as university employees isn’t quite that simple or black and white. Oh, it appears to be a rose but trust me, actually being on payroll comes with more than its fair share of thorns. The following is from a previous Blue Star Media column. (09/15/17)
https://bluestarmedia.org/transfers-sanity-sitting/
Make no mistake, I’m not unsympathetic to the athletes. I always found it offensive that the documents they sign (NLI/Financial Aid Agreement) had the audacity to remind them they were signing with an institution, not a coach. Great in theory but ridiculous in reality. Those who decided long ago to include that little fairytale of a disclaimer were more out of touch with the recruiting process than some politicians were with the early days of Coronavirus Pandemic. Yet, at the same time, this isn’t just the simple, easily resolved matter often portrayed by those looking out of their one biased eye.
Failing to recognize the Pandora’s Box that would come with such transfer legislation is tantamount to calling Covid-19 nothing more than the common cold. The term “free agency” often comes into play during associated transfer conversations. If you even slightly grasp how much college coaches value their paycheck and job security, you’ll have to concede it may well be an accurate description. Ronald Reagan would find comfort in his eternal rest as his “trickle down” philosophy would find new life in collegiate recruiting and athletics. Even some Democrats would potentially embrace it as it would also provide plenty of trickle “up” recruiting as well.
Once more, my intention today is NOT to debate and rehash all the arguments on both sides of the one-time transfer rule either. However, there needs to be much, much more of that before the NCAA acts, particularly when you have grossly uninformed individuals saying transfer rules should be “more in line with the current transfer landscape” as it exists today. Seriously? Just because the transfer numbers are up and more individuals are willing to abandon ship doesn’t mean we should afford them a simpler path to do so. Prescription drug abuse is up but making narcotics available over the counter to come in line with current usage comes with an astronomical price tag. Some battles are worth fighting despite distorted optics suggesting otherwise. I shamelessly encourage you (Again!) to look back at that 2017 column to revisit some thoughts on the impact and lessons of unimpeded transfers. I’ll even include the link a second time. As I said, shameless.
https://bluestarmedia.org/transfers-sanity-sitting/
The issue is the battle itself. The ability to transfer without a year of residency is not at all the critical debate topic if you have even the slightest understanding of the situation. Once again, the focus is wildly inaccurate while the actual origin of the transfer problem goes on unaddressed and unrestrained in growth. We continue to follow the model of American medicine by treating symptoms rather than causes. This isn’t a new thought nor earth shattering revelation yet the focus always remains on blindly providing a band aid rather than actually stitching up the wound. Before we offer up the NCAA version of a “get out of jail free” card, how about we look back at why so many athletes are in a bad situations to start with. It’s not employee status or a year of residency for transfers that put them there.
The reality is that the genesis of the ongoing transfer problems lie in the abhorrent decision making on the part of many athletes out of high school. Not everyone, obviously, but if we are indeed up to one third of all athletes, as many contend, transferring at least one time in their career…well, then…there are some prettydazed, confused and shortsighted decisions being made. Backing up that assertion is the sheer number of transfers that are coming into play after just one or two academic terms at Wishful Thinking U. If the reality of your first few months on campus short-circuits the spotlight of your hopes and dreams, it may be time to look in the mirror.
Despite an annual litany of examples, information and direction, players and their families continue to get caught up in many of the common mistakes of the recruiting process. They trust the wrong people, have outsiders in their decision making process, overestimate role and playing time, allow ego to come into play, tire of the process, get caught up in the emotion of visits and many more common, well documented mistakes. The fact is, it a hard decision. Things worthwhile usually are. It shouldn’t be minimalized by such shallow thinking as “I’ll just transfer if it doesn’t work out.”
People continue to verbally commit early without the knowledge or understanding of what might be essential to making a good decision. That’s the equivalent of marrying the first person you date. I get the excitement but I’m not sure it’s a good basis ‘til death do us part. If you’re talented enough to get an early offer then there will be plenty more to come.
Everything in recruiting is choreographed. Nothing is a fluke or just happens. Nothing is left to chance. Official visits, unofficial visits, home visits, any interaction you can think of pretty much has some direction or script to it. From innocently “bumping” into people around campus to a few of your favorite snacks, nothing is “fate”, so don’t treat it that way. Don’t come back from a visit with your head in the clouds and in awe of A, B and C because next week you’ll see A, B, and C again on the next campus you visit as well.
Understand that everyone you meet (team, administrators, professors etc..) has been briefed not only on your bio but on your schedule. It’s the coaches job to make sure they’re informed and everything has that “personal” feel to it. Again, next week will feel that way too.
Avoid making a decision because of a relationship with an assistant coach. Of course she’s easy to talk with. Of course she talks about more than just basketball. Of course, she remembers small and personal things you mentioned and talked about since the start of the recruiting process. It’s her (or his) job. Most are very genuine, some of the finest people I’ve ever met…but, ultimately, it’s still their job.
A good decision involves some uncomfortable questions. It involves talking to more than just the current staff and players. It involves being honest with yourself about the actual level you can play on. It could mean saying no to the high profile program for a better opportunity academically or personally. It means staying the course not cancelling visits because you’re tired or want a weekend off. It’s a once (hopefully) in a lifetime decision, go the distance. Leave no stone unturned. The last school to call might be the right fit. And in the end nothing…NOTHING…is more important than that fit. Understand that how long a school recruits an athlete plays absolutely no role in a good decision. That’s nothing but ego getting in the way, as it does much too often. Who cares about why or when an offer came if, when all is said and done, it provides the best setting to call home?
Home. That’s what you’re looking for. Athletically, academically and personally. Get that right on the front end and you won’t be worrying about a year of residency and trying to find a new setting while you’re still waking up every morning in the first one. There are times when leaving may be necessary and life provides unseen twists or turns requiring a change of uniform. Good initial decisions make those changes fewer and much further in-between. Transferring should be the exception, not the rule. Let’s get a handle on that before we throw open the doors to accepting “divorce” as a part of everyday recruiting.
