colbyjacks
Member
They want Oatis as well if he portals.
| FTBL Updates on Alabama players that are entering the transfer portal...
- Thread starter Brandon Van de Graaff
- Start date
bama alum
Member
!colbyjacks
Member
Interesting because he has been in coms with them?
BamaFan334
Member
Man, I hope Downs stays. Kirby sought him out after the SEC Championship game, so I felt that was strange, but now see if was probably an early step at getting in his ear.
Justneedme81
Member
This hurt us big time. I just don't know what to say
BamaFan334
Member
Yep, tampering big time and likely offered him the world. I think it's big time shitty after the time and effort Saban put into him to give him the opportunities he's been given. I get he's from Georgia and can play 30 minutes down the road from home, but it didn't seem to bother him going to Alabama and his brother playing in Chapel Hill. This is a slap in the face to college football as this was a targeted approach by Kirby that can be circled as what's wrong with it all right now.
colbyjacks
Member
The problem is we aren’t used to “fine”, we are used to “great”. All of these players leaving are knocking us down a peg. This is uncharted territory that we are dealing with as fans. Feels like death by a thousand cuts. Obviously that is dramatic.
Justneedme81
Member
He gone. Got offer. Gotta think NCAA is noticing this and hopefully they revise the rules in March.
Bammerboy321
Member
College Football is so fucking broken.
24and7
Member
Karma is a bitch (sometimes)
Kamikazi18627
Member
It's like we are bleeding to death with this portal. What a mess
BamaFan334
Member
Not targeting you here, but just sharing my thoughts. People wonder why "kids" shouldn't be given the same options as adult coaches, it's because of the influence and how they can be taken advantage of. Even though they feel powerful at the moment and think this money will solve their life problems, now you'll have even more missing out on free education when they can't find landing spots and never being developed for the NFL. Tom Brady made a point that the NFL has seen a drop in good football, and I think we can all agree that is definitely the case at the NFL and even the college level. Bouncing around job to job isn't good for every day employees, so how could it be good for 18-22 year olds that are balancing school, new coaching, new offensive/defensive schemes, NIL, environment and schedule changes? Downs will be fine and make it as he comes from a great family and lucky enough to have an older brother that has shown them the path. He's the 1% that everyone hates in society today. Plenty of others will not be ok. Learning about taxes, fending off family, and adjusting is tough to do at an age where you have very little life experience. That's why we never hear from big time recruits again after signing day, due to these types of decisions.
As adults it's our job to care for and educate our youth to be responsible. I feel like college football sold itself short and decided to follow the money instead of the premise it should be academics before athletics. The players were being taken advantage of, and even with them making money they are still being taken advantage of and all but eliminating a future in the sport for themselves. With many of these guys never finding new homes and their scholarships gone as they search for playing time or money, we as adults have failed them. Kirby targeting and tampering with Downs is a perfect example of why we need the NCAA (or any governing body, not the US government) and staunch rules to support the "kids" and the sanctity of what college football truly is. @ElephantStomp you always have something to say about this, but hopefully you're able to see this train wreck and understand why a grown man making a decision is a liiiiitttttle different than a young man making one. One is making a decision to move to another job that is guaranteed while the other is making a questionable decision that won't necessarily get him anything. The adult is protected because he knows his moves and how to maneuver, while the young athletes are guessing on their future for playing time or a dollar.
It's not the end of the world for me here, but it really does make you second guess your commitment to anything athletic related not involving your own kids. I love my school. It gave me opportunities I never would have had if I didn't have that piece of paper with the University of Alabama on it. For that I have supported the academic side as well as the athletic side financially. If the future is paying a kid for maybe a year's effort then I'm out. That's not something I want my kids around or my kids to think is normal in society that you do not honor your word and commitment to those that have invested in you and to your success. Downs will be a Top 5 pick at Alabama, Georgia, Ohio State, or freaking Rutgers if he went there. It's lack of character and loyalty to your school and that's something none of these young athletes have anymore it seems. Sorry for the long winded crap, but just wanted to share my thoughts on it all.
musso
Member
If player departure is as easy as, if not easier than, player acquisition, then why bother “paying” attention at all to recruiting and donating to those efforts?? It’s not a “commitment” if players can give up anytime they want. Why would hard-working adults with responsibilities and children of their own to raise send their money instead to support a system that rewards other kids they don’t know to adopt destructive habits???? We are all idiots if we continue to subsidize what college football has devolved into. We are destroying the sport as well as the kids involved in it.
Crimson&WhiteGecko
Member
Coach Saban is gone. His style of defense is gone. That means something to exhisting players.
Downs has always been a smart & savy kid. He made a very calculated decision to come to Alabama. I can see him even being pragmatic at waiting on the new D-Coordinator & his defensive philosophy. Turns out, it just didn't appeal to him.
Deboer & staff have got to use this as a lesson that THEY have to build a SOLID team that produces well on the field. And we have to come to those terms too. UNTIL then, nothing is given.
I certainly don't like any of this but it is what it is. And hope this galvanizes Deboer to bust ass & come out with a vengence in 2024.
Downs has always been a smart & savy kid. He made a very calculated decision to come to Alabama. I can see him even being pragmatic at waiting on the new D-Coordinator & his defensive philosophy. Turns out, it just didn't appeal to him.
Deboer & staff have got to use this as a lesson that THEY have to build a SOLID team that produces well on the field. And we have to come to those terms too. UNTIL then, nothing is given.
I certainly don't like any of this but it is what it is. And hope this galvanizes Deboer to bust ass & come out with a vengence in 2024.
Justneedme81
Member
It's not that. He got huge nil deal offer.
BamaFan334
Member
I 5000% agree with this and currently one of those idiots. I am definitely rethinking my entire position here because it'll be car purchasing time for my four and these donations would allow me to pay cash for those vehicles. Cars for my kids or what we are seeing with college football???
