Right, this is all true. That's why ND is going to have to come to terms with accepting transfers. Not just grad transfers like Coan, but undergrad transfers. Apparently Clemson is not big on taking undergrad transfers either, not so much because of academics, or credits or whatnot, just culturally, and their football culture, which I suppose is if not insular, probably pretty strong and dedicated, and that's why Clemson is as dominant as they are.
And quite possibly they're already slipping... on account of the free transfers racking their program going out, and yet no one coming in... which is a possible future ND is staring into the face as well. That's at least what a pair of pundits were speculating, as a possible explanation as to why Clemson is so off this year. Transfers...
The transfer option has already changed the game and will continue to redistribute talent. Fewer good players will “wait their turn” or risk never seeing it but, instead, head for greener pastures. Simply because it’s now much easier.
As for ND, what do you mean by “coming to terms with” undergraduate transfers? Admissions are admissions, right? Anyone seeking to transfer to ND will still have to qualify. Meaning ND will still be looking at the same restricted pool it deals with as per annual recruiting.
But then, maybe I’m missing your point.
Do you mean the
very idea of accepting undergraduate transfers? There have always been some. Pat Eilers, the starting “blocking” receiver on Holtz’s NC team, was a Yale transfer, while Alohi Gilman came from the Naval Academy.
So, in theory, there shouldn’t be a problem
per se for qualified applicants from good schools. But if you mean throwing open the doors to would-be -- but as yet non-starting – “phenoms” from a host of lesser schools, I don’t see ND “coming to terms with” that.
The Clemson situation points to something interesting: the competing interests of necessary manpower vs. preserving one’s culture or even identity. Unless Clemson wishes to move more towards being just a
competitive brand, rather than an ACTUAL year-in and year-out
NC competitor, it will surely have to replace the number of transfers-out with transfers-in. Otherwise, its performance will suffer.
Assuming that the transfer issue indeed becomes unbalanced for them.
"One swallow does not a summer make."
What ND will find out is how many of its carefully selected recruits – whose qualifications by definition must also include at least "some" academic competence – will prize their ND education over the chance to start at another high-profile and/or championship caliber school.
My guess is that many could take the opportunity to play elsewhere as
almost all of them wish to become pros. And whereas a school like Clemson can bend things more easily so as to equalize the number of transfers in vs. out, ND may find it much harder.
In fact, what ND may have to “come to terms with” is operating in a TRANSFER PORTAL DEFICIT. And while there would still be plenty of openings for talented recruits out of HS – if for no other reason, the potential number of upperclassmen transferring out – it could become increasingly more difficult for ND to AMASS DEPTH.
If, as a rule, players start moving more -- simply because they’re sitting -- yet there’s less movement in a given team’s direction, THAT CAN REALLY MESS THINGS UP. In ND’s case it could lead to more WILLINGHAM-TYPE ROSTERS – where having more than ONE PLAYABLE QB at a time was a CHALLENGE.
I wanted to talk additionally about the difference between a COMPETITIVE BRAND and an ANNUAL NC COMPETITOR, but I’ll save that for another post.
