Transfer Portal 2025

cowboysooner said:
There many issues, but wichita is exact right. The red line for colkeges is the unwillingness to make the kids employees. Millions reasons this is a non negotiable.

As a non employee can’t do contracts and ncaa rules prohibit linking nil deals to a specific university. They all do it on a handshake but unenforceable. This open lie and fantasy that kidd aren’t being paid to play is the root of countless problems and every court loss by the ncaa.

One of the primary benefit of the house settlement is the schools will be able to directly contract and pay kids. These contracts for rev share will have breach provisions and non compete clauses for the year. This won’t solve all the issues but prevent year round free agency. For example this would prevent the Tennessee nico situation. Then if you eliminate the spring pirtal except for graduates. Colleges can live with things. If they can also get the clearing house deal on nil. They are good. In my legal opinion it will never stand attack.

In the end, the only real answer is federal legislation. I would think the survival of college athletics at the expense of limiting kids income a little related to their time in college could be sold to most folks with even a little common sense. Naturally that leaves out virtually every political
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I'm obviously just old. It irritates me that this turned from "we can't afford extra food or have spending money" to "I want more money....give me millions".

College athletics isn't pro sports but it is turning that way. I hate it.

Oh well..
 
NorthCarolinaSooner said:
I'm obviously just old. It irritates me that this turned from "we can't afford extra food or have spending money" to "I want more money....give me millions".

College athletics isn't pro sports but it is turning that way. I hate it.

Oh well..
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I agree, let's go back to cheating under the table. At least it was more fair. Wild times.
 
NorthCarolinaSooner said:
I'm obviously just old. It irritates me that this turned from "we can't afford extra food or have spending money" to "I want more money....give me millions".

College athletics isn't pro sports but it is turning that way. I hate it.

Oh well..
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We've been slowly going this way since the Georgia/OU supreme court decision.
 
mict085 said:
If you could renegotiate your salary based on market value every year, wouldn’t you do that? For you and your family? If someone is willing to pay you more, it’s definitely worth considering. I don’t blame the players. It’s the adults running the system that have screwed it all up with their own greed. All the adults do it and you’re lamenting 18 yr olds that are following their example? SMH.
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I didn't blame the players, but I think the entire situation is lamentable.

That said... no, I wouldn't want to change jobs every years to obtain a raise. That sounds to me like an awful way to live. And as with many posts defending the players, you focused entirely on money. I was talking about the other positives of sticking with a college--the education, the camaraderie with teammates, the sense of home and community that lasts for decades (if you think this is sappy, take it up with Teddy Lehman, who thinks it's of huge value and something today's student-athletes will miss out on), the connection with a fan base. I could go on and on.

I work for a non-profit so I'm not a wealthy man, but I haven't even looked at job listings since I joined this company 14 years ago. I like where I work. I like the people I work with. I feel a genuine sense of pride in the work I do and I value the support I get from my colleagues. I was invited to apply for a job by a former colleague a few years ago and I went through the interview process--as a courtesy, basically. I thought I might be offered the job, which would have come with a 65% increase in my salary, and I was exceedingly conflicted about accepting it. The offer never came so it was moot, but I honestly think I would have declined it--I was certainly leaning that way. Virtually nothing that I like about my job would have been present in that other company. The money would have been my only reason to accept the job. I think money and money only is what motivates many of these players to bounce from school to school. They're entitled, of course, but in my view, they're missing out on some less tangible but very positive benefits of being a student-athlete. SMH
 
skyvue said:
I didn't blame the players, but I think the entire situation is lamentable.

That said... no, I wouldn't want to change jobs every years to obtain a raise. That sounds to me like an awful way to live. And as with many posts defending the players, you focused entirely on money. I was talking about the other positives of sticking with a college--the education, the camaraderie with teammates, the sense of home and community that lasts for decades (if you think this is sappy, take it up with Teddy Lehman, who thinks it's of huge value and something today's student-athletes will miss out on), the connection with a fan base. I could go on and on.

I work for a non-profit so I'm not a wealthy man, but I haven't even looked at job listings since I joined this company 14 years ago. I like where I work. I like the people I work with. I feel a genuine sense of pride in the work I do and I value the support I get from my colleagues. I was invited to apply for a job by a former colleague a few years ago and I went through the interview process--as a courtesy, basically. I thought I might be offered the job, which would have come with a 65% increase in my salary, and I was exceedingly conflicted about accepting it. The offer never came so it was moot, but I honestly think I would have declined it--I was certainly leaning that way. Virtually nothing that I like about my job would have been present in that other company. The money would have been my only reason to accept the job. I think money and money only is what motivates many of these players to bounce from school to school. They're entitled, of course, but in my view, they're missing out on some less tangible but very positive benefits of being a student-athlete. SMH
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I have skills that are valued in the market place. I have a family. I have leveraged those skills for increasing pay every year for the last decade plus. My only loyalty is to my family. All things being equal, I take the money because I’m a hired gun and I work for my family. I’m happy and I still enjoy my work. Companies aren’t loyal to employers anymore so why should I be loyal to them? I’m loyal to my family and I earn for them. I’m content with that.
 
mict085 said:
I have skills that are valued in the market place. I have a family. I have leveraged those skills for increasing pay every year for the last decade plus. My only loyalty is to my family. All things being equal, I take the money because I’m a hired gun and I work for my family. I’m happy and I still enjoy my work. Companies aren’t loyal to employers anymore so why should I be loyal to them? I’m loyal to my family and I earn for them. I’m content with that.
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I gave both you and Skyvue a "Like" because you both do what is best for yourselves or your families even if your values / beliefs may not match. I've tried things your way and Skyvue's, so I can relate to both of you. I don't think there are any wrong answers here as long as whoever is playing for OU acts / conducts himself with integrity and plays his best while he is wearing that uniform.
 
WaymanFan said:
I gave both you and Skyvue a "Like" because you both do what is best for yourselves or your families even if your values / beliefs may not match. I've tried things your way and Skyvue's, so I can relate to both of you. I don't think there are any wrong answers here as long as whoever is playing for OU acts / conducts himself with integrity and plays his best while he is wearing that uniform.
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Same here. I’m currently in a job where I’m sure I could make more money elsewhere. But in my profession there aren’t many jobs where you can go home and not need to worry about work or go on a vacation without checking emails. I’m in a job where I feel like I can provide a solid quality of life for my family and also be present. To me that’s worth it. At a different stage in my life I didn’t need to worry about those things as much and chased a bigger paycheck. Neither were right or wrong in my mind. It’s all about what you value.

Most of these kids don’t have a family, their housing is being paid for, and they are moving from home anyway. I can see why the money would be enticing.
 
sooner333 said:
Same here. I’m currently in a job where I’m sure I could make more money elsewhere. But in my profession there aren’t many jobs where you can go home and not need to worry about work or go on a vacation without checking emails. I’m in a job where I feel like I can provide a solid quality of life for my family and also be present. To me that’s worth it. At a different stage in my life I didn’t need to worry about those things as much and chased a bigger paycheck. Neither were right or wrong in my mind. It’s all about what you value.

Most of these kids don’t have a family, their housing is being paid for, and they are moving from home anyway. I can see why the money would be enticing.
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Plus once they are done with college most probably won't make the NBA. A few may make less money than they make now overseas. Even those that make the NBA. I think the average career for a draft pick is like 3 years or something like that. For many of these players they literally will not make as much as they did in college.
 
Courtesy of TOS:

I’m told the staff feels good about where things stand with former McDonald’s All-American John Bol. The Zoom between both sides went very well. He’s also done a Zoom with TCU.

If Bol is brought in, the expectation is that he’d be the second center behind Mohamed Wague — with the potential to push for the starting spot.
 
mict085 said:
If you could renegotiate your salary based on market value every year, wouldn’t you do that? For you and your family? If someone is willing to pay you more, it’s definitely worth considering. I don’t blame the players. It’s the adults running the system that have screwed it all up with their own greed. All the adults do it and you’re lamenting 18 yr olds that are following their example? SMH.
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A lot of money? Maybe.

But there are other things that are important and should factor in as well. Let’s not kid ourselves that these kids, for the most part, are saving this money and tucking it away for their future. Most aren’t. So there really isn’t a lot of long-term gain. And on the flip side, the thing that could help most of them the rest of their working life, a free college education, they take for granted and don’t fully utilize.
 
WTSooner said:
A lot of money? Maybe.

But there are other things that are important and should factor in as well. Let’s not kid ourselves that these kids, for the most part, are saving this money and tucking it away for their future. Most aren’t. So there really isn’t a lot of long-term gain. And on the flip side, the thing that could help most of them the rest of their working life, a free college education, they take for granted and don’t fully utilize.
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I hate it as a fan, especially as a fan of a program that doesn't pay the most, but this is the way I look at it.

For example, let's say any of us had a son, that was given a full scholarship to OU Price Business College, and got a job at, let's say Paycom, for $40K. Then during his sophomore year, he was offered a job at Goldman Sachs in Dallas or JP Morgan in NYC making $150K, and still have a full ride to SMU or NYU... there wouldn't be anyone saying how bad that was, or how his priorities are out of whack. We would encourage our kid, and celebrate if it was a friend or relative. If someone is getting a business or financial degree, working at firm's like GS or JPM in NYC would be a career type position. Because that is why kids go to college- to get a great job after college and maximize their earning power within their goals. And if Goldman was willing to pay them $150-200K BEFORE they finished their degree, and wanted them to move now, as a parent, I would say go for it and get the degree online after hours.

@skyvue and @mict085 stated perfectly that goals might differ for an individual. Some may enjoy living in OK and working at Paycom. But for others, their career goals might take them to NYC and a higher paying job. But as professionals, neither is hated or thought of less for their desires.

The current system sucks. As a fan, I hate kids leaving for moving on or not choosing my program for more money. But there doing what adults celebrate in the workforce- getting a better gig for them and their family. No fault to them for doing what the system allows them to do. I completely get it.

TLDR- Bottom line, we let our fandom get in the way of fairly judging adults in making decisions that might be best for them, but not for us.
 
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MJSooner said:
I hate it as a fan, especially as a fan of a program that doesn't pay the most, but this is the way I look at it.

For example, let's say any of us had a son, that was given a full scholarship to OU Price Business College, and got a job at, let's say Paycom, for $40K. Then during his sophomore year, he was offered a job at Goldman Sachs in Dallas or JP Morgan in NYC making $150K, and still have a full ride to SMU or NYU... there wouldn't be anyone saying how bad that was, or how his priorities are out of whack. We would encourage our kid, and celebrate if it was a friend or relative. If someone is getting a business or financial degree, working at firm's like GS or JPM in NYC would be a career type position. Because that is why kids go to college- to get a great job after college and maximize their earning power within their goals. And if Goldman was willing to pay them $150-200K BEFORE they finished their degree, and wanted them to move now, as a parent, I would say go for it and get the degree online after hours.

@skyvue and @mict085 stated perfectly that goals might differ for an individual. Some may enjoy living in OK and working at Paycom. But for others, their career goals might take them to NYC and a higher paying job. But as professionals, neither is hated or thought of less for their desires.

The current system sucks. As a fan, I hate kids leaving for moving on or not choosing my program for more money. But there doing what adults celebrate in the workforce- getting a better gig for them and their family. No fault to them for doing what the system allows them to do. I completely get it.

TLDR- Bottom line, we let our fandom get in the way of fairly judging adults in making decisions that might be best for them, but not for us.
Click to expand...
If that same kid, at 19 or 20, changed jobs and schools every year for four or five years running--or even two or three times over a five-year span--I'd question the wisdom of his choices. That's what I posted about: young athletes who end up at three, four or even five different schools during their college career. And again, I would argue there are less tangible benefits to a college education than just money and a career. Yes, those are key factors, but the percentage of people who end up in a different field than what they studied in college is pretty high--I'm in that camp myself--and yet I think relatively few people regret having gone to college. I certainly don't. You learn a great many things in college that are extremely valuable in life but don't directly translate to money in your pocket.

And WT raises a valid point: Many discuss these guys as if they've got a spouse, three kids and a mortgage and will use their money wisely to support their family in coming years. Sure, some will do that, but many won't. Heck, plenty of pro athletes who are 6 or 7 years older than these guys, struggle to hang on to their money. AD, for example--but even given the mess he's made of his financial life, he's at least got a community to fall back on. The OU community is there for him and he surely feels he has at least some support. Those who flit from school to school simply won't have that. Again, Teddy has talked about this at length and in heartfelt fashion--Gabe joined in, too. They both openly state how much they value what being part of the OU community has meant to--and done for--them.

And let's face it, the scenario you described--the golden child being handed amazing jobs and a top quality education--isn't what's happening here in most cases. The top stars, sure--that analogy might work for them--but there are thousands of athletes jumping from school to school. Few of them will leave college set up for life and they will have established no roots, no connections that could benefit them throughout their lives.
 
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