Transfer Portal 2023-2024...

[Cruiser]

That is the politically correct version. Turns out it really meant, let's all cash in while we can. Which I have no problem with, but has nothing to do with TEAM or Alabama.

The new version is LANQ; Let All Naysayers Quit

 

[bamaga]

Uhh, a Georgia friend of mine from Suwannee, Ga just Told me some disappointing news about the possible future of one of our RB’s. Seems #22 is thinking about the portal.

Until there are legit regulations and framework put on the transfer portal, every team will have to deal with the potential of mass exoduses or key player losses from year to year. HEAD coaching changes should be an exemption for players transferring without penalty of any sort. It's currently our turn to deal with it but outside of HEAD COACHing changes, there needs to be teeth of some sort put back into transferring. That will concurrently curb movement from year to year from boosters and schools using NIL $$$ to get a kid to transfer to their school.

I disagree with the coaching exemption. To a team losing the HC, the next year could be like a probation year , lose too many, there would really be no way to recover lost players. The portal to replace players won’t open until after spring ball, and by then you would just be taking ‘leftovers’ . The bigger issue is player tampering, either back channel or just outright tampering before the player decides to enter the portal.

A player should be ok to transfer If a coach leaves, but, we have to figure out a way to allow it without decimating an entire roster , like with what happened at OU. Or maybe Bama ???

 

[bamaga]

Anyone heard anything on Justice Haynes?

 

[Bamabuzzard]

I disagree with the coaching exemption. To a team losing the HC, the next year could be like a probation year , lose too many, there would really be no way to recover lost players. The portal to replace players won’t open until after spring ball, and by then you would just be taking ‘leftovers’ . The bigger issue is player tampering, either back channel or just outright tampering before the player decides to enter the portal.

I just don't see any other way around it that doesn't severely punish the player who, let's all be honest, signed with the program under the assumption the HC wanting him would be there.

 

[81usaf92]

Anyone heard anything on Justice Haynes?

Leaning towards staying last I heard.

 

[TideEngineer08]

…or our concerns have become a reality as far as DeBoer as a recruiter..

we are literally losing our best players, not re-recruiting the team.

From what I've seen over the last 3 seasons, we've had a lot of malcontents in the program. The sheer amount of talent covered up a lot of it. But it's the reason you a team that is supposedly the most talented - 3 #1 rated recruiting classes in a row - that can't win a title and is blowing games in each season that it ought to win, and barely beating teams it ought to blow out.

 

[squib]

I had this talk with my nephew last night. He can't believe anyone would leave Bama EVER. I told him there is a huge difference between being a fan and being a player raised on meager means. Fans love the team. Players have other concerns.

From all accounts, Bama is behind on NIL cash supply. All these "leaders" tweeting they will be staying--maybe it is love for Bama--or maybe the new staff has to spend limited money on just a certain number of players. So some get paid--and part of that payment requires posting on twitter about continuing the grind and including a few elephant emojis. The "losers" walked in, made their demands and the staff turned their pockets inside out (moth flying out for effect). Next thing you know, they are eating grapes elseswhere. And yes, you would think some of those that left should have been given the cash to stay--but without knowing how much cash is in the safe, it is hard to know how cards should be played. Pay it all to keep one 5*; divy the same amount up to keep 3 4*s?

With Saban, Bama might have been able to hold this together for a bit longer with the argument that Bama NIL cash comes from NFL contracts. But now Saban is gone and the NIL recruiting pitch requires cash-on-hand. As much as I love and respect the Capstone and know that Bama has had many successful grads, I am not sure Bama can keep up when it comes to cash payments. Where would Bama be ranked in ability to fleece donors for NIL--maybe top 20. Maybe not.

Finally, recent success may hurt when making the phone call to potential donors. If this were 2009 on the heals of losing to Florida in the SEC championship game and no title in almost 20 years, every blue collar worker and business owner in the state would have written a check to win. Now.....well the hunger is satiated a bit.

It is going to be interesting, and I am here for the ride. I was a fan when I was biting my nails during a Kentucky game in the mid '90s, and I will be a fan next year and going forward--albeit maybe less so.

The game has changed. Not sure the players really have. Who is to say what All-Bama Stabler, for example, would have done if someone would have doubled his NIL money back in the day. That to say, I don't really blame any of them. I hate what has happened to the game--but it was inevitable, and we are just seeing it play out when we have been a bit protected from it to this point.

 

[CrimsonEyeshade]

From what I've seen over the last 3 seasons, we've had a lot of malcontents in the program. The sheer amount of talent covered up a lot of it. But it's the reason you a team that is supposedly the most talented - 3 #1 rated recruiting classes in a row - that can't win a title and is blowing games in each season that it ought to win, and barely beating teams it ought to blow out.

Winning is hard.

 

[davefrat]

It stinks that so many of the players are considering the portal. That said, if you look at it from the perspective that many of these guys committed to Bama in large part because of the opportunity to play for the greatest coach to ever walk a college sideline and now they're going to be playing for a head coach (and other coaches) they may never have even heard of until a month or so ago, it makes it more understandable that they are looking elsewhere.

I don't like it, and it's going to hurt us at least in the short term, but it's not all that surprising.

And regardless of his ability, I can understand how many of the players on defense are like "who, huh, what?" in terms of the new DC hire.

 

[Evil Crimson Dragon]

Because 2 players have left? You can't count Bond, because he didn't even take CKD's call. Word was that Amari NiBlack was thinking about entering the portal even with Saban there. That leaves Trey Amos, and a few guys that I don't recognize. Everyone else has stayed so far. No matter who the coach was, there was always gonna be a few guys enter the portal. There haven't really been that many so far. I'd say he's done a pretty good job. Even if Downs leaves, it would be an overreaction to say that means he's not going to be a good recruiter.

Gloom, despair and agony on me

 

[Evil Crimson Dragon]

Uhh, a Georgia friend of mine from Suwannee, Ga just Told me some disappointing news about the possible future of one of our RB’s. Seems #22 is thinking about the portal.

I disagree with the coaching exemption. To a team losing the HC, the next year could be like a probation year , lose too many, there would really be no way to recover lost players. The portal to replace players won’t open until after spring ball, and by then you would just be taking ‘leftovers’ . The bigger issue is player tampering, either back channel or just outright tampering before the player decides to enter the portal.

A player should be ok to transfer If a coach leaves, but, we have to figure out a way to allow it without decimating an entire roster , like with what happened at OU. Or maybe Bama ???

Without even giving the new staff a chance...................sounds about right. Wonder who's in his ear?

 

[Ledsteplin]

Well we were all concerned about Coach DeBoer’s ability to recruit. We all said his first job would be to re-recruit the team. Sad to say, but so far our very best players offensively and defensively are the ones hitting the portal, and rumored to be hitting the portal. It’s made worse that it’s mostly to Sark and Smart..

DeBoer, Morgan, and others have been working hard to keep players from leaving. We've lost a few good ones, but we've also kept more good ones than we've lost. Look at Bond though. He didn't even answer DeBoer's call. He could only see $$$ and the promise of Texas stardom dangling before his eyes. Not much coach could do. We still have a lot of good players who want to play. We owe them our thanks and support.

 

[The Ols]

S

Uhh, a Georgia friend of mine from Suwannee, Ga just Told me some disappointing news about the possible future of one of our RB’s. Seems #22 is thinking about the portal.

I disagree with the coaching exemption. To a team losing the HC, the next year could be like a probation year , lose too many, there would really be no way to recover lost players. The portal to replace players won’t open until after spring ball, and by then you would just be taking ‘leftovers’ . The bigger issue is player tampering, either back channel or just outright tampering before the player decides to enter the portal.

A player should be ok to transfer If a coach leaves, but, we have to figure out a way to allow it without decimating an entire roster , like with what happened at OU. Or maybe Bama ???

So someone from Suwannee
Georgia said he’s going to Georgia?
Shocked…shocked I tell ya!!! 🤣

 

[Evil Crimson Dragon]

I had this talk with my nephew last night. He can't believe anyone would leave Bama EVER. I told him there is a huge difference between being a fan and being a player raised on meager means. Fans love the team. Players have other concerns.

From all accounts, Bama is behind on NIL cash supply. All these "leaders" tweeting they will be staying--maybe it is love for Bama--or maybe the new staff has to spend limited money on just a certain number of players. So some get paid--and part of that payment requires posting on twitter about continuing the grind and including a few elephant emojis. The "losers" walked in, made their demands and the staff turned their pockets inside out (moth flying out for effect). Next thing you know, they are eating grapes elseswhere. And yes, you would think some of those that left should have been given the cash to stay--but without knowing how much cash is in the safe, it is hard to know how cards should be played. Pay it all to keep one 5*; divy the same amount up to keep 3 4*s?

With Saban, Bama might have been able to hold this together for a bit longer with the argument that Bama NIL cash comes from NFL contracts. But now Saban is gone and the NIL recruiting pitch requires cash-on-hand. As much as I love and respect the Capstone and know that Bama has had many successful grads, I am not sure Bama can keep up when it comes to cash payments. Where would Bama be ranked in ability to fleece donors for NIL--maybe top 20. Maybe not.

Finally, recent success may hurt when making the phone call to potential donors. If this were 2009 on the heals of losing to Florida in the SEC championship game and no title in almost 20 years, every blue collar worker and business owner in the state would have written a check to win. Now.....well the hunger is satiated a bit.

It is going to be interesting, and I am here for the ride. I was a fan when I was biting my nails during a Kentucky game in the mid '90s, and I will be a fan next year and going forward--albeit maybe less so.

The game has changed. Not sure the players really have. Who is to say what All-Bama Stabler, for example, would have done if someone would have doubled his NIL money back in the day. That to say, I don't really blame any of them. I hate what has happened to the game--but it was inevitable, and we are just seeing it play out when we have been a bit protected from it to this point.

There is money out there..................just have to present it to the donors and tell them what is at stake. I know Bama also has some very rich alumni

 

[teamplayer]

I understand transferring but not until you know what you are leaving. <y advice to all players is give the new guy a chance if it does not work out then transfer when the spring portal opens. Going to a new coach and team seems worse than staying and playing with a new coach and the same team mates. I don't get what these players are thinking

I agree. It does not make any sense unless it is only about money. It clearly isn't about the team. It doesn't even seem to be about playing time. Therefore, I have to assume it is all about money. If Bama supporters are paying a guy x amount and another university has supporters who will pay 2x or 3x, they take the money and run. I think players had a great deal before NIL, but I don't blame them for taking the money. However, I wouldn't give them a nickel of my money, and I hope greed makes the whole thing come crashing down. Yea, college football!

 

[Chukker Veteran]

I’ve recovered my password and I’m trying to figure out what’s happened to the game…all this money…outright buying players…Bond morphs into Goldfinger…the man with the Midas touch…

I‘ve wondered what our prospects are to pick up some top flight talent using this same transfer portal that is working so hard against us. Someone mentioned a defensive player coming from Washington. Is the portal going to be a one way door this year, with all the talent leaving and few joining? I guess it’s too early to tell.

I‘m rooting for DeBoer to poach a few key players from some of our rivals but if you step back…that can almost be a strange thing to root for.

 

[countrytider]

Nope, just not a pot stirrer, an actual fan.

haha when you got nothing else, start questioning someone’s “fandom” simply because I stated my concerns. It’s a message board. I’ve rolled with the Tide since 82, so make up what you want.

Sorry I hurt your feelings. ❄️

 

[Evil Crimson Dragon]

I’ve recovered my password and I’m trying to figure out what’s happened to the game…all this money…outright buying players…Bond morphs into Goldfinger…the man with the Midas touch…

I‘ve wondered what our prospects are to pick up some top flight talent using this same transfer portal that is working so hard against us. Someone mentioned a defensive player coming from Washington. Is the portal going to be a one way door this year, with all the talent leaving and few joining? I guess it’s too early to tell.

I‘m rooting for DeBoer to poach a few key players from some of our rivals but if you step back…that can almost be a strange thing to root for.

I think at this point Bama is trying to get to the magic number of 85............and may sign some out of the portal as well. There are a couple from UW that are considering Bama strongly

 

[crimsonaudio]

This one is a head scratcher unless he thinks that Jabari is coming to take his spot.

I mean, he did this once before - when he came to Bama. Maybe he's fishing for more NIL and this is a way of leveraging more cash from Bama, or maybe he's gone.

It's becoming obvious that the portal reveals character. We tend to like it when it's to our benefit, but the reality is some of these guys only think about the money / themselves.

 

[crimsonaudio]

@Countrytider2 and @The Ols - take it to DM or you're getting suspended. Only warning.

No one is here for your petty back and forth slap fight.