I'm just trying to get my head around what is driving these kids. I've gone through the standard "reasons" and I just don't think they can account for everything that we're seeing.
"Wants more playing time" Well, lets see. You got recruited out of high school to a P5 program, meaning that someone thought you at least had potential. Now you've decided that, despite there not being any "writing on the wall", you're going to pull up stakes and move. I can't help but think of what Rien Long would have done had the portal been open, since he didn't blossom until he was an upper classman. Did he come to WSU entertaining dreams of starting as a Frosh, or was the staff honest and prepare him for the reality that he'd probably be an Junior before he saw the field?
"My coach left" - ok, well unless he's taking you with him, isn't the devil you know better than the one you don't? I get it if there is a extreme scheme change, but for the most part (excluding qb) everyone's job is about the same - run, block, catch, tackle, cover.
I guess the business model has changed to where the kids are solely in control of their future, but whatever loyalty the school(s) might have had to their athletes has got to go out of the window, at least if college football is to survive as a college affiliated sport and not an NFL farm program.
It doesn't help us as fans/ donors understand them since all these kids use the same boilerplate, full of shit announcements to proclaim their free-agency. It's be nice for some transparency - "I'm not getting the pt I want, and I've only got 2 years left. I'd rather play G5 or FCS ball than not at all, even if it means not getting to the rose bowl or (heaven forbid) NC." Or "I spoke with the new staff, we don't see eye to eye on my future, so I'm out." The garbage we get is so condescending, so... Beth breaking up with Lane Meyer because "I really think its in my own best interest if I went out with someone more popular." Get stuffed.
"Wants more playing time" Well, lets see. You got recruited out of high school to a P5 program, meaning that someone thought you at least had potential. Now you've decided that, despite there not being any "writing on the wall", you're going to pull up stakes and move. I can't help but think of what Rien Long would have done had the portal been open, since he didn't blossom until he was an upper classman. Did he come to WSU entertaining dreams of starting as a Frosh, or was the staff honest and prepare him for the reality that he'd probably be an Junior before he saw the field?
"My coach left" - ok, well unless he's taking you with him, isn't the devil you know better than the one you don't? I get it if there is a extreme scheme change, but for the most part (excluding qb) everyone's job is about the same - run, block, catch, tackle, cover.
I guess the business model has changed to where the kids are solely in control of their future, but whatever loyalty the school(s) might have had to their athletes has got to go out of the window, at least if college football is to survive as a college affiliated sport and not an NFL farm program.
It doesn't help us as fans/ donors understand them since all these kids use the same boilerplate, full of shit announcements to proclaim their free-agency. It's be nice for some transparency - "I'm not getting the pt I want, and I've only got 2 years left. I'd rather play G5 or FCS ball than not at all, even if it means not getting to the rose bowl or (heaven forbid) NC." Or "I spoke with the new staff, we don't see eye to eye on my future, so I'm out." The garbage we get is so condescending, so... Beth breaking up with Lane Meyer because "I really think its in my own best interest if I went out with someone more popular." Get stuffed.
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