D2 Transfer Portal / Economic Recruiting Shift

[Eagle74]

You know that economics plays a higher role (especially these days) with the transfer portal with Division 2 student athletes than with other divisions. With D2's lower limitations with scholarships, there's a much higher burden put on the players and their families to shoulder the overall cost (and mounting student debt) not covered by the partial scholarships awarded to players. People can not depend on potential unconstitutional student debt forgiveness as it is quickly losing favor with the vast majority of Americans.

There's really not much opportunities for NIL $$$ in D2, so some players are looking for schools which are better fits economically for themselves and their guardians who are helping for their uncovered expenses.

It's not rocket science seeing that economically, an academically comparable school with a much lower tuition (even without a partial scholarship} can work out much better financially verses a high tuition institution giving a partial or even half scholarship. .

I'm now hearing that pure economics (which is affecting every household) is playing a larger role in recruiting of potential players including those who have placed themselves in the transfer portals. This is a new shift in the game for coaches.

[SW_Mustang]

I don't blame the athletes and their families. Student loan debt blows. Might as well get the best deal they can, especially if their degrees aren't worth $60k/year.

[KleShreen]

I wonder what would happen if NCAA allowed every level of football to be an 85 scholarship max. There's already going to be a natural delineation. No 5-star prospect is going to choose to go to Northeastern State over Alabama for obvious reasons, even if their school is paid for at both places. But I'm curious if D2 schools (and D3 schools) having the ability to offer more full ride scholarships would allow for them to lose less kids in the portal to the FBS/FCS NIL money. I'm guessing not, because generally the players looking to move up are going to be getting high dollar amounts and also the experience against tougher competition, but......I dunno. Just spitballing to figure out a way where D3/D2/FCS aren't constantly losing their best players after one year. Because that's where we're at now.

[Purple Mav Man]

I wonder what would happen if NCAA allowed every level of football to be an 85 scholarship max. There's already going to be a natural delineation. No 5-star prospect is going to choose to go to Northeastern State over Alabama for obvious reasons, even if their school is paid for at both places. But I'm curious if D2 schools (and D3 schools) having the ability to offer more full ride scholarships would allow for them to lose less kids in the portal to the FBS/FCS NIL money. I'm guessing not, because generally the players looking to move up are going to be getting high dollar amounts and also the experience against tougher competition, but......I dunno. Just spitballing to figure out a way where D3/D2/FCS aren't constantly losing their best players after one year. Because that's where we're at now.

D2 already has a haves and have nots. Going to 85 max scholarships would be problematic for the division.

But…a solution is likely in there somewhere. And it’ll likely work itself out over the next few years. With that much money at stake, things typically find a way to work out.

[Eagle74]

D2 already has a haves and have nots. Going to 85 max scholarships would be problematic for the division.

But…a solution is likely in there somewhere. And it’ll likely work itself out over the next few years. With that much money at stake, things typically find a way to work out.

I agree. I know that there's a lot of Division 2 schools who presently don't even come close to the NCAA recomended 36 scholarships, and conferences which do not have any team minimum requirements.

[Bballfan]

The whole state of D2 and D3 athletics are in peril. Colleges that participate in these divisions are closing at an accelerating pace. More high school graduates are bypassing colleges for trade schools and apprenticeship programs. Also, the number of high school graduates are dropping. Schools that have existed for over 100 years are not even immune.

Things are going to get a whole lot worse over the coming years.

[MooseLodge]

The whole state of D2 and D3 athletics are in peril. Colleges that participate in these divisions are closing at an accelerating pace. More high school graduates are bypassing colleges for trade schools and apprenticeship programs. Also, the number of high school graduates are dropping. Schools that have existed for over 100 years are not even immune.

Things are going to get a whole lot worse over the coming years.

Some of this needs to happen. Many schools are staying open just because a bunch of athletes are paying the freight to keep them open. I just looked at a couple of schools in Texas. Howard Payne University has an enrollment of less than 800, and 15 percent of the student body is on the football team. Most of the rest of the enrollment are playing a sport.

Another school, Hardin Simmons, has an enrollment of 1100, yet 197 of those kids - almost 20 percent of the student population - are on the football team.

Another one, East Texas Baptist, has an enrollment of 1400, with 24 sports offered, and over 120 on the football team.

So essentially, the schools are being kept open because a bunch of kids want to keep playing a sport after high school. In exchange for paying most of their own way with huge student loans, the kids have been promised that they will be a college athlete. That isn't the purpose of higher education and is really exploitation of kids by the schools. For the kids that stick around for this charade, they'll receive a worthless piece of paper from a jock school with an 8th grade curriculum, that is necessary to keep all of these kids around - and paying - for the next semester. These kids will also be the proud holders of $100K in student debt.

[Predatory Primates]

Some of this needs to happen. Many schools are staying open just because a bunch of athletes are paying the freight to keep them open. I just looked at a couple of schools in Texas. Howard Payne University has an enrollment of less than 800, and 15 percent of the student body is on the football team. Most of the rest of the enrollment are playing a sport.

Another school, Hardin Simmons, has an enrollment of 1100, yet 197 of those kids - almost 20 percent of the student population - are on the football team.

Another one, East Texas Baptist, has an enrollment of 1400, with 24 sports offered, and over 120 on the football team.

So essentially, the schools are being kept open because a bunch of kids want to keep playing a sport after high school. In exchange for paying most of their own way with huge student loans, the kids have been promised that they will be a college athlete. That isn't the purpose of higher education and is really exploitation of kids by the schools. For the kids that stick around for this charade, they'll receive a worthless piece of paper from a jock school with an 8th grade curriculum, that is necessary to keep all of these kids around - and paying - for the next semester. These kids will also be the proud holders of $100K in student debt.

You are painting with a pretty broad brush there. Do you have anything to back up claims of false promises, poor academics, and worthless diplomas from the schools you mentioned. Not arguing, just asking?

[Bballfan]

He's not wrong athletics prop up a lot of these small schools. Many small D2 schools use athletics to bolster their enrollment, and to get their revenue share from the NCAA. Once the NCAA revenue model changes (and it will because of the pressure to pay D1 athletes in the future) you need to question the future of a LOT of these privately funded colleges. It is not uncommon for some of these school to have an enrollment of over 50% being athletes. If there isn't money to support all the athletic programs, you are to lose students. Lose students and it will no longer be viable for an institution to survive.

[MooseLodge]

You are painting with a pretty broad brush there. Do you have anything to back up claims of false promises, poor academics, and worthless diplomas from the schools you mentioned. Not arguing, just asking?

Yes. Closely connected. I know of one student who was a business major. For most of his business classes, "Mr Jones" (I'll withhold the actual name) was his "professor." Not a PhD, but just a "Mr." Said student was having trouble passing a class, and Mr. Jones told him "Don't worry. You are going to have me for most of your classes, and if not me, my wife."

If you are an employer looking for a BBA, are you going to accept that?

[Predatory Primates]

Yes. Closely connected. I know of one student who was a business major. For most of his business classes, "Mr Jones" (I'll withhold the actual name) was his "professor." Not a PhD, but just a "Mr." Said student was having trouble passing a class, and Mr. Jones told him "Don't worry. You are going to have me for most of your classes, and if not me, my wife."

If you are an employer looking for a BBA, are you going to accept that?

Lol. No.