One of the biggest changes to college sports over the last decade was the introduction of the transfer portal. It gives more flexibility to college athletes but takes away from the team aspect by affecting team loyalty, player development and school pride.
The NCAA introduced the transfer portal in October 2018. It was designed to allow athletes to seamlessly transition schools without unnecessary restrictions. Since then WSU has lost some of its most beloved athletes. From Cam Ward to Myles Rice and now Jon Mateer, the transfer portal can take anyone.
Prior to the transfer portal, an athlete who wished to transfer schools first had to get permission from their school to talk with other schools, which in some cases never happened. If that was granted, the player would then have to sit out the following year at their new school.
Even though the new guidelines are great for the athletes, the increase of transfers per year has been exponential with no signs of slowing down. In 2021, around 10,000 Division 1 student-athletes transferred schools. In 2022, that number increased to 12,000 and by the following year, there were over 31,000 transferred athletes.
Alex Yano, former WSU basketball assistant coach said it has created a mess for coaches everywhere.
“It’s changed the landscape of everything. A freshman could have a great start to their season and suddenly, they’re getting looks from Power Five schools. Coaches are then trying to figure out ways to fill that spot before the season is even over,” Yano said.
After graduating from WSU, Yano left to coach Hawaii for a year, returned to coach the Cougs for a year and is now on the coaching staff for Stanford.
“Each school is completely different when it comes to recruiting. Hawaii has a geographical appeal, Stanford has an academic appeal and a great alumni network. WSU was the hardest of the three to recruit because of the location. They’re all really different in their own ways, but if you have a great alumni base that wants to see your school succeed, you will have a great chance every year,” Yano said.
While the transfer portal was introduced in 2018, the NCAA’s name, image and likeness policy was finalized on July 1, 2021, which simply allows college athletes to make money off their name. It is an amazing opportunity for athletes everywhere, but has taken away from the college atmosphere and made it all about money. Max Borghi, former WSU running back, said he chose to stay a Coug for his entire career based on a few important factors.
“I stayed because at the time, my team, my coaches and Cougar nation was what I was playing for. When I was playing ball I genuinely enjoyed everything about Wazzu and the opportunity it brought me,” Borghi said.
Borghi entered his freshman year at WSU in 2018 and graduated in 2021, meaning he never got a chance to make any big money through the new NIL policy.
“If I was flashed with $4 million, things may have been different like they are with a lot of players now,” Borghi said.
Another problem with the transfer portal is it can limit player development. Leaving a school and having to learn an entire new system with all new coaches is a lot and sometimes it can be hard for athletes to get back in their groove.
“At the end of the day however, coaches can act all upset and think it is horrible but they are the same ones who get up and leave for other opportunities and money constantly,” Borghi said. “Coaches have been transferring for years. I learned the culture of that within the first month of being at WSU when my running backs coach left for Oregon after promising me he would be there to coach me for my career.”
In my opinion, college sports are a mess with the NIL and transfer portal because it creates zero loyalty. But in the end I do not blame the players. Football especially is such a team game but at the end of the day, players have to do what is in their best interest. The game is going to end for everybody someday and when athletes put their bodies on the line for the entertainment of others they deserve to be compensated.