Link: 2026 Transfer Portal

[denver]

The NFL is littered with players from smaller schools so the talent is out there on every roster in CFB. As for the RB who flipped, I'd never heard of him and sounds like he wants more money...so in games he may make "business" decisions as they say..always great to have a self-centered player on the team. Coleman is a great receiver,but again...he wanted the cash..i question his loyalty and commitment. IU's secret sauce is also culture...players loyal to the almighty $ wont help your culture. Find players who love the game, will commit to the team and die on the field.

 

[CoolBreeze]

What’s the odds of Crowell still being on the roster a year from now?

No crystal balls here but that depends on a lot. Will he produce? Will we win? Will he love the Alabama experience? Is he more money motivated than getting good coaching and love from the best fanbase in college athletics? I mean, I'd rather stay optimistic and live in the now frankly.

 

[KrAzY3]

Again, it's not CM's job to evaluate.

Evaluating 20,000 kids takes a far bigger staff than anyone has, so instead you look at who other staffs have offered to save time. I am not saying that I agree with this method as it is quite lazy, but it is effective to a point.

I believe we are all disenchanted with the way this whole nil/unlimited transfer thing has ruined CFP. Everyone is trying to figure this system out and game. Some are further along and/or have far better funding to do so. Is it fair? Absolutely not!

Parents/handlers are steering kids based on their own particularly greed and for the most part really couldn't care less what happens to the kid's future...sadly.

First off, I do understand that no one guy can manage that entire load. For instance in baseball there's the scouts. The GM is ultimately at the top of player evaluation, but he has scouts that go all over finding players and giving recommendation and doing reports. Someone needs to be doing that, they absolutely can not rely on other teams.

I get that not one person can possible do it all and I'm not saying anyone should. I also should add that despite our differing views on this I mean no personal animus towards you or the staff. I want the same results you want, I just have a different outlook right now.

But I think when you get to the part about looking at who other staffs have offered. That is a failure point. I don't think Saban did it, I read an article about Cignetti's evaluations and I don't think he does it. If Alabama is doing it, no wonder they are playing from behind. I do think Texas has a habit of doing that for the record, they have a history of going after high star guys that don't pan out.

I think in this era, you absolutely have to be on point with your evaluations. That's all there is to it. You can spend big, but even that has it's limits. You literally pay for your lack of ability to evaluate. In this case though, the staff is lavishly paid, so they should in theory be at the top of the game in terms of evaluations. It's not a resource issue, they are not even counting GM or coach pay, like third highest or something paid staff.

Either way, if this is another portal fail it's boom or bust for next season. You can't do what they're doing now, and then struggle on field. There won't be anything left to have confidence in.

 

[Cruloc]

This is really the part where I'm dumbfounded.

I've followed the economics of the sport for about as long as I've been here. Alabama is a top 10 program in terms of donors, but not a top 5. They can't hang with Texas. However, they are a top 5 program in terms of revenue! This means the University of Alabama can match resources with just about anyone! They can offer more scholarships, they have better facilities, they can max out their NIL allotment, etc...

Just look where they are on the list: https://sportsdata.usatoday.com/ncaa/finances
They are third, they literally make in twice as much money as some other programs that are having better portal classes. Yet, I'm supposed to believe it's a money issue? Then the University built a 47 million dollar golf practice facility? If they're not using close to 105 scholarship's it's malfeasance, not a money issue.

So, sure they can't outbid billionaires. They can however, offer more than almost every other program out there. If they're not committing the funds, if they're not offering the scholarships, if they're not doing the deep dives on guys to offer those scholarships to? Well that's on them. It was so bad I've repeatedly looked it up to confirm they can indeed offer 105 scholarships this year.

They just need to find the players to use them on...

If the GM isn't doing the job of a GM then that's poor use of the money. I actually worked for the same organization that Dave Stewart worked for (when he was in the Padres organization) and been around him when he was working. I've sat near the Tigers GM when he was working. You know what they were doing? They were evaluating players. So if he's a GM that doesn't do GM stuff then may be find one that does.

That aside, as to the other part...
You don't instantly find 30, that's my point. You spend the whole year finding those 30. That's what you're being paid for, to work. Not wake up when the portal opens and go oh time to get to work, no you do it all day every day, all year. That's why you're paid so much.

Jim Nagy at Oklahoma......I guarantee you that he's evaluating players as their GM.

 

[Cruloc]

What’s the odds of Crowell still being on the roster a year from now?

That's a problem yes, then we have to go find another 1 and done RB in the portal....and actually land him this time.

 

[Bama Lee]

Frustrating That we are wasting time on skill positions that we cannot afford and do not really need when we do not even have first string OL to put on the field.

We do need WRs. We only have like five or six scholarship players

 

[Cruloc]

We do need WRs. We only have like five or six scholarship players

Yes, we're losing 6 guys in the rotation. 5 of which are to the portal, 1 to the NFL.

Returning guys are Ryan, Brooks, Rico and Meadows.....and we have Cederian Morgan coming in as a freshman. We need more depth there, badly.

 

[denver]

After seeing all this nonsense this year, I'd be willing to trade a couple of mediocre years for one year with a great, older team to try to win it all. If Deboer came out and stated that he was building towards that goal then I would be ok with it. Trying to compete in this NIL arms race is a waste of time. Its also destroying what remains of the Bama process/culture that Saban built to be Bama football. Fans in all sports have become impatient so I doubt this method would gain acceptance

 

[Tide-one-on]

I almost feel like we are becoming a school that develops some kids for other high paying schools to poach. I hate this. Someone hit the lottery and let's have some fun

 

[Slowpoke Catracho]

I don't know, but if you value $$$ over playing for Bama then goodbye! Are the players that are there for $$$ going to give that extra push with heart? IDK.

 

[CB4]

Supposedly, there is a clearinghouse in place to look at these NIL deals and see if they’re legit. Not sure that’s being done very thoroughly at this time.

Deloitte is the clearinghouse. Right now they don’t know whether to “scratch their fanny or wind their watch.” And programs like Texas Tech, Texas, TAMU with major dollar boosters are taking advantage of it. There are some legal experts saying this may not end well. If Deloitte gets it acts together and essentially void some of these agreements by finding them illegitimate and merely “pay for play”, then the lawsuits start flying.

 

[NoNC4Tubs]

First off, I do understand that no one guy can manage that entire load. For instance in baseball there's the scouts. The GM is ultimately at the top of player evaluation, but he has scouts that go all over finding players and giving recommendation and doing reports. Someone needs to be doing that, they absolutely can not rely on other teams.

I get that not one person can possible do it all and I'm not saying anyone should. I also should add that despite our differing views on this I mean no personal animus towards you or the staff. I want the same results you want, I just have a different outlook right now.

But I think when you get to the part about looking at who other staffs have offered. That is a failure point. I don't think Saban did it, I read an article about Cignetti's evaluations and I don't think he does it. If Alabama is doing it, no wonder they are playing from behind. I do think Texas has a habit of doing that for the record, they have a history of going after high star guys that don't pan out.

I think in this era, you absolutely have to be on point with your evaluations. That's all there is to it. You can spend big, but even that has it's limits. You literally pay for your lack of ability to evaluate. In this case though, the staff is lavishly paid, so they should in theory be at the top of the game in terms of evaluations. It's not a resource issue, they are not even counting GM or coach pay, like third highest or something paid staff.

Either way, if this is another portal fail it's boom or bust for next season. You can't do what they're doing now, and then struggle on field. There won't be anything left to have confidence in.

OK, once more. Evaluations are not a part of CM's job. That is on the coaches as they know what player attributes they are looking for.

So if you had CM's job, what would YOU do differently?

 

[Cruloc]

I don't know, but if you value $$$ over playing for Bama then goodbye! Are the players that are there for $$$ going to give that extra push with heart? IDK.

The whole industry now is about money so I don't know how you ever find "heart" again. That's going to have to come from a bond between players. Indiana has that because they've played together for so long. Its difficult to do that when kids are jumping all over the place year after year.

 

[tusks_n_raider]

I'm really less worried about Smothers, especially since we have Crowell coming in. No experience, but the kid is a playmaker.

I'm extremely worried about the OL and then secondarily, the DL.

We've got some movement on the OL news it seems.....hopefully we can land a few difference makers.

We do need some WR depth as well.

I’m worried about it because it definitely filled a need.

Smothers is a 1A RB

Got him to commit and then tried to low ball him on his NIL that was verbally agreed to.

This staff is a clown show.

 

[Cruloc]

OK, once more. Evaluations are not a part of CM's job. That is on the coaches as they know what player attributes they are looking for.

So if you had CM's job, what would YOU do differently?

Evaluations should be part of a GM's job. If we aren't doing that we are playing from behind already.

See Jim Nagy at Oklahoma.

 

[NoNC4Tubs]

After seeing all this nonsense this year, I'd be willing to trade a couple of mediocre years for one year with a great, older team to try to win it all. If Deboer came out and stated that he was building towards that goal then I would be ok with it. Trying to compete in this NIL arms race is a waste of time. Its also destroying what remains of the Bama process/culture that Saban built to be Bama football. Fans in all sports have become impatient so I doubt this method would gain acceptance

Isn't it a given that the HC is building towards the goal of winning an NC?

 

[NoNC4Tubs]

I don't know, but if you value $$$ over playing for Bama then goodbye! Are the players that are there for $$$ going to give that extra push with heart? IDK.

That is basically where we are...and it's really hard for most of us to realize...

CFP is ruined...

 

[Slowpoke Catracho]

I never heard of Hollywood Smothers until recently and Cam Coleman fumbled the last play of the Iron Bowl for Auburn. So.... meh! How good was their last team?

 

[NoNC4Tubs]

I’m worried about it because it definitely filled a need.

Smothers is a 1A RB

Got him to commit and then tried to low ball him on his NIL that was verbally agreed to.

This staff is a clown show.

You say low-balled based on what? Do you know this for a fact or just based someone's comment based on someone else's conjecture?

Compared to texa$ offer, then yes, it obviously was...

 

[NoNC4Tubs]

Evaluations should be part of a GM's job. If we aren't doing that we are playing from behind already.

See Jim Nagy at Oklahoma.

Should be and are...are two different things.