ilovethecats said:
I don't recall the article but I read something a couple weeks ago in which high school coaches says the portal has completely changed the game. Teams that used to have 15-20 colleges coming to games watching players now just have a handful. The Blue Chip guys are still going to draw attention and go to big schools. But for a lot of the kids just a step below, these big schools are letting the FCS land these kids as almost a farm program. With the hope if they perform well they'll enter the portal. makes sense to me.
I guess the hopes for schools like ours is that when we land these kids, they'll love the fit so much they don't enter the portal. But I'm sure many will. But we'll still have the kids on the flip side not getting playing time in FBS and come to us for playing time and exposure.
It's all pretty fascinating to watch. Going to be a mixed bag I think. The best coaches will be the ones that adjust and roll with the punches I suppose.
Agreed. Even if the kids on their way up do decide to hit the portal after a few years, the most successful FCS coaches will embrace their role as a farm system. Hell, it's crazy talk, but even use it as a selling point if it's inevitable. "We've placed x number of players in the P5 via the portal in the last x years." We still get the kid for 2-3 seasons on an upward trajectory instead of 1 after a flameout in the big leagues. Kind of like how live music is better in Nashville with unknowns than at some Casino with Hall & Oates unplugged.
I know this opinion is unpopular because I feel like a lot of people want to believe every signee bleeds maroon or vim yellow. It sounds good, but it's just not true. If we're going to be a means to an end, at least try to find a way to use it to our advantage.
PS: Was the thing you read the tweet from the Mt. Spokane coach who thought more of his players should be getting offers?