Chansky's Notebook: Portal Problems

Are the transfer portal and NIL making college more like pro football?

Mack Brown has had his opportunities to coach in the NFL, but the college Hall of Famer knew where he belonged. Yet the game he has been coaching for more than 40 years is starting to look different.

“The NFL plays with 53 guys, and we’re playing with 44 and the rest of them are mad or they’re really young,” Brown said Monday at his weekly Zoom press conference.

He senses that if things aren’t going well for reserves or young players, they start thinking about transferring instead of staying and fighting through it. Brown didn’t say it, but you can certainly make a case for why his team has had fluctuating concentration this season.

“The transfer portal is changing the locker room,” he said. “We thought name, image, and likeness would do it. And maybe it has, but I think more it’s the transfer portal because teams aren’t as close and you’re seeing up and down teams. You’re seeing more teams that’ll play great and they’re hot. But when they get in a tight situation, they’re not playing as well.”

So the old expression “fight or flight” may be applicable to college football as it is in the pros when players who aren’t performing get released or traded or ask to be traded. Brown points to some colleges taking up to 15 transfers to help them win in the short run.

“What does that do to the nature of the culture of your locker room that you recruited?” Brown mused, “because the more guys you take in the portal, obviously your players look at it and say they must not think I’m good enough because they’re bringing somebody in to take my place. And I think that’s why we’ll see more transfers, too.”

Brown compares the new fluidity of the college rosters to NFL teams that have 53 active players that changes with injuries and trades. Before the portal, most college players had no choice because transfers had to sit out a red-shirt year at their new school.

“If you were mad in the past, you waited your turn,” Brown said. “Now you just leave. So, I think that hurts your team. I’m not talking about our team. I’m talking about everybody’s team because more people are looking to leave than trying to figure out a way to win.”

UNC has one transfer this season, star tailback Ty Chandler, and three players who have entered the portal.

Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees. You can support local journalism and our mission to serve the community. Contribute today – every single dollar matters.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Chansky’s Notebook: Portal Problems

On Air Now: 97.9 FM