There can absolutely be great experiences and conversions with non-member athletes, but I think that was much, much more likely when they were embedded in BYU life (full class schedule, ecclesiastical endorsements, 14 religion credit hours, etc ). I think it’s a lot less likely under the mercenary, one and done, reload from the portal system.
How many Mormons are on the current basketball team? Just Saunders? How many players will be back next year?
Many of the insanity problems with the portal would be solved by going back to sitting out a year if you transfer. You can still switch to a different team, but you won’t be able to play for a season.
I know it’s just greed, money, and power, but when, exactly, did the switch flip where it was instantly no longer a college/school program? I don’t think there are any top players attending classes, being forced to maintain GPA, meet entrance requirements, etc. Is there such a thing as ineligibility any more? Why are we still pretending that this is a college sports environment? It’s just semi-pro to outright pro now.
I don’t think we should pretend to give scholarships any more unless they are actually taking classes and working towards a degree. If you make millions, why should you also get $6000 a year of free school (BYU), or $13,000 a year (Arizona state colleges)?
ETA: Craig or someone mentioned that LJ Martin probably returned because he makes more with NIL than he would with a rookie NFL contract. If he is, in fact, not taking any or just one class next year, then he’s just an outright pro BYU has hired. I would rather there simply be a minor league NFL /NBA, separate from schools. Let the schools thenselves have lower division teams or intramural programs.
All D-1 athletes have to be taking at least 12 credits per semester to be eligible to play sports. I don’t know where you are getting your info. In addition the courts have said that since coaches can leave at anytime to take another job that players have the same option. The problem isn’t moving between schools it is the NIL amounts that basically are unequal. The NFL had no salary cap … neither did the NBA for a long time. It allowed the Lakers and the Celtics to dominate- and the Cowboys and the Steelers to dominate. The lack of the salary cap is what will ruin the sports!
Actually the salary cap isn’t the perfect solution because the players taken in the draft need to be allowed to stay with a team regardless of cap room. If a franchise is better than others at drafting and evaluating talent - they should be rewarded
Because college football is 4 years, then the portal should be for one move per the 4 years. Not many. And there should be a solid contract.
There is no contract Hopper. Contracts can’t hold coaches or players to a particular school! If coaches can leave at anytime …. Players will be allowed to do the same. The courts have already said this. There is nothing you can do to keep athletes from moving! However, if there is no NIL the movement will slow down nnn
The P4 schools committing to the $22.5 (or something like that) million annual payouts for athletes is a first step to some sort of salary sanity. That doesn’t include outside NIL deals, but frankly I think that ship has sailed and NIL is the future. Courts are gonna be real slow to reverse those recent rulings.
Unlimited transfers is what makes the coaches lose their collective minds. Getting rid of one transfer portal window and thinking that would slow down transfers was a failed attempt by the ham fisted idiots running the NCAA.
I think we could see some type of limits on transfers in the future. I think it will be more than 1 feee move but less than the insanity we see now with some guys playing for 4-5 programs in 5 years.
HOWEVER be advised that free transfers has been a massive recruiting benefit for BYU. Now opposing coaches can’t trash the HC and the church and tell recruits they are penalized a whole year if they go to BYU and don’t like it culturally. Thats a big reason we are recruiting better talent in both sports—the “what if I don’t like it there” risk factor is greatly reduced. We are then focusing on super high quality kids regardless of religion, and it’s obvious the vast majority of those “non member” kids wind up liking or even loving it at BYU
NIL also has to stay. It has put BYU on equal footing. I can say with a high degree of confidence that when other schools were paying players (and they were; just read The System), BYU was not. It’s a miracle BYU has competed for 45 years the way we have when we played with one arm tied behind our back for decades.
If I heard him correct, Trevor Matich said today Indiana is destroying blue bloods with 40-50 4 and 5 Star recruits when they have only 8. He gave the reason. Interesting. He was on BYUSN today. Must watch.
I could see that happening for sure and honestly think it’s probably the most likely scenario. Oklahoma ST is probably the most intriguing team to me in terms of how good they will be. They have opened back up the money bags but have a lot to rebuild. I like Eric Morris a lot and with him bringing in some heavy hitter from the UNT team they could be a decent bit better.