Why the ‘transfer culture’ is okay

Today’s college athletes seem better than they were when I was growing up. The ability that they show seems more breathtaking than when watching as a young boy. However, growing up, there wasn’t too much of a kid leaving a college for a different one. Not that I can recall anyways.
In collegiate sports, transferring is become a popular option for numerous athletes if they aren’t able to find the field/court or someone takes their job. Some transfers come from junior colleges, which is the widely accepted variety of transfers, even if they are Division 1 kickbacks as seen in shows like Last Chance U.
Student-athletes transferring from a four year to a different four year for “green pastures” is frowned upon by fans and some members of the media.
Why though?
Do we fault someone for finding a new job if they are unhappy? Do we get mad for someone ending a relationship, you know what, skip that one. When a person finds themselves in a situation where they feel like they need a chance, they are free to do so and finding a new school is no exception.
When a coach leaves a job or gets fired, they can get a buyout from the school to pay off the contract. No one really bats much of an eye, except those who realize that being fired shouldn’t mean an extra $15 million in their pockets. Rather, people just let that go on and say nothing.
But that third string quarterback wants to leave to try to win a job at another school? He has no loyalty what so ever. The kid just wanted to rip the heart out of the fan base because he was never going to see the field.
Too much? Maybe, but sometimes you get these sports fans on social media that can say whatever they want, knowing how much space covers them from someone who might do something about it.
A basketball player gets promised playing time and never was able to get to that point, should be okay for them to try a different school to capitalize on their talents.
A graduate transfer is fine to everyone because they’ve finished with the school they went to and can now just play a year without anyone really getting on their back for their decision to leave. What’s the difference in that sort of loyalty?
They finished up at that school and should still want to assist that program, right? See how that’s a little hypocritical? Why is that sort of transferring fine and not the other?
If a coaching change occurs, a player should be able to freely leave that school without any sort of public opinion based on that decision. Most often times they are able to, like when Baylor went through everything a few years ago with the lack of institutional control.
Not every player is going to like a situation once they get past the recruitment process and get to that school. Happiness is key for anyone in life and a new situation does exactly that.
So, instead of attacking a kid for wanting to try something new, support them and wish them good luck in their new endeavors. That change might spark something better for them even in the classroom, which is ultimately what should matter with a student-athlete. Not the team they play for but the education they’re able to get.
And, honestly, a transfer can help their potential professional status in the future. Look at Joe Burrow at LSU. He transferred from Ohio State and won the Heisman and is probably a lock to be the top pick in the NFL draft. Never would’ve happened if he had stayed at Ohio State. In fact, three of the top four quarterbacks in the College Football Playoffs were transfers. Imagine if they had to stick at their original school of choice.
Never would have been as much fun to watch the CFP this season.
Transfers are a good thing. Embrace that it’s going to happen and it’s going to continue to grow larger every year. Think of it as college’s version of free agency, only unlike coaches, they have to usually sit out a year.