McDowell to the Portal

[HookedonGriz]

You are correct. Bobby has stated that publicly that once you hit the portal, don’t let the door hit you on the way out.

I understand this and don't even necessarily disagree. But in the world of coaching these days it seems like a pretty hypocritical mindset.

I understand that players and coaches are different. But what is the same about both is they are going to do what they think is best for them, and jump on opportunities as they arrive. Head coaches apply for new jobs all the time and either leave, don't get hired, or withdraw their name and continue coaching their current team. They test the waters and if the fit is there they bounce and if it's not they stay put. I don't have an issue with that. Just seems weird to take such a strict approach on a player when they do the same thing. And to turn around and act like the player betrayed the team by looking elsewhere just doesn't mesh in my view.

I'm not saying every coach should welcome back every player with open arms. It's more the mindset that the player didn't care about the team when they pursue options when coaches do it daily.

I agree with a lot of what you said I think it’s a fair and levelheaded post.

 

[HikeGlacier]

The portal should be private and your current team should not know you've entered. They could have agents do all of their communicating like coaches do so no one knows you're pursuing another gig. Coaches are getting a taste of their own medicine and they don't like it.

 

[3-7-77]

Considering his undergrad major, Psychology, football and academics look to have forced him to make a choice. To paraphrase Yogi, he came to the fork in the road, and took it. Time will tell where he is heading. I hope it's the right choice for Him.

 

[HelenaHandBasket]

The portal should be private and your current team should not know you've entered. They could have agents do all of their communicating like coaches do so no one knows you're pursuing another gig. Coaches are getting a taste of their own medicine and they don't like it.

Bad idea.

 

[kemajic]

And to turn around and act like the player betrayed the team by looking elsewhere just doesn't mesh in my view.

I'm not saying every coach should welcome back every player with open arms. It's more the mindset that the player didn't care about the team when they pursue options when coaches do it daily.

It's not about betrayal, it's about not having players around who are not committed to being there. It's also a bit of a barrier for players considering the portal. No coming back; it's the right position. Every player could be flirting with the portal if there was no risk, making it worse than it is. Commitment to the program is a key to team chemistry and winning.

 

[AZGrizFan]

Considering his undergrad major, Psychology, football and academics look to have forced him to make a choice. To paraphrase Yogi, he came to the fork in the road, and took it. Time will tell where he is heading. I hope it's the right choice for Him.

I’m confused. If he graduated from Central Ark with his undergraduate degree, wouldn’t it make sense that he was accepted HERE for his graduate degree? Isn’t that the requirement for a grad transfer? And if that’s the case now he has to find ANOTHER program that will accept him in the graduate psych program?

 

[ilovethecats]

And to turn around and act like the player betrayed the team by looking elsewhere just doesn't mesh in my view.

I'm not saying every coach should welcome back every player with open arms. It's more the mindset that the player didn't care about the team when they pursue options when coaches do it daily.

It's not about betrayal, it's about not having players around who are not committed to being there. It's also a bit of a barrier for players considering the portal. No coming back; it's the right position. Every player could be flirting with the portal if there was no risk, making it worse than it is. Commitment to the program is a key to team chemistry and winning.

But that's my point Kem. This is saying that you're not committed to the program if you have opportunities in the portal. Is a coach not committed to the team if they have opportunities to coach somewhere else? What about coaches that throw their name in the ring, don't get the job and continue coaching their same team? Do you really believe these coaches are no longer committed? I don't think that's the case.

You have coaches on your current staff that will likely going to have opportunities at other schools. Do you automatically send them packing if they test the waters? That's not realistic because it happens to every school every year.

Coaching and playing may be two different things. But commitment is a two way street. It's equal. So if we're going to suggest players aren't committed to the team when they have portal opportunities, shouldn't we think the same thing when coaches have coaching opportunities? :?

 

[EverettGriz]

I actually tend to agree with ILTC under normal circumstances. Consider undergrad players who declare for the NFL or NBA (it seems to happen more in BB) without hiring an agent to explore where they might be drafted. I've never heard of a team not taking that player back. I see nothing wrong with exploring whether there may be an opportunity to "do better".

Now, there are instances in which the staff feels for whatever a reason a player doesn't fit in their program, and in those cases I can see the coach not wanting the player back given that.

 

[ilovethecats]

I actually tend to agree with ILTC under normal circumstances. Consider undergrad players who declare for the NFL or NBA (it seems to happen more in BB) without hiring an agent to explore where they might be drafted. I've never heard of a team not taking that player back. I see nothing wrong with exploring whether there may be an opportunity to "do better".

Now, there are instances in which the staff feels for whatever a reason a player doesn't fit in their program, and in those cases I can see the coach not wanting the player back given that.

No question EG. And as I said every situation is different. I don't expect coaches to welcome every player back who enters the portal.

My gripe is simply the thinking that a player who MAY have a better opportunity personally is not committed to the team if he tests the waters. That's all I was saying. In a perfect world every kid would come in as a freshman and stay through their senior year. That'd be great. And by the same token every coach would do the same; if it's "commitment" we're talking about.

For the record I'm fine with both coaches and players seeking opportunities they see fit. I just don't claim they're not committed when doing so. If Hauck had HC opportunities at a bigger school right now, interviewed, didn't get the job, and came back next season for the Griz does anyone really think he wouldn't be 100% committed to winning the whole damn thing?! He would be for sure. And I think the same could be said about players. That's my only rambling point.

 

[mthoopsfan]

Comparing college player transfers to college coaches getting a new job, is just ridiculous. Completely different. Coaches have careers to advance and mouths to feed.

 

[kemajic]

It's not about betrayal, it's about not having players around who are not committed to being there. It's also a bit of a barrier for players considering the portal. No coming back; it's the right position. Every player could be flirting with the portal if there was no risk, making it worse than it is. Commitment to the program is a key to team chemistry and winning.

But that's my point Kem. This is saying that you're not committed to the program if you have opportunities in the portal. Is a coach not committed to the team if they have opportunities to coach somewhere else? What about coaches that throw their name in the ring, don't get the job and continue coaching their same team? Do you really believe these coaches are no longer committed? I don't think that's the case.

You have coaches on your current staff that will likely going to have opportunities at other schools. Do you automatically send them packing if they test the waters? That's not realistic because it happens to every school every year.

Coaching and playing may be two different things. But commitment is a two way street. It's equal. So if we're going to suggest players aren't committed to the team when they have portal opportunities, shouldn't we think the same thing when coaches have coaching opportunities? :?

Trying to compare the players to coaches is a fool's game. Apples and oranges. Is there a coach's portal? Coaches are in the midst of a career with future opportunities dependent on how their players perform. They can be fired at any time (unless at MSU), a possible career ender.

 

[3-7-77]

Considering his undergrad major, Psychology, football and academics look to have forced him to make a choice. To paraphrase Yogi, he came to the fork in the road, and took it. Time will tell where he is heading. I hope it's the right choice for Him.

I’m confused. If he graduated from Central Ark with his undergraduate degree, wouldn’t it make sense that he was accepted HERE for his graduate degree? Isn’t that the requirement for a grad transfer? And if that’s the case now he has to find ANOTHER program that will accept him in the graduate psych program?

You'd have to check the UM Psych Grad School admission requirements/procedures. My experience is you can take grad level classes while awaiting acceptance to the grad program.

 

[BigRock]

Comparing college player transfers to college coaches getting a new job, is just ridiculous. Completely different. Coaches have careers to advance and mouths to feed.

Because why would attending college -- and your choices of where and how you pay for it -- have anything to do with establishing a career and financial health, right? Completely different.

 

[mthoopsfan]

Comparing college player transfers to college coaches getting a new job, is just ridiculous. Completely different. Coaches have careers to advance and mouths to feed.

Because why would attending college -- and your choices of where and how you pay for it -- have anything to do with establishing a career and financial health, right? Completely different.

Huh?

 

[garizzalies]

It dawned on me that this all boils down to academics. Someone, early in this post, stated he was, or WOULD BE, Psych grad. Presumably, he wants to be a Psychologist.
I know of a UM Psych major who graduated but was not accepted into UM Psych Grad School. Maybe THIS is part of the problem. He would be done at UM. Now, he would have to not only have to find a Psych Grad School for admittance, but also offer his services as a backup QB, for some nice NIL $$$.
We all view the world as football oriented. After all, this isn't t the UM Academic Forum. Food for thought.

In Psychology it is a bad sign if your graduate degree is from the same institution as your undergraduate degree. It is an indication of someone that has not had enough diversity in their schooling.

 

[ilovethecats]

But that's my point Kem. This is saying that you're not committed to the program if you have opportunities in the portal. Is a coach not committed to the team if they have opportunities to coach somewhere else? What about coaches that throw their name in the ring, don't get the job and continue coaching their same team? Do you really believe these coaches are no longer committed? I don't think that's the case.

You have coaches on your current staff that will likely going to have opportunities at other schools. Do you automatically send them packing if they test the waters? That's not realistic because it happens to every school every year.

Coaching and playing may be two different things. But commitment is a two way street. It's equal. So if we're going to suggest players aren't committed to the team when they have portal opportunities, shouldn't we think the same thing when coaches have coaching opportunities? :?

Trying to compare the players to coaches is a fool's game. Apples and oranges. Is there a coach's portal? Coaches are in the midst of a career with future opportunities dependent on how their players perform. They can be fired at any time (unless at MSU), a possible career ender.

You’re missing my point Kem. I’m talking about the words commitment and betrayal. In those regards it’s no different at all between players and coaches. That’s a cop out in my view.

 

[mthoopsfan]

Trying to compare the players to coaches is a fool's game. Apples and oranges. Is there a coach's portal? Coaches are in the midst of a career with future opportunities dependent on how their players perform. They can be fired at any time (unless at MSU), a possible career ender.

You’re missing my point Kem. I’m talking about the words commitment and betrayal. In those regards it’s no different at all between players and coaches. That’s a cop out in my view.

Players commit to schools, and schollie players sign letters of commitment and later scholarship scholarship papers.

Where do coaches commit to players or schools? Assistants at UM sign one-year contracts. Head coaches now sign longer contracts. They can leave early, but there are early-departure fees to pay. Players don't have to pay back scholarships or pay a fee if they leave early.

 

[ilovethecats]

You’re missing my point Kem. I’m talking about the words commitment and betrayal. In those regards it’s no different at all between players and coaches. That’s a cop out in my view.

Players commit to schools, and schollie players sign letters of commitment and later scholarship scholarship papers.

Where do coaches commit to players or schools? Assistants at UM sign one-year contracts. Head coaches now sign longer contracts. They can leave early, but there are early-departure fees to pay. Players don't have to pay back scholarships or pay a fee if they leave early.

Agree with all of that hoops. Which I’ve stated. And why I didn’t talk about any of that. I can’t make my view any simpler. If a coach seeks another opportunity I don’t think he’s betraying his team and I don’t think he’s not committed to said team if he ends up staying.

If a player seeks another opportunity I don’t think he’s betraying his team and I don’t think he’s not committed to said team if he ends up staying.

 

[Butte5518]

Considering his undergrad major, Psychology, football and academics look to have forced him to make a choice. To paraphrase Yogi, he came to the fork in the road, and took it. Time will tell where he is heading. I hope it's the right choice for Him.

He took the fork in the road 4 times now...

 

[kemajic]

Trying to compare the players to coaches is a fool's game. Apples and oranges. Is there a coach's portal? Coaches are in the midst of a career with future opportunities dependent on how their players perform. They can be fired at any time (unless at MSU), a possible career ender.

You’re missing my point Kem. I’m talking about the words commitment and betrayal. In those regards it’s no different at all between players and coaches. That’s a cop out in my view.

Coaches use the word commitment; they don't use the word betrayal. It was you that used that word. I'm not missing your point; I don't agree with it.