The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of RCN or any other agency, organization, employer or company.
Many of us who pay close attention to high school sports have complained vociferously about students transferring to other schools just for the sake of athletics. Community boundaries did not make much difference for those who wanted to play for a particular program or leave a program that was not successful. Many believed a son or daughter would get more exposure to college scouts by being a member of a winning team and that exposure could increase one’s chances of landing a scholarship.
This movement has caused the PIAA to try to find a solution to an ongoing problem. There has been plenty of discussion about boundary vs. non-boundary competition; residence requirements; mid-year movement, etc. Stay tuned for more rules followed by more complaining.
The NCAA which regulates college athletics thinks they have a solution – it’s called the “Transfer Portal”. It started in October, 2018. Any player in any sport who has interest in transferring from a school can now place their name into the transfer portal. All the student needs to do is go to the compliance department of their current college and say they want to be entered into the portal. Common courtesy would suggest a student-athlete should talk to their coach first, but that is not a requirement. Once the request is made, compliance has 48 hours to enter that student’s name onto the portal. Once the name appears on the list, colleges can contact that student with permission from the student. A player does have the option of removing their name, but, for the most part, a coach will drop that student from their roster, or at the very least, retract their scholarship at the end of a semester as soon as they hear that student is looking to go elsewhere.
The idea behind it was that the student should have more power in the decision-making process. It gives the athlete more options than they had before. Previously, the student had to be granted permission to contact another school. The list is supposed to remain private, used only by schools and student-athletes, but there most certainly have been leaks.
The concept has become very popular for the athletes. It is speculated that there are over 500 Division 1 names in the portal right now. More than 15,000 have entered their names in the Transfer Portal since its inception. Compliance people love it because it eliminates a lot of paperwork. Most athletes love it because they now have freedom of movement, which they did not previously have. Coaches both love and hate it depending on whether they lose or acquire a player.
The transfer drawback of being forced to sit out a year still exists in major sports like football, basketball, baseball, and hockey. There are waivers available which are treated on a case by case basis.
This actually seems like a rational plan. And anything deemed “rational” in sports these days is a positive step forward.
ABOVE THE EARS (SOME MUSINGS)
- Andy Reid has been to only one Super Bowl as a head coach and we know what team that was. But with the Patriots losing and the Ravens losing before Sunday’s Chiefs–Texans, it sure looked like he was guaranteed to head there for a second time. And then all “heck” broke loose and the Texans went up 24-0 into the second period. The Chiefs made mistake after mistake. But have you seen a team this year able to score points faster than the Chiefs? He told his players to “keep playing, keep battling”. It worked; boy, did it ever. They scored the next 41 and ended the game with 51 points. Is this the year Coach Reid wins a Super Bowl?
- Jeopardy is trying to pick the GOAT (Greatest of All Time) by pitting their three most successful players in competition against one another. The winner will be decided this week. The NFL is trying to do it by position and obviously without competition. An impossible task. Just look at the quarterback position – Unitas, Brady, Elway, P. Manning, Montana? Now move on to every position and start the argument. Please – no physical confrontations!
- Seattle’s Marshawn Lynch and Green Bay’s Aaron Rodgers exchanged jerseys after Sunday night’s game. Both played for the University of California in 2004 and almost became Packer teammates in 2010 when Buffalo traded Lynch.
- Kansas City is favored by seven in their game with Tennessee despite the Titans winning 35-32 during the regular season. If you are looking for a team of destiny, choose the Titans. San Francisco is favored by seven over the Packers. That’s odd since the 49ers led 23-0 at the half and won 37-8. They sacked Aaron Rodgers five times and held him to 104 yards passing. I cannot see any way the Packers win this one.
- RCN-TV will bring you Whitehall at Bethlehem Catholic basketball on Tuesday and Easton at Parkland followed by Central Catholic at Freedom on Friday night. Our Lafayette schedule includes the Lafayette men taking on Colgate on Wednesday morning at 11:00am and the Lafayette women playing Navy on Saturday at 2:00pm. Northampton will wrestle Nazareth on Wednesday night at 7:00pm. Plenty to choose from if you are so inclined.
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