Portal 2021

[BGSU33]

QB Riley Keller is in the transfer portal.

[mbenecke]

QB Riley Keller is in the transfer portal.

Disappointing that things didn’t work out with the local kid, but it always felt like he was at least the 4th QB this year. Best of luck whenever he ends up.

[jpfalcon09]

Not surprised. He was buried in the depth chart and never really showed well in practice. Good luck to him though.

On a related note, Jason Arkley who covers Ohio U said he expects them to get hit hard by the portal this year with the poor season and some position coaches likely moving on. Be curious to see how others in the conference fare.

[Tony4BG]

Another OL. Gabe Brown to portal.

[roguewarrior]

Another OL. Gabe Brown to portal.

More likely behind him.

[jpfalcon09]

Jack Wardzala is in the portal. DL.

[BillyLP]

With what seems to be a ridiculous number of coaching changes this off-season, I could see another record year for the portal and so good opportunities to fill in what was lost.

[BGSU33]

Another OL. Gabe Brown to portal.

That's now 10 OL that we've lost in less than one full year, and nearly half of these OL were Loeffler's recruits. Something is clearly wrong here surrounding this unit. We're literally going to have to bring in 4-5 OL transfers in the offseason whether the staff wanted to or not.

[BGSU33]

Despite the ability to bring back all but 4 players next year, BG leads the Group of Five with the most players in the transfer portal as of today. This isn't the kind of category you want to be leading your peers in. Here's the breakdown of the MAC as of today:

Bowling Green 9
Ohio 8
Buffalo 7
Akron 6
Central Michigan 6
Toledo 5
Miami 4
Western Michigan 2
Eastern Michigan 1
Ball State 0
Kent State 0
Northern Illinois 0

[mbenecke]

Serious question without judgement:

I haven’t heard of most of the guys we’re losing , beyond Keller. It seems like none of them play. Is that accurate?

I only ask because in year’s past, we’ve lost multiple starters left and right, which was indicative of a real problem. Now, while losing depth sucks, it seems more like they are playing time transfers as opposed to culture transfers… which are happening all over the country.

Is that a somewhat fair assessment of what’s going on?

[MarkL]

The transfer portal has poured gasoline on the fire of a "me me me me, now now now now" attitude. I am quite familiar with this attitude having two small children. Don't like sitting behind talented players? Transfer for the promise of playing now. Why sit and learn when you can move and play?

And this attitude is antithetical to the spirit of football. I remember hearing a history of the Heisman trophy. The creation of the award was delayed for years because someone instrumental to the process, maybe Heisman himself, felt the most important aspect of the sport was teamwork, so giving an individual award only harms the point of the game. Transferring for playing time, harming the team chemistry, that is all polar opposite of the teamwork aspect of the sport. I know that is the reality of today and not embracing the transfer portal is a great way to doom your team. But I don't see it as a net positive for the sport.

[jpfalcon09]

The transfer portal has poured gasoline on the fire of a "me me me me, now now now now" attitude. I am quite familiar with this attitude having two small children. Don't like sitting behind talented players? Transfer for the promise of playing now. Why sit and learn when you can move and play?

And this attitude is antithetical to the spirit of football. I remember hearing a history of the Heisman trophy. The creation of the award was delayed for years because someone instrumental to the process, maybe Heisman himself, felt the most important aspect of the sport was teamwork, so giving an individual award only harms the point of the game. Transferring for playing time, harming the team chemistry, that is all polar opposite of the teamwork aspect of the sport. I know that is the reality of today and not embracing the transfer portal is a great way to doom your team. But I don't see it as a net positive for the sport.

We don't know the circumstances for most of these kids. I'm sure playing time and promises that were made on the recruiting trail which haven't come to fruition are the main culprits. I see some kids being from out of state and you wonder if they simply want to play closer to home, or have other issues going on. No doubt they're taking a huge risk though. This will be the new normal, and program in flux like BG has been are always going to experience the most attrition.

[roguewarrior]

I have to chuckle at the belief of many here that those leaving BG are all me, me, me players that are too weak to compete…. But the guys we will bring in leaving other schools are talented culture guys that will save us…. What do you think they are saying about the players on the other end?!? You can’t say hit the road losers to our guys, and hand out hugs to those coming in…. They are the same guys, from another team !!

One thing is certain, the portal is the ruin of college football as we love it…. It’s now everything we hate about pro ball.

Our staff sets the roster in late august. Once it’s set, it’s SET. Those not on it are not getting a chance to win time. Missed assignments, unsportsmanlike likes, Dropped balls, missed classes, off the field issues be damned. That is the absolute reality here. These o-line guys bolting know their time is OVER with the very public pronouncement of bringing in a new line.

There are many layers to those leaving. Some are knuckle heads. Some may not be good enough. Some are real good, looking to move up. The ones you don’t want to lose, which we are, are the culture guys: they may be equally talented, pushing for time, or better than those playing, that are cast aside, (or ABOUT to be cast aside) permanently.

If you don’t think it’s a coaching problem that we lose half or more of our O line room, many guys that played, then I don’t know what to say.

[Tony4BG]

rogue, understand if you prefer not to answer, is your son on Off or Def side?

[Antimob]

It seems like none of them play. Is that accurate?

That's correct. The 3 on this thread were not even second string. In a perfect world they'd stay and try to develop, but c'est la vie.

Why is getting a P5 transfer different competitively? Because you may not be good enough to start in the Big 10 but might be able to start in the MAC.

The continued assertion from certain aggrieved parties that playing time is unfairly distributed and granted to undeserving players is about as old a complaint as the game of football itself (and even sports generally at all levels). I'll bet people on those Princeton teams from the 1870's were convinced they were better than the people ahead of them if only those unfair coaches would see the light.