College sports are broken. That’s a problem in Kentucky and everywhere else | Opinion
College sports are unequivocally broken.
The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), once a fierce and feared entity, completely missed the boat on implementing critical rules and policies. Instead, they were left sitting on the dock, hands in their pockets, completely incapacitated while Name Image Likeness (NIL) and the transfer portal ran roughshod over them.
Because the barn door was left open, pandemonium ensued and left coaches to throw their hands in the air, feeling helpless and fatigued by playing catch-up. Murky rules became mere suggestions instead of iron guardrails. NIL corroded amateurism once and for all, but the more pressing and painful thorn pulling at fans became the obscene transfer portal.
The grass is greener syndrome is alive and well within college athletes. With what can only be thought of as disillusionment, players assume there is something better waiting for them elsewhere, waiting to pay them “what they’re worth.” I won’t meander down the illogical trail of paying people for work not yet complete, which is essentially what these young athletes expect. They haphazardly think, “I’m not happy at University A, so I’ll go to University B.”
According to website 247 Sports, “Seven of the top eight quarterbacks from the 2023 class have already transferred in an era where the NCAA’s transfer restrictions are virtually nonexistent.” I can’t decide if the root problem is Gen Z’s entitlement or their lack of attention span, brought on by being fully steeped in technology since birth. No matter the culprit, it is causing a massive chasm between fans and their beloved programs.
There is a time and appropriate situation that transferring makes sense. It used to be justified if a coach was thought to be abusive, personal or family issues arose, or possibly a gap in academic progress. No one batted an eye for these reasons as unfortunate as they were. What we’re seeing now is an epidemic of chaos.
Website Front Office Sports reported, “Nearly 2,300 men’s basketball players and 1,500 women’s basketball players have entered the transfer portal this year.” This is an increase of 11% over last year (2024), and the 2,300 number mentioned represents 40% of the total men’s basketball players! Throw continuity and a coherent approach to building a team out the window.
I tend to think about this situation from the 98% of college athletes who go on to the real world after graduating. This attitude of always looking for something “better” will not be viewed favorably in the workforce. That unsatisfied restlessness will seep from the applicant, appearing to always look ahead without appreciating where they are. This may well be one of the consequences created by the relaxation of jumping from school to school.
Is there an answer? While money is greasing the wheels I would confidently say no. Because NIL has been unleashed, Pandora’s box is open and uncertainty is guaranteed. However, if I were in Indianapolis sitting in the NCAA office, I would implement two changes. First, I would cap the number of transfers allowed to one (1). This is the athlete’s get out of jail free card if they truly land in an untenable situation. Next, if the athletes expect NIL money, they must sign a contract with appropriate stipulations. If agreed upon requirements are not met, they don’t get paid. If an athlete breaks their contract, they don’t get paid. Welcome to the real world of professionalism.
Were universities making disgusting amounts of money off their athletes prior to NIL? Absolutely. Was an excessive and hasty overcorrection performed without thinking about implications? You had better believe it. Television rights are dictating conference realignments and teams speculate who will hit the portal before seasons are final. Fans have reached the point of apathetic disdain. The system is horribly broken yet the status quo appears to be winning out.
Jim Jackson resides in Franklin County. He can be reached by email at jackson.m.jim@gmail.com.