NIL and 1 free transfer- why not?
If people are dumb enough to throw thousands at student athletes just so the players sign, and they continue to be dumb enough to do that even after they see a pattern of players transferring out, and they continue to be dumb enough to throw more money to players so they transfer in...let em continue to do that.
As for 1 free transfer, I love it. For decades, it was a completely imbalanced relationship- schools could drop a player from scholarship and effectively force them to transfer, and therefore sit out a year. Many student athletes lost 25% of their college competition because they had already redshirted and had to sit out again due to the effective forced transfer. And schools could just arbitrarily and punitively restrict student athletes from transferring to various schools. It was often cited as justifiable based on suspected tampering, but it was clearly just punitive in the vast majority of situations. Meanwhile, coaches and administration would choose to leave every year without having to sit out a year. A new coach would come in with a different style of play and if that meant some student athletes would no longer fit the new scheme...then they would have to sit a year.
It was completely unjustifiable for decades. Just absurd, really.
Now? The pendulum has swung too far in the other direction, but thats because the side with power had pulled it their way so far for so long, the large swing was inevitable once the side with power lost their grip.
So let it be 17ing chaos. 17 it- call this what it is- a bunch of people just wanting to get theirs and leaving for perceived greener pastures. Admin, coaches, student athletes- all doing what they think is in their best interest.
Let it continue until the dummies that keep throwing money at everyone stop throwing money at everyone. If the dummies dont stop, then let it continue.
^ thats the given up hope response. Its legit, but I get that its an emotional acceptance of having lost what was really cool for the fan.
An actual more serious answer is that I think NIL and 1 free transfer should both continue to exist because they can benefit different players.
NIL goes to the best/most marketable/more impactful players. 1 free transfer goes to everyone and therefore allows student athletes who arent playing(and not receiving NIL) to leave for a better opportunity. Why take that away from them just because NIL exists for a small handful of overall student athletes?
I would be fine with the rule that each student athlete can either accept NIL money -or- be free to transfer 1 time without penalty. That would still allow many to transfer without penalty. And it would maybe better focus NIL money on those who are actually using their Name, Image, and Likeness for profit(endorsements).
