quote:
Maybe a big reason most grads are making those choices is because of transfer release restrictions against transfering within their conference and scheduled opponents.

That could be the case but I would wager it is more on the fact that they return because they are playing at their current school like SDH and Tony Brown were last year or they are not cutting it at D1/Power 5 level of competition. This is a little different but look at the 7 players who left Ole Miss recently to play immediately cause of the Hugh Freeze situation, only one went in conference.

ETA: Looking at the grad transfer tracker site football is up to about 180 total committed grad transfers so far. Just eyeballing the 110 who have destinations but about half are moving up or down from their previous level of competition. Currently there are 16 expected SEC grad transfers this year.

Definitely with AP courses and redshirts more students are graduating early but again how significant is that number? How many more than the 117 from 2016 along with the other graduates who stayed was prevented on going where they actually wanted to go due that rule. You believe it is likely significant I would wager against it.

You would have to had graduated early, not be happy with your situation at your current institution, and have a rival school in conference that has that specific need and wants to bring you in and use a scholarship on you likely for one year of eligibility. It just doesn't seem like that would be frequent that is why I don't see this being a huge problem.

The reality is this stipulation is going to end in the near future. Most conferences seem fine with granting the waiver.

This post was edited on 5/16/18 at 12:36 pm

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Posted by TidalSurge1

Ft Walton Beach

Member since Sep 2016

36467 posts

Posted on 5/16/18 at 12:12 pm to Carlton

Saban on blocking transfers: 'Do we want free agency in SEC?' (BamaOnLine)

quote:
HOOVER, Ala. -- If the circumstance is right, Nick Saban can understand a player transferring within the conference. Otherwise, the head coach is not in favor of SEC free agency.

The topic came up Wednesday prior to the Regions Tradition Celebrity Pro-Am because of news that Alabama was blocking now-former offensive lineman Brandon Kennedy from transferring to Tennessee as a graduate transfer. Kennedy would rejoin ex-Crimson Tide defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt in Knoxville, Tenn., but also a team that annually faces Alabama.

Saban shared his thoughts on the matter before warming up at Greystone Golf & Country Club.

“We have an SEC rule about it -- do we want to have free agency within our conference?” Saban said. “And I think there’s certain circumstances and situations where it may be better for the student-athlete, and in those cases, I would be supportive of the guys who’s doing it. I’ve done it in the past and I’ve not done it in the past. But I do think that this whole transfer thing is something that we should look at more from 1,000 feet.

“We don’t like to get put in the middle of these rules as coaches. I think none of us do. We have rules but yet we’re not supposed to abide by the rules and they affect poorly on us when we try to support the rules that we have. And the rules that we have, we have for a reason, and I just stated the reason -- do we want free agency in the SEC so guys would be able to leave your team and go play for somebody else next year that you have to play against? And I do feel that there are cases where that may be a viable option, if it’s for academic reasons.”

Kennedy is the latest instance where a grad transfer has been blocked, at least initially, from choosing a transfer destination within the league. Most notably was former Alabama defensive back Maurice Smith, who wanted to transfer to Georgia and follow another former coordinator, Kirby Smart. Smith was eventually was allowed to transfer to Athens, Ga.

According to a report from AL.com, Kennedy is in the process of appealing.

As this is the second transfer situation UA has encountered, Saban expects it to continue to reach the spotlight and will be brought up at SEC meetings in Destin, Fla., later this month.

“I think it’s a hot topic on a national basis, and I think something’s going to happen,” Saban said. “I don’t really know what. And if the rule changes, I don’t even have a clue what it might be and what it might change to.”

This post was edited on 5/16/18 at 12:14 pm

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Posted by 14&Counting

Eugene, OR

Member since Jul 2012

37697 posts

Posted on 5/16/18 at 12:58 pm to Carlton

quote:
sn't seem like that would be frequent that is why I don't see this being a huge problem.

Well we have had two of these now....In the Mo Smith case it bit us in the arse because we wound up having to completely reconfigure our DB situation when Eddie went down. Smith was a contributor and we needed him. Now they want to take a back-up center so what happens if our starter goes down at one of the most critical positions on offense?

Again the kid can leave and play where he wants but I am tired of Bama serving as a feeder school for the likes of UGA, UT, or AU UNLESS Saban is OK with the transfer. They recruit our coaches, staff, etc. and that's just business....I get it and we can't do anything about it....but when they are trying to poach our players, I start to have an issue. They already recruit against us.

Again he can go where he wants as long as its outside the conference. There are 120 Div 1 schools. He could probably go to the likes of Vandy or State and Coach would probably OK it.....but if you are talking AU, UGA, or Tennessee? Maybe its not cool particularly if we are counting on him for depth.....

This post was edited on 5/16/18 at 1:04 pm

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