FB: Liberty League

[IC798891]

I like the transfer portal. I see no reason why student-athletes shouldn't be allowed to go anywhere they choose in the same way coaches, athletic administrators, and non student-athletes can.

They might be 16-17 years old when they decide to go somewhere, and 3-4 years later, priorities might change, for any number of reasons. If they feel another institution is better suited to help them meet those priorities, or their post-graduation goals, more power to them.

I have always likened football to watching characters in a TV show. There's a brief period of time each week, during a specific time of the year, where they are in our lives, and the rest of the time, they exist outside our realm of consciousness. We don't see the things they're going through in classrooms, dorm rooms, and home lives. We don't know the things that drew them to one place over another, or things that might be driving them to leave.

I want every single player to do what is best for them. If that means transferring, then I say go for it

[Ice Bear]

More trouble in Shocktown...? Nick Dunnemen in the Transfer Portal.

MOTHER****ER
ICE BEAR HATES THAT ****ING THING!

[Garnet]

I just heard that Coach Behrman is leaving Union

[IC798891]

For John Carroll

[UfanBill]

Sad day in Dutchmen nation with coach Jeff Behrman leaving . He has done a magnificent job in leading the Dutchmen back into football prominence. He's going to be a hard act to follow. 

[Bartman]

I just heard that Coach Behrman is leaving Union

Tough day for Union. Behrman was a serious program builder. I understand this is his dream job going back to his alma mater at John Carroll( a real threat to Mt Union recently). I wish him well and I am confident that the Dutchmen will have time to find a worthy successor. I wonder if Dunnemen caught  wind of this before his portal entry?

[unionpalooza]

I like the transfer portal. I see no reason why student-athletes shouldn't be allowed to go anywhere they choose in the same way coaches, athletic administrators, and non student-athletes can.

They might be 16-17 years old when they decide to go somewhere, and 3-4 years later, priorities might change, for any number of reasons. If they feel another institution is better suited to help them meet those priorities, or their post-graduation goals, more power to them.

I have always likened football to watching characters in a TV show. There's a brief period of time each week, during a specific time of the year, where they are in our lives, and the rest of the time, they exist outside our realm of consciousness. We don't see the things they're going through in classrooms, dorm rooms, and home lives. We don't know the things that drew them to one place over another, or things that might be driving them to leave.

I want every single player to do what is best for them. If that means transferring, then I say go for it

I'm torn on the portal.  On the one, I agree with everything you say - each kid needs to do what's best for them.  On the other hand, it's pretty sad to see in practice - it devalues what it means to make a commitment and to be part of a team. And most of what I see seems to be kids making bad short term decisions, giving up a solid degree and a leadership role on a D3 squad for a journeyman dream at player walk on offers or skimpy scholarships at FCS or D2. 

It all bums me out because almost no one goes D3 out of HS and makes a career as a professional athlete.  (Those who do are literally 1 in 100,000.)  When it's over they are going to have their memories, their teammates, an alumni network and a degree.  I think a lot of these transfer portal guys are ultimately trading down on what really matters.

FWIW, it seems like all of the recent Union transfer portal guys are young players who came from strong HS/prep programs where many of their more talented buddies went D2/FCS.  I suspect now that they have some D3 success on tape, they're hoping they can taste that too.   (Of course, half those guys are in the portal, now, too.).  The only of the Union transfers I have seen announce another offer so far is Diavon Clements, who has an "official offer" from D2 Central Missouri St.  (No clue if that's full/partial scholarship, PWO, or what.)

[unionpalooza]

I just heard that Coach Behrman is leaving Union

Tough day for Union. Behrman was a serious program builder. I understand this is his dream job going back to his alma mater at John Carroll( a real threat to Mt Union recently). I wish him well and I am confident that the Dutchmen will have time to find a worthy successor. I wonder if Dunnemen caught  wind of this before his portal entry?

Very tough indeed; Behrman revived a program that had hard times and built a strong culture and a real track record of success.  I also understand this is his dream situation, and I have to think that with JCU's brand and the fertile Ohio recruiting landscape he can go very, very far.

It will be interesting to see how Union approaches the hire.  They have strong momentum in the program, and good adminstration support, so hopefully they go after some high end talent who can help them take the next step.  Behrman came out of the Bob Ford/Al Bagnoli coaching tree, and there's a lot of talent still there, so perhaps they go that way.

Regarding Dunneman, per my prior post, don't think that had anything to do with the coaching change - I think that was just a kid who had a good first year and is trying to trade up for a FCS/D2 school. (But that's pure speculation.)

[IC798891]

It devalues what it means to make a commitment and to be part of a team. And most of what I see seems to be kids making bad short term decisions, giving up a solid degree and a leadership role on a D3 squad for a journeyman dream at player walk on offers or skimpy scholarships at FCS or D2. 

It all bums me out because almost no one goes D3 out of HS and makes a career as a professional athlete.  (Those who do are literally 1 in 100,000.)  When it's over they are going to have their memories, their teammates, an alumni network and a degree.  I think a lot of these transfer portal guys are ultimately trading down on what really matters.

To the first part...look, every coach says they're committed to their program until the day they take another job.

To the second part...I feel like that's focusing too much on football. What if the D3 kid going D2/1 is doing it to go to a better academic program for his major? To take advantage of living in a city with better internship/job prospects?

My best student employee ever nearly transferred from IC in part because she wanted to go to school in a bigger city where there would be opportunities not available in Ithaca. She wound up staying, but you get my point.

I think we assume these are football moves, and they often aren't

[Ice Bear]

Ice Bear says this is one ****ty day in d3 football for him. ****!!!!!

[UfanBill]

Dunneman is/was also on the basketball roster. He's appeared only briefly in two games and not since Dec. 6th.

[Jonny Utah]

Interesting to hear about the Union coaching change.  JB was obviously a solid coach but Union is a type of place where they are going to get a ton of quality applicants for that job.  That place can recruit itself.  I have no idea if the Williams staff there would be interested in making the jump to a program that has playoff implications but Coach Raymond was on the top of my mind for some reason after hearing the news. 

The transfer portal stuff and college football recruiting and team building in general has changed a lot over the past 5, 10 and 20 years. 

I've been coaching HS football for over 20 years.  The past 5 years I have seen a lot of kids attempt to play college football at places where they have no shot of playing.  Sometimes I can't blame the kid if the school is great and it is a d1 program.  We had a kid a few years back that I don't think would have started at a top LL school.  Nescac schools were very interested but he was adamant that he wanted to play d1 football, and eventually walks on at an ACC school.  Was on the team for 4 years, never played (4 plays in 4 years I believe) and entered the transfer portal his grad year.  Kid gets one offer from an FCS school in the Missouri Valley Conference and he decides not to take it up and enters the workforce.  Smart kid, went to a great school and can't blame him for the route he took going to a top academic school in the country.

Another kid I coached didn't even start in HS.  Played a little line and had some injuries but his size would have made him a backup at any d3 school.  I would bet money he would never see the field at Union or Curry for that matter.  But the kid walks on at a CAA school and has a roster spot. 

Which brings me to a d3 college coach on twitter recently say something to the effect of "kids are taking 5k scholarships at 70K a year d2/FCS colleges and not playing over 50% financial aid benefits at a d3 school where the academics are better and they have a better shot of playing".  He goes on to talk about many colleges looking to fill rosters with tuition paying students.  You come to the school, try out and if there are spots and you want to pay the 50-75K a year come on in.

In terms of the transfer portal I can't say I mind either way as bottom line this is a free country.  We do know college "recruiting" has changed as College coaches now look to fill their rosters via the transfer portal first versus HS talent.  That is a big change. 

[Jonny Utah]

Congratulations to NCC and Mount Union for playing a very entertaining D3 Final. Interesting how the Final gets only 3k fans and the annual Cortaca Jug game gets 45 k. Lots of reasons for that , but the Ithaca and Cortland alums/fans really have a special tradition in all of D3 Football.

Yes -- that's the benefit of having multiple years to plan the event and knowing who the competitors will be years in advance.

I'm gonna bet an Ithaca/Cortland National Championship game in Annapolis in 2022 would have brought 15K fans.  Maybe 20K.  But if Ithaca and Cortland were in the National Championship 10 times each or so over the past 25 years?  Meh, then they might get similar numbers to this year.

Ithaca is a larger d3 school (6K students) with a large alumni base associated with sports or TV/Journalism.  This would help them I'm guessing for a big event like the d3 national championship game on ESPN.

[Ice Bear]

Ice Bear says after an evening to relax that he wishes Coach Behrman and his family all the luck in the world. He feels the move to John Carrol is a no brainer for Jeff and he certainly has earned it. Ice is so very grateful for everything Coach B has done for the Dutchmen program and will miss him a great deal.

Ice also wishes Dunneman luck as well. Obviously the portal frustrates Ice for many reasons but it's time to just accept it and wish all these young people the very best on their college athletic experiences wherever they go.

Ice also says both Unionpalooza and Utah make some excellent points. Ice wishes everyone a great ****ing day.

[stlawus]

Raymond already left the LL because of the Brinks truck he was offered by Williams.  It's not like he wasn't making the playoffs at SLU, and he wasn't getting nickel and dime'd either. Union will likely have to make a substantial offer to get him to consider. But if the administration is truly dedicated to football then they will.