Transfers

[FUBeAR]

So far:
Tommy Bledsoe kicker
London Lewis D Line
Travis Blackshear
Adrian Hope

These guys were all listed as seniors, so to this point, none are surprises.

* “Tommy Bledsoe” AKA Timmy Bleekrode was listed on the 2021 FU Roster as a Redshirt Sophomore. He is a 2019 HS graduate.
* Travis Blackshear was listed on the 2021 FU Roster as a Junior. He is a 2018 HS graduate.
* London Lewis was listed on the 2021 FU Roster as a Senior. He is a 2017 HS graduate.
* Adrián Hope was listed on the 2021 FU Roster as a Redshirt Senior. He is a 2017 HS graduate.

Both Lewis and Hope redshirted during the 2017 FU season, so dunno why they were classified differently. Believe both have 1 year of eligibility remaining …from their 2020 (2021 Spring) season not ’counting’ due to Covid.

Bleekrode’s redshirt year as 2019, his 2020 (2021 Spring) season didn’t count (Covid), so seems he would have 3 seasons of eligibility remaining…and he has Tweeted that he has rec’d an offer from Nebraska.

Blackshear redshirted in 2018. He played 2019-2021, but his 2020 (2021 Spring) Season didn’t count due to Covid, so seems he would have 2 years of eligibility remaining.

I am not smart enough to figure out eligibility + COVID.

I am not saying that these guys are all "seniors" in the way we ordinarily use the term. They were recognized on senior day and listed in the media guide as players that would be graduating. To that end, the fact that they are transferring is not "new" news, as it has been published for a number of weeks.

Regarding Lewis, he says he's got two years remaining and graduates in December.

Yeah…not really smart enough to work it out mathematically either, but FUBeAR can opine on the philosophy of it, write a poem about it, diagram the sentence in which the rules are written, and discuss it’s sociological impact on modern society.

But…we’ll try the math anyhow…

Pre-Covid Rule was 5 NCAA calendar years (“clock” years) to use 4 years Athletics eligibility
2017 - Redshirt Season = 1 clock year | 0 Athletics years
2018 - R-FR season (didn’t play…so maybe getting a retroactive medical waiver or something for this year) = 1 clock year | 1 Athletics year (maybe)
2019 - R-SO season = 1 clock year | 1 Athletics year
2020 - Covid = Ollie Ollie, it’s all free
2021 - R-JR season = 1 clock year | 1 Athletics year

Add ‘em up…4 clock years | 3 Athletics years
5-4 = 1 clock year remaining &
4-3 = 1 Athletics year remaining

So…not sure why he was listed as a “Senior” instead of a “Redshirt Junior” and not sure if he picked up a “6 clock years” waiver when he didn’t play in 2018…giving him a 6/4

[FUBeAR]

Can the portal be followed online ?

Don’t think so - not directly without an NCAA Login. There are Twitter Accounts wholly devoted to reporting on it.

Here’s a numbers update (2,100 total…if accurate) and an interesting (if self-serving) ‘take’ from a Clemson Coach who, most likely has an NCAA Login / Access to the Portal…

[apaladin]

It’s much, much worse than NFL free agency.

[Paul C]

It’s much, much worse than NFL free agency.

Yep. At least an NFL FA has to wait for his contract to expire.

[The Jackal]

It still seems to me like a math problem. I'm sure there are some schools doing much of their recruiting through the portal, but at some level, there's not enough available spots for all the kids in the portal.

[FUBeAR]

This morning FUBeAR, a bear with some talent acquisition/talent acquisition systems experience, finds himself wondering if the NCAA Transfer Portal now, or soon will, have a dual-party interface like Monster.com or CareerBuilder where Teams will be able to post the specifications of the Positions for which they would like to recruit and Players will be able to post their requirements/desires?

It only makes sense that it does/will, doesn’t it?

Players can post their minimum acceptable NIL and Cost of Attendance requirements and Teams can post the avg NIL for their Starters at each position and market their ‘guaranteed’ money like the 50k deal for OLmen at Texas or the Paid Tuition for ‘walk-ons’ at BYU.

Meanwhile…last night FUBeAR watched the 3 hour (1 hour was “Intermission” for them to eat dinner) National Football Foundation Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on ESPN3 last night. Great to see Coach Sheridan being honored with many former Paladin Players present there to witness his induction. The entire, highly enjoyable, broadcast reminded FUBeAR of the many, many reasons why he has had such a passionate life-long love affair with College Football.

Teamwork, Leadership, Lifetime Relationships with Teammates & Coaches, Academic Successes, Perseverance, Discipline, Mentoring, Celebration of Victories & Championships, Overcoming Adversity of Defeats or Failures, Hard Work, Paying of one’s “Dues,” and Giving Back were just some of the things that were highlighted numerous times.

NIL Compensation, the Transfer Portal, Players opting out of their Teams’ post-season games, Coaches abandoning their Teams prior to (potential) Playoff games and/or at the next ‘shiny’ offer that comes their way, and Divisional/Conference Realignment were things NOT highlighted. In fact, some of these were sarcastically joked about by a few speakers.

Yep…FUBeAR was definitely ‘all in his feelings’ watching / processing that Ceremony last night. Feeling kinda like his ‘best girl’ and he have grown rather far apart and wondering if we are going to soon reach the point of irreconcilable differences.

[Furmanoid]

The portal problem may be mitigated by the market. If 1000 guys enter the portal and end up at home flipping burgers because nobody wanted them, then MAYBE next year’s kids will give it some thought before they bolt. But I like your portal Indeed/Job Monster idea. You should pitch that on Shark Tank! Why not make the process as efficient as possible. I have a hard time hating on transfers (unless they are transferring from my team) because sometimes good players have to watch their career wasted because of stupid coaches unless they transfer.

As for NIL, do you think many FCS teams will go there? I get the feeling very few would have boosters willing to do that AND regular booster stuff.

And what happens when a girls tennis team gets mad because they aren’t getting paid like football players? I bet a sneaky lawyer can find some way to claim the school is violating Title IX.

[FUBeAR]

As for NIL, do you think many FCS teams will go there? I get the feeling very few would have boosters willing to do that AND regular booster stuff.

[Furmanoid]

My first response, like that of likely 99.99999999%, was “Wtf is Tyler Riddell?” So does Bojangles really expect a spike in sales from that endorsement or is this just a franchisee/ETSU fan playing at fake NIL? For all we know he’s paying in dirty rice and biscuit coupons. So if this is the deal for the QB for the best team in the SoCon, then it doesn’t look like NIL is too pervasive yet.

[FUBeAR]

My first response, like that of likely 99.99999999%, was “Wtf is Tyler Riddell?” So does Bojangles really expect a spike in sales from that endorsement or is this just a franchisee/ETSU fan playing at fake NIL? For all we know he’s paying in dirty rice and biscuit coupons. So if this is the deal for the QB for the best team in the SoCon, then it doesn’t look like NIL is too pervasive yet.

Bo’s is right by the entrance to the road to the stadium in JC. It’s a nice tie-in for them.

[HKB60]

This morning FUBeAR, a bear with some talent acquisition/talent acquisition systems experience, finds himself wondering if the NCAA Transfer Portal now, or soon will, have a dual-party interface like Monster.com or CareerBuilder where Teams will be able to post the specifications of the Positions for which they would like to recruit and Players will be able to post their requirements/desires?

It only makes sense that it does/will, doesn’t it?

Players can post their minimum acceptable NIL and Cost of Attendance requirements and Teams can post the avg NIL for their Starters at each position and market their ‘guaranteed’ money like the 50k deal for OLmen at Texas or the Paid Tuition for ‘walk-ons’ at BYU.

Meanwhile…last night FUBeAR watched the 3 hour (1 hour was “Intermission” for them to eat dinner) National Football Foundation Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on ESPN3 last night. Great to see Coach Sheridan being honored with many former Paladin Players present there to witness his induction. The entire, highly enjoyable, broadcast reminded FUBeAR of the many, many reasons why he has had such a passionate life-long love affair with College Football.

Teamwork, Leadership, Lifetime Relationships with Teammates & Coaches, Academic Successes, Perseverance, Discipline, Mentoring, Celebration of Victories & Championships, Overcoming Adversity of Defeats or Failures, Hard Work, Paying of one’s “Dues,” and Giving Back were just some of the things that were highlighted numerous times.

NIL Compensation, the Transfer Portal, Players opting out of their Teams’ post-season games, Coaches abandoning their Teams prior to (potential) Playoff games and/or at the next ‘shiny’ offer that comes their way, and Divisional/Conference Realignment were things NOT highlighted. In fact, some of these were sarcastically joked about by a few speakers.

Yep…FUBeAR was definitely ‘all in his feelings’ watching / processing that Ceremony last night. Feeling kinda like his ‘best girl’ and he have grown rather far apart and wondering if we are going to soon reach the point of irreconcilable differences.

As much as it pains me to agree with FUBeAR, the portal, NIL and mass exodus of coaches is a detriment to college football. I also watched Coach Sheridan get inducted into the NFF HOF and the days of coaches and players being loyal to each other is running out the door. The biggest problem for the Paladins will be the mass exodus of players that graduate with one or two more years of eligibility left and FU does not have a graduate program for them.
The portal is a double edge sword for the players because not all of them will find a new team!!

[The Jackal]

That video is a pretty good representation of every Bojangles experience I've ever had.

[FurmAlum]

Can a player who enters the transfer portal, who does not land with a new team, remain with his current team and play another season?

Assuming he does not graduate or if he does can find a suitable grad program at his current school?

[FUBeAR]

Can a player who enters the transfer portal, who does not land with a new team, remain with his current team and play another season?

Assuming he does not graduate or if he does can find a suitable grad program at his current school?

It is FUBeAR’s understanding that if the Coach/Program will allow him to return after his self-portalization experience, then he can…if they choose to renew his annually renewable scholarship…if they still have a scholarship available…or, if not, if he opts to become a walk-on AND the Coach/Program has/is willing to grant a Roster Spot to him.

[Furmanoid]

Seems like it would be up to the school. It would be best if schools all practiced some tough love and allowed these guy to learn from the consequences of their decisions. The lesson they would learn would be that there is always somebody willing to take the job if you don't want it, and even if they aren't quite as good as you, nobody cares because they're loyal and you aren't and its just FCS anyway so hit the road.