Transfer portal grumbling

[IA4irish]

Sorry but wanted to combine some thoughts. Buchner, styles, Diggs, and kollie all enter the portal in the last week. These were supposed to be backbone of the program type players. I think some of these decisions are really shortsighted on the player’s part.

Separate note - The Athletic article on Deion sanders at Colorado is embarrassing, and I think Colorado should be ashamed as a great academic university. Not looking forward to where the college game is going.

 

[stlnd01]

Sorry but wanted to combine some thoughts. Buchner, styles, Diggs, and kollie all enter the portal in the last week. These were supposed to be backbone of the program type players. I think some of these decisions are really shortsighted on the player’s part.

Separate note - The Athletic article on Deion sanders at Colorado is embarrassing, and I think Colorado should be ashamed as a great academic university. Not looking forward to where the college game is going.

This right here. I *kind of* get it for Buchner. I guess Kollie was getting passed up and if he wants to play now he needs to move down a peg. How Styles and Diggs actually better their situation by leaving, I’m not clear. And all in all, the list of guys who’ve transferred out of Notre Dame and made it to the NFL is quite short.

But, to your other point, what’s going on at Colorado - and less flamboyantly at lots of other schools - only justifies these decisions. If a school won’t be loyal to a player why should the player be loyal to the school? Or even - loyalty aside - stick it out in the hopes of developing but also at risk they’ll be recruited over. This is an enormous mess.

The only solution I see is four-year scholarships, with real consequence to schools for processing kids, in exchange for ending the free transfer rule. That might cool this off.

 

[IA4irish]

I don’t blame any coach for going to the NFL. Who wants to deal with this?

 

[NDRock]

Makes for exciting off seasons.

 

[Jimmy3Putt]

I wish them all well, but GFY.
Not with us then you're against us.

 

[Katzenboyer]

Our best player next year will most likely be the guy we added at QB through the transfer portal.

I'm fine with it. If Buchner, Diggs, Styles etc. think they have a better opportunity elsewhere, go for it.

 

[Sea Turtle]

We are losing guys 4 to 1 in sustainable. And will lose more.

This can't continue. It's not sustainble.

 

[1rishftw]

I don’t blame any coach for going to the NFL. Who wants to deal with this?

same shit just lower pay so.... I do

 

[Crazy Balki]

This right here. I *kind of* get it for Buchner. I guess Kollie was getting passed up and if he wants to play now he needs to move down a peg. How Styles and Diggs actually better their situation by leaving, I’m not clear. And all in all, the list of guys who’ve transferred out of Notre Dame and made it to the NFL is quite short.

But, to your other point, what’s going on at Colorado - and less flamboyantly at lots of other schools - only justifies these decisions. If a school won’t be loyal to a player why should the player be loyal to the school? Or even - loyalty aside - stick it out in the hopes of developing but also at risk they’ll be recruited over. This is an enormous mess.

The only solution I see is four-year scholarships, with real consequence to schools for processing kids, in exchange for ending the free transfer rule. That might cool this off.

Buchner lost the starting job to Hartman.

Kollie was getting passed up by younger guys.

Diggs saw a situation where he wasn't the #1 and guys like Payne, Price and Love were going to see time at RB. He'd have his place in the rotation, but it's unlikely he was going to see as many reps as he did last year.

Styles was passed up. They aren't moving him to DB if he was expected to start. And he isn't transferring if he was expected to be a primary contributor at CB.

 

[Te'o4Heisman]

We are losing guys 4 to 1 in sustainable. And will lose more.

This can't continue. It's not sustainble.

Shocker

 

[stlnd01]

Buchner lost the starting job to Hartman.

Kollie was getting passed up by younger guys.

Diggs saw a situation where he wasn't the #1 and guys like Payne, Price and Love were going to see time at RB. He'd have his place in the rotation, but it's unlikely he was going to see as many reps as he did last year.

Styles was passed up. They aren't moving him to DB if he was expected to start. And he isn't transferring if he was expected to be a primary contributor at CB.

Buchner was never going to be the starter in '23. But the job was his to lose in '24.
Kollie could have stuck with, been a rotational LB and started next year. Or he could start this year on a lesser team (Vandy).
Diggs was RB1A, a leader and potential captain, giving the NFL plenty of tape without wearing out the tread on his tires. Or he can either split carries at an SEC power or drop down a peg to be a bellcow.
Yes, Styles was passed up at WR but could have either A: been a second-string WR or B: flipped to corner with an eye to being a primary contributor next year. Instead he'll, what, be a backup corner at Ohio State or a WR at a lesser school.

What these moves have in common is a lack of patience, a sense that because they weren't inked in as a starter during spring ball it was never going to happen. So you move down a level on the college football totem pole to win a higher likelihood of playing time.
Experience would tell you that's a mistake.

 

[Sea Turtle]

Buchner lost the starting job to Hartman.

Kollie was getting passed up by younger guys.

Diggs saw a situation where he wasn't the #1 and guys like Payne, Price and Love were going to see time at RB. He'd have his place in the rotation, but it's unlikely he was going to see as many reps as he did last year.

Styles was passed up. They aren't moving him to DB if he was expected to start. And he isn't transferring if he was expected to be a primary contributor at CB.

The problem is that we can't replace these losses like other teams can replace theirs.

 

[Giddyup]

The transfer portal is retarded and the way the commie us govt puts pressure on the peasant neck.

 

[NorthDakota]

The transfer portal is retarded and the way the commie us govt puts pressure on the peasant neck.

Hell yeah based take

 

[Crazy Balki]

The problem is that we can't replace these losses like other teams can replace theirs.

I'm not sure utilizing the portal to replace backups is a viable model.

Most relevant names in the portal are going somewhere to increase their playing time.

 

[Bobias]

These are all just terrible excuses for the problems that this university imposes upon itself. Every university is facing this now, but only ND, with their ridiculous undergrad transfer policies, is truly suffering because of it. Every other program just reloads with everybody else's flaky dandruff players, but ND shoots themselves in their own foot voluntarily.

ND on its own island isn't going to sway the NCAA or congress. So them taking this self righteous stance on their UG transfer policy is essentially a self inflicted death penalty. ND is basically standing on an iceberg slowly drifting away from shore with a paddle on board but refuse to touch it. Like a Neanderthal clubbing a computer to fix it....

After 30 years of this annoying "return to glory" BS, it's really hard to support a program like this when they, themselves, cause all their own problems.

Hate BK all you want, but the guy knew what's up with this place and how little real support this program gives its coaches. He saw the writing on the wall with Swarbrick and Jenkins digging the grave for this program, standing on their own sanctimonious island.

ND used to be a program known for pushing the boundary of media and program relevance through any means necessary with Rockne being the biggest proponent. He knew how important it was for success and it was a key contributor that fueled the program through the 60s-90s. However, it hasn't evolved, and by many measures, has regressed because of its own high-road, high and mighty, holier-than-thou, dogmatic BS.

I'm not saying we should be dropping millions on high schoolers, but to deny basic transfer eligibility for many qualified student-athletes on the basis of, "well, you weren't here from the beginning" is the dumbest moral hill you could die upon. Especially when the players are now empowered/encouraged to leave whenever they feel like.

I have faith that the boosters will wrench the pressure on Swardick/Junkins on this issue and get it solved, but with all due hyperbole, if not, we might be looking like Stanford soon and trending towards the Ivy league. This program is being gutted like a fish on Friday, and I just hope that we can go .500 in the Ivy in 2035, and maybe beat them real D1 Navy boys on an off year.

 

[Sea Turtle]

These are all just terrible excuses for the problems that this university imposes upon itself. Every university is facing this now, but only ND, with their ridiculous undergrad transfer policies, is truly suffering because of it. Every other program just reloads with everybody else's flaky dandruff players, but ND shoots themselves in their own foot voluntarily.

ND on its own island isn't going to sway the NCAA or congress. So them taking this self righteous stance on their UG transfer policy is essentially a self inflicted death penalty. ND is basically standing on an iceberg slowly drifting away from shore with a paddle on board but refuse to touch it. Like a Neanderthal clubbing a computer to fix it....

After 30 years of this annoying "return to glory" BS, it's really hard to support a program like this when they, themselves, cause all their own problems.

Hate BK all you want, but the guy knew what's up with this place and how little real support this program gives its coaches. He saw the writing on the wall with Swarbrick and Jenkins digging the grave for this program, standing on their own sanctimonious island.

ND used to be a program known for pushing the boundary of media and program relevance through any means necessary with Rockne being the biggest proponent. He knew how important it was for success and it was a key contributor that fueled the program through the 60s-90s. However, it hasn't evolved, and by many measures, has regressed because of its own high-road, high and mighty, holier-than-thou, dogmatic BS.

I'm not saying we should be dropping millions on high schoolers, but to deny basic transfer eligibility for many qualified student-athletes on the basis of, "well, you weren't here from the beginning" is the dumbest moral hill you could die upon. Especially when the players are now empowered/encouraged to leave whenever they feel like.

I have faith that the boosters will wrench the pressure on Swardick/Junkins on this issue and get it solved, but with all due hyperbole, if not, we might be looking like Stanford soon and trending towards the Ivy league. This program is being gutted like a fish on Friday, and I just hope that we can go .500 in the Ivy in 2035, and maybe beat them real D1 Navy boys on an off year.

It's sad that the this was THE program that was proactive, forward thinking, on the cutting edge and now they treat the program like it's a museum.

 

[Bobias]

It's sad that the this was THE program that was proactive, forward thinking, on the cutting edge and now they treat the program like it's a museum.

They went from growth-mode to dividend mode...

 

[pumpdog20]

TB to Bama
Diggs to LSU, Styles to OSU, Kollie to Vandy (all assumed)

If our backups are this good, we should be a title contender right? LOL

 

[stlnd01]

TB to Bama
Diggs to LSU, Styles to OSU, Kollie to Vandy (all assumed)

If our backups are this good, we should be a title contender right? LOL

It's funny but would be pretty striking if three of our four significant transfers land at "better/more talented" programs after being unable to win a starting job at ND. Usually our outbound transfers go down a notch or two. Times are changing.

 

[ACamp1900]

TB to Bama
Diggs to LSU, Styles to OSU, Kollie to Vandy (all assumed)

If our backups are this good, we should be a title contender right? LOL

 

[Lucky Mammal]

I think it is unwise to group these four together. I think if you look at each situation individually, and accept the the way the times are now, then it really isn't a mark against the coaches. Each situation was different. If you talk to any coach at any level right now, they are all pulling their hair out with the portal. It isn't sustainable the way it is. But...the portal takes some away, but it has also helped ND in the past.

Buchner - got pissed they brought in Hartman; been at college for 3 years with little playing time; jumped to the guy that recruited him for 2-3 years. Can't blame him. I think it's telling that he left the door open to come back to ND if the Bama opportunity didn't proceed like he wanted. I believe it was Bama or come back to ND. He's comfortable with Rees. Let's face it, he looked questionable during the Spring game, and was the same all but one time the media was allowed to see practice.

Diggs - it has been documented that he has been homesick since he arrived at ND. As good as a talent he was, if you have one foot out the door, that isn't healthy for the team. Does it hurt the team and depth, yes, but you can't blame him for wanting to go home especially since it's widely known he wanted to go back home. Good luck at LSU. He'll probably play right away. How can the coaches relieve homesickness?

Styles - Anyone that watched games last year knew his body language said he didn't want to be at ND. It didn't work out. He goes home to play with his brother. Again, can't blame him. Do you really think he could have made a difference at DB with two years remaining? I don't.

Kollie - everyone loved his star rating, but something didn't click for him. By all accounts, he was going to have to fight for the #2 spot as a junior. He got frustrated, and now going to the position coach that recruited him for 2-3 years. Makes him comfortable, AND it's close to home. Again, can't blame Kollie.

Oh....and are all the people with this angst the same people that pissed and whined about Jordan Johnson not seeing the field at ND? Isn't he at his 3rd or 4th school now with little to no playing time under his belt? We don't see practice everyday. Gotta trust the coaches. Please don't be like AAU/club parents pissing & whining about their kids playing time.

 

[NDohio]

Yeah, there is a lot of angst about the portal and how it negatively effects ND, but we got Sam Freaking Hartman through the portal and are gonna win a lot of games because of that…

 

[Valpodoc85]

I wonder how close Kollie, Styles and Diggs are? Even Buchner.

 

[irishandy]

Muffet McGraw retiring because of NIL and no loyalty is making more & more sense.

The transfer portal is out of control & too easy for cry babies like Diggs and no kid is worth these enormous NIL deals they are getting.

ND has had their share of portal additions. Some of these kids are going to realize later in life it is not as easy as they have it now.

I miss the days where free education was enough.

Notre Dame coaching legend Muffet McGraw laments NIL

As far as Notre Dame legend and Basketball Hall of Famer Muffet McGraw is concerned, she got out of coaching at the right time. With the emergence of NIL, one more layer has been added to a college athletics landscape that's becoming as complicated to understand as tax law.…

fightingirishwire.usatoday.com

 

[Fbolt]

On this, I agree with MM. No Loyalty has turned me away from the NFL and it's starting to look like college is moving in the same direction. Disappointing.

 

[Giddyup]

Elites don’t want us peasants to enjoy too much football

 

[PutuporShutup]

I think it is unwise to group these four together. I think if you look at each situation individually, and accept the the way the times are now, then it really isn't a mark against the coaches. Each situation was different. If you talk to any coach at any level right now, they are all pulling their hair out with the portal. It isn't sustainable the way it is. But...the portal takes some away, but it has also helped ND in the past.

Buchner - got pissed they brought in Hartman; been at college for 3 years with little playing time; jumped to the guy that recruited him for 2-3 years. Can't blame him. I think it's telling that he left the door open to come back to ND if the Bama opportunity didn't proceed like he wanted. I believe it was Bama or come back to ND. He's comfortable with Rees. Let's face it, he looked questionable during the Spring game, and was the same all but one time the media was allowed to see practice.

Diggs - it has been documented that he has been homesick since he arrived at ND. As good as a talent he was, if you have one foot out the door, that isn't healthy for the team. Does it hurt the team and depth, yes, but you can't blame him for wanting to go home especially since it's widely known he wanted to go back home. Good luck at LSU. He'll probably play right away. How can the coaches relieve homesickness?

Styles - Anyone that watched games last year knew his body language said he didn't want to be at ND. It didn't work out. He goes home to play with his brother. Again, can't blame him. Do you really think he could have made a difference at DB with two years remaining? I don't.

Kollie - everyone loved his star rating, but something didn't click for him. By all accounts, he was going to have to fight for the #2 spot as a junior. He got frustrated, and now going to the position coach that recruited him for 2-3 years. Makes him comfortable, AND it's close to home. Again, can't blame Kollie.

Oh....and are all the people with this angst the same people that pissed and whined about Jordan Johnson not seeing the field at ND? Isn't he at his 3rd or 4th school now with little to no playing time under his belt? We don't see practice everyday. Gotta trust the coaches. Please don't be like AAU/club parents pissing & whining about their kids playing time.

You can’t play the position much worse than Marist did last year, and kollie wasn’t given a shot for whatever reason.

Diggs isn’t as good as he thinks he is

Styles had to play wr at nd because our wr room has been so bad

Buchner hasn’t looked comfortable at qb since the Cincy game in 21

 

[CANONIZEFATHERSORIN]

These are all just terrible excuses for the problems that this university imposes upon itself. Every university is facing this now, but only ND, with their ridiculous undergrad transfer policies, is truly suffering because of it. Every other program just reloads with everybody else's flaky dandruff players, but ND shoots themselves in their own foot voluntarily.

ND on its own island isn't going to sway the NCAA or congress. So them taking this self righteous stance on their UG transfer policy is essentially a self inflicted death penalty. ND is basically standing on an iceberg slowly drifting away from shore with a paddle on board but refuse to touch it. Like a Neanderthal clubbing a computer to fix it....

After 30 years of this annoying "return to glory" BS, it's really hard to support a program like this when they, themselves, cause all their own problems.

Hate BK all you want, but the guy knew what's up with this place and how little real support this program gives its coaches. He saw the writing on the wall with Swarbrick and Jenkins digging the grave for this program, standing on their own sanctimonious island.

ND used to be a program known for pushing the boundary of media and program relevance through any means necessary with Rockne being the biggest proponent. He knew how important it was for success and it was a key contributor that fueled the program through the 60s-90s. However, it hasn't evolved, and by many measures, has regressed because of its own high-road, high and mighty, holier-than-thou, dogmatic BS.

I'm not saying we should be dropping millions on high schoolers, but to deny basic transfer eligibility for many qualified student-athletes on the basis of, "well, you weren't here from the beginning" is the dumbest moral hill you could die upon. Especially when the players are now empowered/encouraged to leave whenever they feel like.

I have faith that the boosters will wrench the pressure on Swardick/Junkins on this issue and get it solved, but with all due hyperbole, if not, we might be looking like Stanford soon and trending towards the Ivy league. This program is being gutted like a fish on Friday, and I just hope that we can go .500 in the Ivy in 2035, and maybe beat them real D1 Navy boys on an off year.

The Ivy League will never have us lol, we can't even get AAU designation. All the more important that we keep big-time football: ND is a unique institution for combining genuinely top academics with genuinely top football. We need to maintain our distinctiveness

 

[Crazy Balki]

Buchner was never going to be the starter in '23. But the job was his to lose in '24.
Kollie could have stuck with, been a rotational LB and started next year. Or he could start this year on a lesser team (Vandy).
Diggs was RB1A, a leader and potential captain, giving the NFL plenty of tape without wearing out the tread on his tires. Or he can either split carries at an SEC power or drop down a peg to be a bellcow.
Yes, Styles was passed up at WR but could have either A: been a second-string WR or B: flipped to corner with an eye to being a primary contributor next year. Instead he'll, what, be a backup corner at Ohio State or a WR at a lesser school.

What these moves have in common is a lack of patience, a sense that because they weren't inked in as a starter during spring ball it was never going to happen. So you move down a level on the college football totem pole to win a higher likelihood of playing time.
Experience would tell you that's a mistake.

Yeah, well Buchner is trying to start in '23. Surprisingly, he has a better shot to start at Bama in '23 than ND.

I think the fact that Kollie didn't stick is that he realized his role in the rotation was not going to expand, namely because again, he got passed up.

Diggs WAS a 1A. That's just it. Past tense. That wasn't going to be the case. By all accounts, Price was going to be a huge factor in the RB room last year prior to the injury. Gi'Bran Payne has taken a huge step by all accounts and will factor in this year. Plus you have Love being added in the summer. That's 3 new backs all getting a non-inconsequential number of reps.

My guess is Styles doesn't want to be a backup, and sees opportunities for more playing time at other schools. Ohio State is an odd choice, but while they do have 2 returning starters, neither of them were Ben Morrison or even really Cam Hart levels, so he probably sees the opportunity to play a lot more there than here, where he'd have to compete with Morrison, Mickey and Hart, plus Harper in the nickel slot.

You say it's an issue of patience, but the harsh reality is that this game has no room for patience. Your career can end in an instant if you fail to seize the opportunity to get on the field. Kollie, Styles and Diggs all were seeing their opportunity to get on the field being passed or at least shrunk due to younger players earning their opportunity. Buchner is an exception, but QB is arguably the position with virtually zero margin for error. He has an opportunity to start in the Power 5 in 2023, something he clearly wasn't going to get at ND. Sure, he could wait, but why would he when he could start now under his old OC and Nick Saban?