Do you care about college sports? If yes, take a look at the double-edged sword that the transfer portal is. The transfer portal was launched on October 15, 2018. They are allowing a more seamless transition for athletes. However, in 2021, new regulations were adopted allowing athletes to change schools using the portal once without sitting out a year after the transfer.
At the time, to play the sport immediately after your transfer, you would have had to be a graduate of the former university. Joe Burrow is a prime example of working hard in school for your sport and truly putting the “student” in a student-athlete. He graduated in three years to play at LSU in the 2018 season, ultimately winning the 2020 National Championship Game.
With few offers coming out of high school, Joe Burrow still wanted to play football at the next level. He enrolled at Ohio State in 2015, a football powerhouse in his home state. He redshirted, a delay or suspension of an athlete’s participation to lengthen their period of eligibility, his freshman year and spent the next two years as a backup. After the spring game in 2018, he realized he would not get the starting role. He transferred to Louisiana State University (LSU) in May of 2018.
When rules changed it seemed as though it was going to help the sports world and be better for student athletes. Now, some fans say it’s ruining college sports. For example, the sport of basketball used to be all about loyalty to your teammates and building chemistry, now it has become more of a business.
NIL (name, image, and likeness) deals have allowed athletes to make money based on their name and likeness. The idea of this is a great opportunity but it seems as though now, athletes are more about chasing the money rather than excelling in their sport.
There is no loyalty to your college anymore. If you are the star quarterback in high school, then commit to a D1 school but don’t get playing time immediately, athletes feel they should leave to get playing time. Instead of waiting your turn to be at the top of the pyramid.
Some coaches don’t like the transfer portal as much as others. Retired college basketball coach, Cliff Ellis, said, “Education gets lost in this system. ‘Student’ is no longer a valued part of the athlete’s experience.”
While the transfer portal is here to stay, I have to admit, I hope more regulations are adopted to control the transfers better. What do you think? Do you think the transfer portal is ruining college football?
