Transfers

[The Jackal]

Seems like it would be up to the school. It would be best if schools all practiced some tough love and allowed these guy to learn from the consequences of their decisions. The lesson they would learn would be that there is always somebody willing to take the job if you don't want it, and even if they aren't quite as good as you, nobody cares because they're loyal and you aren't and its just FCS anyway so hit the road.

So, I do think we have to make a distinction on some of this.

There are probably some kids around the country who just want to "get that feeling" again of being recruited and sought after. They might be just jumping for a new opportunity, don't like their playing time, place on the depth chart, whatever.

I do not think that's the case for a lot of Furman's guys. Adrian Hope, for instance, is a 2017 high school grad, played at Furman 5 years, played 41 games in the purple and white, and has one year of eligibility remaining (COVID?).

If Hope decided to call it a career, no one would bat an eye - he's a redshirt senior. If he wants to try to parlay another season of eligibility into a degree, then go for it. I'm sure that if he wanted to come back and play out his eligibility at Furman, the coaching staff would figure out a way.

I don't think you can apply the opportunity monger and "disloyal" argument across the board in these situations.

[apaladin]

Many in the portal are going to end up homeless. If everyone in the portal lands a spot every team in the country both FBS and FCS would have to take app 8.5 transfers. Not happening, nowhere close.

[The Jackal]

Many in the portal are going to end up homeless. If everyone in the portal lands a spot every team in the country both FBS and FCS would have to take app 8.5 transfers. Not happening, nowhere close.

I also imagine it is easier for the specialists like Bleekrode and Atkins to get offers. It's harder to know how an FCS player may transition to a different level or conference, but it's pretty easy to evaluate kickers. A 55 yard field goal is the same whether at Furman or Nebraska.

[cavedweller2]

Might be a good time for Furman to have an MBA program.

[The Jackal]

Might be a good time for Furman to have an MBA program.

If I were in charge of Furman's football program, I'd be beating down the door to establish one.

[Affirm]

Might be a good time for Furman to have an MBA program.

If I were in charge of Furman's football program, I'd be beating down the door to establish one.

That would amount to the tail wagging the dog.

[cavedweller2]

Doesn't matter. We need to keep our good players at Furman and that is one way to do it.

[The Jackal]

Might be a good time for Furman to have an MBA program.

If I were in charge of Furman's football program, I'd be beating down the door to establish one.

That would amount to the tail wagging the dog, would it not? Or is football the dog?
What if MBA is not a suitable fit for Furman academically and financially?
Would we be able to establish, support, and maintain an MBA program that would be a good one compared to other Furman academics and other reasonably good MBA programs?
(Not saying it would have to be one of the best 75 nationally, but I think it would have to be one of the best 5 in SC, at least one of the best 20 in “SC/NC/GA,”, and at least one of the best 150 nationally in at least some areas of quality, attractiveness, and need.)

I think with MBA programs, most are sort of a wash outside of the top few schools nationally.

I also believe Furman's name would also carry a lot of weight or certainly as much as Samford or Mercer's currently do in the arena.

Public perception of a school's reputation is a funny thing. Princeton Law School is usually highly regarded in the public eye despite not existing.

[Affirm]

Might be a good time for Furman to have an MBA program.

If I were in charge of Furman's football program, I'd be beating down the door to establish one.

That would amount to the tail wagging the dog, would it not? Or is football the dog?
What if MBA is not a suitable fit for Furman academically and financially?
Would we be able to establish, support, and maintain an MBA program that would be a good one compared to other Furman academics and other reasonably good MBA programs?
(Not saying it would have to be one of the best 75 nationally, but I think it would have to be one of the best 5 in SC, at least one of the best 20 in “SC/NC/GA,”, and at least one of the best 150 nationally in at least some areas of quality, attractiveness, and need.)

I think with MBA programs, most are sort of a wash outside of the top few schools nationally.

I also believe Furman's name would also carry a lot of weight or certainly as much as Samford or Mercer's currently do in the arena.

Public perception of a school's reputation is a funny thing. Princeton Law School is usually highly regarded in the public eye despite not existing.

[FUBeAR]

Princeton Law School is usually highly regarded in the public eye despite not existing.

DANGIT! I thought getting my JD from Princeton Law via a 6 week mail order course for $999 sounded sketchy. Guess FUBeAR’s gotta update the ol’ resume again.

[Yadkin]

The establishment of a Furman grad program that incorporates business, communications, marketing and other concentrations is a train that has already left the station. Starts in Aug. of ‘22. While some may paint it as a sop to athletics, just stop and think how FU can tap into a vibrant, dynamic Greenville business community no doubt populated with young professionals who would like an advanced degree from a highly respected institution. Credit FU for seeing that potential AND stepping up to give Paladin Athletics something to offer, not only its own students, but maybe a potential grad transfer or two. I don’t think the program will be very large (makes sense, at least initially). As we know, the athletic landscape has changed drastically, and FU can either adapt to some degree or suffer. I think it can adapt and not compromise its principles and integrity. Good for Furman!

[The Jackal]

Princeton Law School is usually highly regarded in the public eye despite not existing.

DANGIT! I thought getting my JD from Princeton Law via a 6 week mail order course for $999 sounded sketchy. Guess FUBeAR’s gotta update the ol’ resume again.

You can give a Furman Law degree a try. I believe Furman's Law school existed more recently than Princeton's.

[The Jackal]

The establishment of a Furman grad program that incorporates business, communications, marketing and other concentrations is a train that has already left the station. Starts in Aug. of ‘22. While some may paint it as a sop to athletics, just stop and think how FU can tap into a vibrant, dynamic Greenville business community no doubt populated with young professionals who would like an advanced degree from a highly respected institution. Credit FU for seeing that potential AND stepping up to give Paladin Athletics something to offer, not only its own students, but maybe a potential grad transfer or two. I don’t think the program will be very large (makes sense, at least initially). As we know, the athletic landscape has changed drastically, and FU can either adapt to some degree or suffer. I think it can adapt and not compromise its principles and integrity. Good for Furman!

Grad programs are cash cows to universities. Especially those that have high tuition and little infrastructure need (no Labs, for instance).

You don't want to be too big, I think, because students are a good deal wiser to the pitfalls of graduate degrees - lots of money poured into a degree that doesn't necessarily guarantee a job or a salary that can pay off the debt.

[FUpaladin08]

It still seems to me like a math problem. I'm sure there are some schools doing much of their recruiting through the portal, but at some level, there's not enough available spots for all the kids in the portal.

Yea at a certain point something has to give. Colleges recruit from HS. If 2000+ college kids are going to be in the portal every year won’t that mean less HS kids will get an offer? I’d rather have a day 1 starter from the portal than a raw kid from HS. We know some portal kids won’t get offers and we’ll see what happens to them from there. Many will and that will push the lesser HS kids to a lower level school. So are the real losers here the HS kids looking for D II and III offers but won’t get them bc transfers were taken at higher levels?

Maybe this will all work itself out once the free covid year has had time to move on?

[Affirm]

The establishment of a Furman grad program that incorporates business, communications, marketing and other concentrations is a train that has already left the station. Starts in Aug. of ‘22. While some may paint it as a sop to athletics, just stop and think how FU can tap into a vibrant, dynamic Greenville business community no doubt populated with young professionals who would like an advanced degree from a highly respected institution. Credit FU for seeing that potential AND stepping up to give Paladin Athletics something to offer, not only its own students, but maybe a potential grad transfer or two. I don’t think the program will be very large (makes sense, at least initially). As we know, the athletic landscape has changed drastically, and FU can either adapt to some degree or suffer. I think it can adapt and not compromise its principles and integrity. Good for Furman!