WHO STAYS AND WHO GOES?

[Cat Grad]

The goal of college athletics was to provide an opportunity for athletes to continue in a sport they love while earning their college degree. All while possibly getting some or all of their education paid for. This also instilled pride in the university and support from their fellow students, alumni, and fans. Somewhere along the line, it turned into a business with coaches becoming by far the highest paid university employees and many athletes goal being professional sports rather than their degree. Majority of sports in college do not generate more than they cost, even football at MSU does not, do we really expect fans and donors to continue to fund facilities, NIL, higher booster fees and season tickets while some of these athletes make more in NIL, tuition, and living allowance than some of their hard working fans. I don't think it is a sustainable situation for most colleges.

The portal is great for the student but if team doesn't win fan support may dwindle. NIL is great for student but can it continue to be funded, all athletes put in the time, but only the already high funded sports will get high dollars and higher profile athletes will make more. We have truly moved on from amateur athletics.

Bullsh*t. Starting in middle school, parents are transferring to different schools, communities and states. Taking their kids to athletic trainers (Bierman's mom traveling from Hardin to Billings even in Montana!)

There's one hell of a lot more money in athletics than going to school just to get a higher paying job. Many of our new billionaires are college dropouts. A lot more money to be had as a parent raising a professional athlete than an accountant, engineer, school teacher, pharmacist...

Which part is ******. I said college athletics has changed to a business. Your comment about what parents do reinforces that. I just feel that at some point the majority of colleges will not be able to afford to keep up.

Do you really believe that more professional athletes are created each year than the professionals you listed. MSU had a record year in 2022 getting what 4 athletes into NFL. I am guessing if you totaled up graduates in football, MBB, WBB, T&F, VB, Golf, etc there are more than 4.

I accept only a small part of your first paragraph. When the Power 5 schools turned their athletic departments over to the school's athletic foundations many years ago, college athletics became a viable non-profit for more than a select few. As a 501(c)(3) an athletic department must spend ALL their fundraising money. They must distribute ALL of their funds each and every year and your MSU accountants are pretty good at showing an annual loss. (Check their books. I'll bet damn near every athletic department shows a loss).

One only needs to look at this school's athletic foundation and your rhetorical question in the second paragraph has a solid answer:

https://georgiadogs.com/news/2023/2/1/2 ... nformation

Now, will the NCAA survive? Virtually all FCS and smaller divisions are dependent upon state funding for their athletic departments (the Dakota schools are exceptions). Sports management would be a great career for many frequent posters on BobcatNation. Back to my question about the NCAA--I don't know and at this juncture in life, I don't care.

Anyway...

Edit* Better yet, go start one!

https://www.501c3.org/what-is-a-501c3/

One more edit: *https://publish.illinois.edu/illinoisbl ... pt-status/

So you really do think more kids graduate college and get paid as professional athletes than get other careers. Well just agree to disagree.

Nope. I believe the student-athlete is in the process of getting a slice of the pie the NCAA has been giving to the grown men in the NCAA, Athletic Departments to include but not limited to coaches. I sure as hell don't go to regular season games to watch the coaches, go to bowl games to watch the suits hand out trophies. If I watch a game on the book tube one of my favorite watering holes, there's no sound so we don't have to listen to some washed up jock reminisce about his glory days while getting paid millions per year.

It's about time. I'm glad this young lady, among others, is finally getting compensation above FCOA as the adults have been getting for stupid commercials:

https://www.si.com/college/2023/04/12/l ... ampionship

College athletics have been huge business for many years and the workers are finally getting their piece of the pie.

And you limit the pro athletes to the NFL. How about all those who happen to enter sports administration, coaching, teaching, recreation instructors and I can list so damn many other professions contingent upon their collegiate athletics but I'm really too damn old to remember a coaching clinic I attended many years ago. We all tend to forget about all of our lifetime sports, hell, even rodeo.

College football will flourish not perish because of both the portal and NIL contracts. The large schools are providing decent FCOA stipends while the kid is in school. Pretty sizeable lawsuit ongoing about these very issues.

[CelticCat]

All I know is, right now, I have very little interest in putting my butt back in the arena seats at MSU women and men's games next year. Now.....if somehow magic occurs and poof, suddenly rosters materialize and competitive Men's and Women's team show up....great, I'll probably be back.. But right now, I'm not interested. I'm thankful that we have many fans who are fine with the musical chairs of rotating rosters. I'm just not one of them.

So if I’m understanding your stance, you have an acceptable number of transfers allowed (likely zero), and if it’s more than that you won’t show up to the games… unless the new guys start winning. Do the guys staying deserve your support or are they punished because of the transferring players?

Don't you think it is easier for more casual fans to follow a team with a high percentage of players that return for 4 years. And all teams need casual fans along with their core supporters. There is a risk of losing this type fan with constant turnover unless you can keep winning at high percentage.

This isn’t a casual fan, this is a fair-weather fan.

[grizzh8r]

The transfer portal won't ruin college athletics any more than free agency ruined professional sports.

Why do people continue to bring up this comparison? It's not even close to the same thing. Professional athletes don't get to pick up and leave their teams as they please. That is the main problem with the portal and the NCAA version of free agency.

Those who are worried Osobor may leave, where would he go? He's a good player, but he isn't good enough to get more PT at a high major or power 6 school.

Bingo. There is a reason that ALL professional sports have "Restricted Free Agency". And it's exactly because of the reason @aucat describes. The portal is completely unrestricted free agency, which unfavorably shifts the balance of power to the upper echelon schools. Just as it would in the NFL/MLB/NHL/NBA. Right now, fans of small market pro teams at least have hope that if they hit a home run with draft picks and have the right combination of coaching talent, administration and avoid injuries, there's a chance they might be able to pull off a playoff run every so often. I too fear that the portal in it's current state may decimate College sports as we know it, if some sort of restrictions aren't put in place.

[tetoncat]

All I know is, right now, I have very little interest in putting my butt back in the arena seats at MSU women and men's games next year. Now.....if somehow magic occurs and poof, suddenly rosters materialize and competitive Men's and Women's team show up....great, I'll probably be back.. But right now, I'm not interested. I'm thankful that we have many fans who are fine with the musical chairs of rotating rosters. I'm just not one of them.

So if I’m understanding your stance, you have an acceptable number of transfers allowed (likely zero), and if it’s more than that you won’t show up to the games… unless the new guys start winning. Do the guys staying deserve your support or are they punished because of the transferring players?

Don't you think it is easier for more casual fans to follow a team with a high percentage of players that return for 4 years. And all teams need casual fans along with their core supporters. There is a risk of losing this type fan with constant turnover unless you can keep winning at high percentage.

This isn’t a casual fan, this is a fair-weather fan.

Maybe you personally know them, I don't. Clearly said earlier not a graduate but has supported MSU and attended games, got season tickets recently. Not everyone will be happy with what portal or NIL leads too. But we can't reject opinions of casual or "fair weather" fans. What if many others feel same way. Football has been able to build on past gains, but your kidding yourself if you dont think there are a lot of fair weather fans attending and supporting that go away if the success doesn't continue. It is an event now and MBB was becoming one as well. Hopefully MBB can make right hire and get right transfers, recruits to continue success.

[MSU01]

The transfer portal won't ruin college athletics any more than free agency ruined professional sports.

Why do people continue to bring up this comparison? It's not even close to the same thing. Professional athletes don't get to pick up and leave their teams as they please. That is the main problem with the portal and the NCAA version of free agency.

Those who are worried Osobor may leave, where would he go? He's a good player, but he isn't good enough to get more PT at a high major or power 6 school.

Bingo. There is a reason that ALL professional sports have "Restricted Free Agency". And it's exactly because of the reason @aucat describes. The portal is completely unrestricted free agency, which unfavorably shifts the balance of power to the upper echelon schools. Just as it would in the NFL/MLB/NHL/NBA. Right now, fans of small market pro teams at least have hope that if they hit a home run with draft picks and have the right combination of coaching talent, administration and avoid injuries, there's a chance they might be able to pull off a playoff run every so often. I too fear that the portal in it's current state may decimate College sports as we know it, if some sort of restrictions aren't put in place.

You don't think the balance of power was already shifted way towards the upper echelon schools even before the portal? Duke, Kansas, Kentucky, Arizona, etc. have their pick of the best high school players every year and then everyone else gets to pick through what's left over to find talent. MSU doesn't end up with Raequan Battle without the portal, and without Raequan Battle we'd likely still be looking back at 1996 as MSU's last NCAA appearance. I'd argue that the portal helps a school like MSU more than it hurts because it allows them to attract talent they never would have had a chance to recruit when the player was coming out of high school.

Fans who cheered loudly for MSU's back-to-back transfer-heavy championship teams are speaking out both sides of their mouths somewhat when all of a sudden the portal is ruining college sports when it goes the other way.

[CatBlitz]

Look forward to the all freshman team we'll be rolling out next year...


/s

[grizzh8r]

The transfer portal won't ruin college athletics any more than free agency ruined professional sports.

Why do people continue to bring up this comparison? It's not even close to the same thing. Professional athletes don't get to pick up and leave their teams as they please. That is the main problem with the portal and the NCAA version of free agency.

Those who are worried Osobor may leave, where would he go? He's a good player, but he isn't good enough to get more PT at a high major or power 6 school.

Bingo. There is a reason that ALL professional sports have "Restricted Free Agency". And it's exactly because of the reason @aucat describes. The portal is completely unrestricted free agency, which unfavorably shifts the balance of power to the upper echelon schools. Just as it would in the NFL/MLB/NHL/NBA. Right now, fans of small market pro teams at least have hope that if they hit a home run with draft picks and have the right combination of coaching talent, administration and avoid injuries, there's a chance they might be able to pull off a playoff run every so often. I too fear that the portal in it's current state may decimate College sports as we know it, if some sort of restrictions aren't put in place.

You don't think the balance of power was already shifted way towards the upper echelon schools even before the portal? Duke, Kansas, Kentucky, Arizona, etc. have their pick of the best high school players every year and then everyone else gets to pick through what's left over to find talent. MSU doesn't end up with Raequan Battle without the portal, and without Raequan Battle we'd likely still be looking back at 1996 as MSU's last NCAA appearance. I'd argue that the portal helps a school like MSU more than it hurts because it allows them to attract talent they never would have had a chance to recruit when the player was coming out of high school.

Fans who cheered loudly for MSU's back-to-back transfer-heavy championship teams are speaking out both sides of their mouths somewhat when all of a sudden the portal is ruining college sports when it goes the other way.

Of course the blue bloods get their pick of the litter. But highly rated high school recruits flame out all the time, which is why the pressure to recruit at an extremely high level is always on coaches at said schools. The portal takes this pressure off, at the expense of smaller schools. This year's NCAA tournament was an aberration. The big schools will lure the hidden gems developed at lower levels away to bolster their rosters. One needs to look no further than the top talent in the BSC this season. Most of them have been poached. Venters to Gonzaga. Battle likely going P5.

Battle will be on his 3rd D1 team in 4 seasons. I personally have a problem with that, as do many others. I felt the grad transfer rule was ok, and along those same lines, I feel like players should have the ability to transfer once - for any reason - whenever they choose, for situations exactly like what brought Battle to MSU. He "just didn't fit" at UW, and that will happen to many 18-22 year olds. Call it a Get out of jail free card", or a "hall pass". Want to transfer a second time? Sorry, drop down a division or sit out a year, just like it used to be.

[BleedingBLue]

The transfer portal won't ruin college athletics any more than free agency ruined professional sports.

Why do people continue to bring up this comparison? It's not even close to the same thing. Professional athletes don't get to pick up and leave their teams as they please. That is the main problem with the portal and the NCAA version of free agency.

Those who are worried Osobor may leave, where would he go? He's a good player, but he isn't good enough to get more PT at a high major or power 6 school.

Bingo. There is a reason that ALL professional sports have "Restricted Free Agency". And it's exactly because of the reason @aucat describes. The portal is completely unrestricted free agency, which unfavorably shifts the balance of power to the upper echelon schools. Just as it would in the NFL/MLB/NHL/NBA. Right now, fans of small market pro teams at least have hope that if they hit a home run with draft picks and have the right combination of coaching talent, administration and avoid injuries, there's a chance they might be able to pull off a playoff run every so often. I too fear that the portal in it's current state may decimate College sports as we know it, if some sort of restrictions aren't put in place.

You don't think the balance of power was already shifted way towards the upper echelon schools even before the portal? Duke, Kansas, Kentucky, Arizona, etc. have their pick of the best high school players every year and then everyone else gets to pick through what's left over to find talent. MSU doesn't end up with Raequan Battle without the portal, and without Raequan Battle we'd likely still be looking back at 1996 as MSU's last NCAA appearance. I'd argue that the portal helps a school like MSU more than it hurts because it allows them to attract talent they never would have had a chance to recruit when the player was coming out of high school.

Fans who cheered loudly for MSU's back-to-back transfer-heavy championship teams are speaking out both sides of their mouths somewhat when all of a sudden the portal is ruining college sports when it goes the other way.

While it's great the Cats did benefit from the portal, it is helping the upper echelon even more, at least in basketball. In the last decade especially, the parody in college basketball has been fantastic. Its not a coincidence that a 16 seed finally beat a 1, two 15 seeds have made the sweet 16 and lower seeds are winning more than ever. There are so many good players they can't all go to power 6 schools, at least until they show what they can do at the NCAA level then hit the portal and head to a power 6 school.

There are a ton of guys that will be at their 3rd school this next season and that's crazy. I don't know what the solution is but the way things are now isn't it. The portal is good for the athletes in some ways, but it's barely regulated and bad for college athletics. If they want to be treated like pros, then that should include their commitments to schools. Schools that put time, money and effort into recruiting, developing and educating them.

Battle is going to school number 3 if he does indeed leave MSU. MSU was school number 2 and that's what the portal should be designed for, not full on free agency once or twice a year for anyone who chooses the portal. I'll use professional sports again, but pro athletes don't get to leave when their coach is fired, retires or moves on.

[grizzh8r]

The transfer portal won't ruin college athletics any more than free agency ruined professional sports.

Why do people continue to bring up this comparison? It's not even close to the same thing. Professional athletes don't get to pick up and leave their teams as they please. That is the main problem with the portal and the NCAA version of free agency.

Those who are worried Osobor may leave, where would he go? He's a good player, but he isn't good enough to get more PT at a high major or power 6 school.

Bingo. There is a reason that ALL professional sports have "Restricted Free Agency". And it's exactly because of the reason @aucat describes. The portal is completely unrestricted free agency, which unfavorably shifts the balance of power to the upper echelon schools. Just as it would in the NFL/MLB/NHL/NBA. Right now, fans of small market pro teams at least have hope that if they hit a home run with draft picks and have the right combination of coaching talent, administration and avoid injuries, there's a chance they might be able to pull off a playoff run every so often. I too fear that the portal in it's current state may decimate College sports as we know it, if some sort of restrictions aren't put in place.

You don't think the balance of power was already shifted way towards the upper echelon schools even before the portal? Duke, Kansas, Kentucky, Arizona, etc. have their pick of the best high school players every year and then everyone else gets to pick through what's left over to find talent. MSU doesn't end up with Raequan Battle without the portal, and without Raequan Battle we'd likely still be looking back at 1996 as MSU's last NCAA appearance. I'd argue that the portal helps a school like MSU more than it hurts because it allows them to attract talent they never would have had a chance to recruit when the player was coming out of high school.

Fans who cheered loudly for MSU's back-to-back transfer-heavy championship teams are speaking out both sides of their mouths somewhat when all of a sudden the portal is ruining college sports when it goes the other way.

While it's great the Cats did benefit from the portal, it is helping the upper echelon even more, at least in basketball. In the last decade especially, the parody in college basketball has been fantastic. Its not a coincidence that a 16 seed finally beat a 1, two 15 seeds have made the sweet 16 and lower seeds are winning more than ever. There are so many good players they can't all go to power 6 schools, at least until they show what they can do at the NCAA level then hit the portal and head to a power 6 school.

There are a ton of guys that will be at their 3rd school this next season and that's crazy. I don't know what the solution is but the way things are now isn't it. The portal is good for the athletes in some ways, but it's barely regulated and bad for college athletics. If they want to be treated like pros, then that should include their commitments to schools. Schools that put time, money and effort into recruiting, developing and educating them.

Battle is going to school number 3 if he does indeed leave MSU. MSU was school number 2 and that's what the portal should be designed for, not full on free agency once or twice a year for anyone who chooses the portal. I'll use professional sports again, but pro athletes don't get to leave when their coach is fired, retires or moves on.

Wow, get out of my head @BleedingBLue !

[BleedingBLue]

The transfer portal won't ruin college athletics any more than free agency ruined professional sports.

Why do people continue to bring up this comparison? It's not even close to the same thing. Professional athletes don't get to pick up and leave their teams as they please. That is the main problem with the portal and the NCAA version of free agency.

Those who are worried Osobor may leave, where would he go? He's a good player, but he isn't good enough to get more PT at a high major or power 6 school.

Bingo. There is a reason that ALL professional sports have "Restricted Free Agency". And it's exactly because of the reason @aucat describes. The portal is completely unrestricted free agency, which unfavorably shifts the balance of power to the upper echelon schools. Just as it would in the NFL/MLB/NHL/NBA. Right now, fans of small market pro teams at least have hope that if they hit a home run with draft picks and have the right combination of coaching talent, administration and avoid injuries, there's a chance they might be able to pull off a playoff run every so often. I too fear that the portal in it's current state may decimate College sports as we know it, if some sort of restrictions aren't put in place.

You don't think the balance of power was already shifted way towards the upper echelon schools even before the portal? Duke, Kansas, Kentucky, Arizona, etc. have their pick of the best high school players every year and then everyone else gets to pick through what's left over to find talent. MSU doesn't end up with Raequan Battle without the portal, and without Raequan Battle we'd likely still be looking back at 1996 as MSU's last NCAA appearance. I'd argue that the portal helps a school like MSU more than it hurts because it allows them to attract talent they never would have had a chance to recruit when the player was coming out of high school.

Fans who cheered loudly for MSU's back-to-back transfer-heavy championship teams are speaking out both sides of their mouths somewhat when all of a sudden the portal is ruining college sports when it goes the other way.

Of course the blue bloods get their pick of the litter. But highly rated high school recruits flame out all the time, which is why the pressure to recruit at an extremely high level is always on coaches at said schools. The portal takes this pressure off, at the expense of smaller schools. This year's NCAA tournament was an aberration. The big schools will lure the hidden gems developed at lower levels away to bolster their rosters. One needs to look no further than the top talent in the BSC this season. Most of them have been poached. Venters to Gonzaga. Battle likely going P5.

Battle will be on his 3rd D1 team in 4 seasons. I personally have a problem with that, as do many others. I felt the grad transfer rule was ok, and along those same lines, I feel like players should have the ability to transfer once - for any reason - whenever they choose, for situations exactly like what brought Battle to MSU. He "just didn't fit" at UW, and that will happen to many 18-22 year olds. Call it a Get out of jail free card", or a "hall pass". Want to transfer a second time? Sorry, drop down a division or sit out a year, just like it used to be.

My thoughts exactly. I personally think you should have to spend 2 years at a school before you are allowed a free transfer as well. If you want to transfer after your true freshman year, you sit out the next year. If you redshirted you better think long and hard about leaving after year 1 and having to sit again. The only other free transfer you get after the 1st is as a grad transfer.

[Bobcat4Ever]

m
All I know is, right now, I have very little interest in putting my butt back in the arena seats at MSU women and men's games next year. Now.....if somehow magic occurs and poof, suddenly rosters materialize and competitive Men's and Women's team show up....great, I'll probably be back.. But right now, I'm not interested. I'm thankful that we have many fans who are fine with the musical chairs of rotating rosters. I'm just not one of them.

I would hold onto those women’s tickets. There has been very minimal roster turmoil there this year.

Forget the seniors Madison, Kola, and Darian. When they signed their offers they were going to play four seasons here — that’s all. We all expected this to be their last year. They went through Senior Night. Their careers are complete. It looks like two of them are going to try to exercise their Covid option. Makes no difference. Madison isn’t. Makes no difference. Seniors. Gone.

Who else? Ava Ranson. Wasn’t getting minutes, wasn’t likely to. Most teams lose a player or two every year that’s not getting minutes. Mia Hughes. Interesting case. Graduating already with highest honors. Always a ‘tweener by size. She was competing with Marah Dykstra (and others), but Marah is four inches taller. Undersized forwards can succeed but they really have to show out. Mia isn’t just leaving the team, I think she’s retiring from basketball. So Ava and Mia — no minutes, not moving up the depth chart, no real impact.

Grace Beasley. A transfer that didn’t work out. We’ve had a few of those for various reasons. Injuries. Didn’t fit the team. Coaches’ error. Even a DUI way back. Grace was athletic but played at cross-purposes to the team.

Now — WBB has lost one quality, impactful player due to transfer. Leia Beattie. Reserve of the Year in the Big Sky I think. That one needs a little pain remedy. Unfortunately, this also happens. Remember Annika Lai? Played two years, starting at guard. Scored a winning basket in our run to the Big Sky Championship. Surprisingly (to fans) she left to return home to Colorado. I did see her playing again and I don’t remember for whom.

There was a 6’3” red-haired player. I can’t remember her name. Pretty good. Left after one year. Turned up playing for a team that played for the NAIA national championship in Billings.

Another guard, played one or two years, blonde, really good 3-point shooter, starting or close to it, surprised fans by leaving. I can’t remember her name. Ellie or something.

So, WBB is down Leia Beattie and a disgruntled transfer in Grace Beasley from the players expected to be returning. Nothing unusual, really, but hated to see Leia go. Good all-around player.

Just four or five years ago the ‘Cats were the youngest Division I team in the nation. Six true freshmen (including Leia). And they won and won and won. Look at the new players that are coming on board, and some of the hot prospects. A totally unexpected bonus fell to the ‘Cats in Brooke Berry. No churn this year in the coaching staff. Not comparable to MBB at all.

Hang onto those season tickets.

[MSU01]

The transfer portal won't ruin college athletics any more than free agency ruined professional sports.

Why do people continue to bring up this comparison? It's not even close to the same thing. Professional athletes don't get to pick up and leave their teams as they please. That is the main problem with the portal and the NCAA version of free agency.

Those who are worried Osobor may leave, where would he go? He's a good player, but he isn't good enough to get more PT at a high major or power 6 school.

Bingo. There is a reason that ALL professional sports have "Restricted Free Agency". And it's exactly because of the reason @aucat describes. The portal is completely unrestricted free agency, which unfavorably shifts the balance of power to the upper echelon schools. Just as it would in the NFL/MLB/NHL/NBA. Right now, fans of small market pro teams at least have hope that if they hit a home run with draft picks and have the right combination of coaching talent, administration and avoid injuries, there's a chance they might be able to pull off a playoff run every so often. I too fear that the portal in it's current state may decimate College sports as we know it, if some sort of restrictions aren't put in place.

You don't think the balance of power was already shifted way towards the upper echelon schools even before the portal? Duke, Kansas, Kentucky, Arizona, etc. have their pick of the best high school players every year and then everyone else gets to pick through what's left over to find talent. MSU doesn't end up with Raequan Battle without the portal, and without Raequan Battle we'd likely still be looking back at 1996 as MSU's last NCAA appearance. I'd argue that the portal helps a school like MSU more than it hurts because it allows them to attract talent they never would have had a chance to recruit when the player was coming out of high school.

Fans who cheered loudly for MSU's back-to-back transfer-heavy championship teams are speaking out both sides of their mouths somewhat when all of a sudden the portal is ruining college sports when it goes the other way.

Of course the blue bloods get their pick of the litter. But highly rated high school recruits flame out all the time, which is why the pressure to recruit at an extremely high level is always on coaches at said schools. The portal takes this pressure off, at the expense of smaller schools. This year's NCAA tournament was an aberration. The big schools will lure the hidden gems developed at lower levels away to bolster their rosters. One needs to look no further than the top talent in the BSC this season. Most of them have been poached. Venters to Gonzaga. Battle likely going P5.

Battle will be on his 3rd D1 team in 4 seasons. I personally have a problem with that, as do many others. I felt the grad transfer rule was ok, and along those same lines, I feel like players should have the ability to transfer once - for any reason - whenever they choose, for situations exactly like what brought Battle to MSU. He "just didn't fit" at UW, and that will happen to many 18-22 year olds. Call it a Get out of jail free card", or a "hall pass". Want to transfer a second time? Sorry, drop down a division or sit out a year, just like it used to be.

The solution to the problem of so many players playing for 3 teams is simple - wait a year until all of the Covid year players have exhausted their eligibility and we go back to a system of "5 years to play 4" that applies to everyone. Without the Covid year, Ifanse, Battle, Brown, White, and Bad Bear would all be graduated seniors instead of graduate transfers.

[Ilikecats]

The transfer portal won't ruin college athletics any more than free agency ruined professional sports.

Why do people continue to bring up this comparison? It's not even close to the same thing. Professional athletes don't get to pick up and leave their teams as they please. That is the main problem with the portal and the NCAA version of free agency.

Those who are worried Osobor may leave, where would he go? He's a good player, but he isn't good enough to get more PT at a high major or power 6 school.

Bingo. There is a reason that ALL professional sports have "Restricted Free Agency". And it's exactly because of the reason @aucat describes. The portal is completely unrestricted free agency, which unfavorably shifts the balance of power to the upper echelon schools. Just as it would in the NFL/MLB/NHL/NBA. Right now, fans of small market pro teams at least have hope that if they hit a home run with draft picks and have the right combination of coaching talent, administration and avoid injuries, there's a chance they might be able to pull off a playoff run every so often. I too fear that the portal in it's current state may decimate College sports as we know it, if some sort of restrictions aren't put in place.

You don't think the balance of power was already shifted way towards the upper echelon schools even before the portal? Duke, Kansas, Kentucky, Arizona, etc. have their pick of the best high school players every year and then everyone else gets to pick through what's left over to find talent. MSU doesn't end up with Raequan Battle without the portal, and without Raequan Battle we'd likely still be looking back at 1996 as MSU's last NCAA appearance. I'd argue that the portal helps a school like MSU more than it hurts because it allows them to attract talent they never would have had a chance to recruit when the player was coming out of high school.

Fans who cheered loudly for MSU's back-to-back transfer-heavy championship teams are speaking out both sides of their mouths somewhat when all of a sudden the portal is ruining college sports when it goes the other way.

Of course the blue bloods get their pick of the litter. But highly rated high school recruits flame out all the time, which is why the pressure to recruit at an extremely high level is always on coaches at said schools. The portal takes this pressure off, at the expense of smaller schools. This year's NCAA tournament was an aberration. The big schools will lure the hidden gems developed at lower levels away to bolster their rosters. One needs to look no further than the top talent in the BSC this season. Most of them have been poached. Venters to Gonzaga. Battle likely going P5.

Battle will be on his 3rd D1 team in 4 seasons. I personally have a problem with that, as do many others. I felt the grad transfer rule was ok, and along those same lines, I feel like players should have the ability to transfer once - for any reason - whenever they choose, for situations exactly like what brought Battle to MSU. He "just didn't fit" at UW, and that will happen to many 18-22 year olds. Call it a Get out of jail free card", or a "hall pass". Want to transfer a second time? Sorry, drop down a division or sit out a year, just like it used to be.

Yup, we should just chain them to the gym door every night and tell them when they can’t leave to play somewhere else. It’s not lost on me that we care so much about our rights, but want to limit the rights of others. Sprinkle made a business decision and left for a lucrative opportunity. His players ( who are indentured servants) should stay in Bozeman until their time is up, because that’s what’s best for them! I don’t want players to leave either, but I don’t want them to be in Bozeman because we won’t let them go anywhere else. I looked at the NCAA TOURNEY this year and thought it was the most competitive ever! But transferring is ruining the game, but when we win with transfers it’s ok! If you want to leave….. go play D2! That’s the answer!

[CelticCat]

All I know is, right now, I have very little interest in putting my butt back in the arena seats at MSU women and men's games next year. Now.....if somehow magic occurs and poof, suddenly rosters materialize and competitive Men's and Women's team show up....great, I'll probably be back.. But right now, I'm not interested. I'm thankful that we have many fans who are fine with the musical chairs of rotating rosters. I'm just not one of them.

So if I’m understanding your stance, you have an acceptable number of transfers allowed (likely zero), and if it’s more than that you won’t show up to the games… unless the new guys start winning. Do the guys staying deserve your support or are they punished because of the transferring players?

Don't you think it is easier for more casual fans to follow a team with a high percentage of players that return for 4 years. And all teams need casual fans along with their core supporters. There is a risk of losing this type fan with constant turnover unless you can keep winning at high percentage.

So if MSU continues to finish top 1-3 in the conference, make a tournament run every year and even go dancing every few years, our attendance will... drop because the roster turns over too much? Maybe it will but that seems so illogical to me. As always, winning cures everything.

I don't love the constant transferring either but I fully support a player's right to do so. There is no reason a college student athlete should be forced to play at an institution if they want to leave.

[Hawks86]

I'm sure those opposed to the portal wont be upset when the new coach has to rebuild the roster with HS and JC guys.

[tetoncat]

All I know is, right now, I have very little interest in putting my butt back in the arena seats at MSU women and men's games next year. Now.....if somehow magic occurs and poof, suddenly rosters materialize and competitive Men's and Women's team show up....great, I'll probably be back.. But right now, I'm not interested. I'm thankful that we have many fans who are fine with the musical chairs of rotating rosters. I'm just not one of them.

So if I’m understanding your stance, you have an acceptable number of transfers allowed (likely zero), and if it’s more than that you won’t show up to the games… unless the new guys start winning. Do the guys staying deserve your support or are they punished because of the transferring players?

Don't you think it is easier for more casual fans to follow a team with a high percentage of players that return for 4 years. And all teams need casual fans along with their core supporters. There is a risk of losing this type fan with constant turnover unless you can keep winning at high percentage.

So if MSU continues to finish top 1-3 in the conference, make a tournament run every year and even go dancing every few years, our attendance will... drop because the roster turns over too much? Maybe it will but that seems so illogical to me. As always, winning cures everything.

I don't love the constant transferring either but I fully support a player's right to do so. There is no reason a college student athlete should be forced to play at an institution if they want to leave.

That is what I said , read my last sentence. I haven't said players shouldn't transfer, and many fans will continue to attend, some won't that is my point, but it is their right, as fans.

Someone above called players Indentured servants. Give me a break. NIL, food, tuition, housing. Not all get full, but most are not playing for nothing and just like they can transfer they can choose to not play. But if donors choose to not support where does money come from. NAIA, D3, D2, dont have ability to pay these things and MSU only can in some sports.

I don't disagree they should get something, but not 100s of thousands, but if getting paid there should be some limits just like pros.

We won't agree and that is okay, fanboard and there can be different opinions.

[CelticCat]

All I know is, right now, I have very little interest in putting my butt back in the arena seats at MSU women and men's games next year. Now.....if somehow magic occurs and poof, suddenly rosters materialize and competitive Men's and Women's team show up....great, I'll probably be back.. But right now, I'm not interested. I'm thankful that we have many fans who are fine with the musical chairs of rotating rosters. I'm just not one of them.

So if I’m understanding your stance, you have an acceptable number of transfers allowed (likely zero), and if it’s more than that you won’t show up to the games… unless the new guys start winning. Do the guys staying deserve your support or are they punished because of the transferring players?

Don't you think it is easier for more casual fans to follow a team with a high percentage of players that return for 4 years. And all teams need casual fans along with their core supporters. There is a risk of losing this type fan with constant turnover unless you can keep winning at high percentage.

So if MSU continues to finish top 1-3 in the conference, make a tournament run every year and even go dancing every few years, our attendance will... drop because the roster turns over too much? Maybe it will but that seems so illogical to me. As always, winning cures everything.

I don't love the constant transferring either but I fully support a player's right to do so. There is no reason a college student athlete should be forced to play at an institution if they want to leave.

That is what I said , read my last sentence. I haven't said players shouldn't transfer, and many fans will continue to attend, some won't that is my point, but it is their right, as fans.

Someone above called players Indentured servants. Give me a break. NIL, food, tuition, housing. Not all get full, but most are not playing for nothing and just like they can transfer they can choose to not play. But if donors choose to not support where does money come from. NAIA, D3, D2, dont have ability to pay these things and MSU only can in some sports.

I don't disagree they should get something, but not 100s of thousands, but if getting paid there should be some limits just like pros.

We won't agree and that is okay, fanboard and there can be different opinions.

I understand someone can support the player's rights and also not like it to the point of not attending a game, I get that. I'm just saying I find it hard to believe attendance will tank if we keep winning every year, regardless of how many players come in and out. Maybe I'm the naive one here.

[Cat Grad]

Have just a few more days to get tickets for this game!

https://www.ticketsmarter.com/p/sec-foo ... ip-tickets

Have a little time for this one:

https://www.ticketsmarter.com/p/sec-men ... %241048.88.

[Cat Grad]

This school's one and done coach doesn't seem to be losing too much interest from the fans.

https://autos.yahoo.com/kentucky-freshm ... 31942.html

Don't see much difference, actually, between a kid leaving school early to become a millionaire in the NBA and one transferring to another college to become a millionaire.

[CelticCat]

Osobor gone