Expectations Too High For Transfer Portal Players Upon Arrival At New School
Jan 27, 2021, 2:43 PM
Utah Utes quarterback Jake Bentley (8) throws the ball during a PAC12 football game between the Utah Utes and the Washington Huskies on November 28, 2020, at Husky Stadium in Seattle, WA. (Photo by Jeff Halstead/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
(Photo by Jeff Halstead/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The college football transfer portal is still a relatively new concept that has fans rather excited by the notion that their beloved team can improve immediately.
However, the expectation for transfer portal arrivals is often high, which Tom Hackett and Steve Bartle believe is unfair.
Let's Ride.. #GoUtes pic.twitter.com/bjW4LwzWgw
— TJ Pledger IV (@uno_tj) January 11, 2021
Players enter the transfer portal for various reasons, occasionally they are searching for more playing time, maybe they fell out of love with the coaching staff, a dispute occurred in the locker room, among other reasons. Generally, reasons for a player to enter their name in the transfer portal is because they are unhappy.
“You don’t hear of players that have had success enter their names into the portal,” Hackett said. “If you are a Heisman finalist, you probably aren’t looking to change schools.”
RELATED STORIES
The University of Utah is in a unique position ahead of the 2021 season, they have added a number of high profile transfers including the likes of former Baylor quarterback and four-year starter Charlie Brewer, Texas quarterback Ja’Quinden Jackson, and LSU and Oklahoma running backs Chris Curry and TJ Pledger.
Understandably, the expectation of the likes of Brewer, Curry, and Pledger is high. Utah fans are beyond excited to see how they will impact the 2021 season.
For Baylor fans who want to see Charlie Brewer play his last season of college football, they’ll have to flip around to find the Utah Utes on TV or subscribe to Pac-12 Networks. https://t.co/SWeRtcmQ45
— Waco Tribune-Herald (@wacotrib) December 26, 2020
Transferring schools is no easy feat, as was exemplified last year when former South Carolina quarterback Jake Bentley joined Utah but disappointed.
A new playbook, locker room environment, culture, coaching staff among other differences all must be taken into account when attempting to determine a player’s success at a new school.
The expectation is clearly too high for certain individuals. Fans are setting the bar too high and welcoming failures.
