Watkins in Transfer Portal
- Thread starter Knucklehank1
- Start date
I've been one that hasn't wanted to jump ship, but something is up. I truly think it would be bad to start over right now and that Satt can get it right, but if transfers like this start to happen, not great Bob.
I remember this offseason we threw a fit when some reporters and other coaches stated there were some internal issues inside our program and it really does seem like it's true.
Satt has a simple task. GO GET A HIGH PRICED OC AND DC TO REPLACE CORT. I think we can stabilize with some good assistant hires. Also, we aren't getting Jeff Brohm so anyone we get will be a Satt type mid-major coach or an unproven coordinator. So we better make our decisions with care.
I remember this offseason we threw a fit when some reporters and other coaches stated there were some internal issues inside our program and it really does seem like it's true.
Satt has a simple task. GO GET A HIGH PRICED OC AND DC TO REPLACE CORT. I think we can stabilize with some good assistant hires. Also, we aren't getting Jeff Brohm so anyone we get will be a Satt type mid-major coach or an unproven coordinator. So we better make our decisions with care.
One thing to keep in mind - with NIL there will be a lot of guys testing their market value. Watkins plays a high profile position and has a big personality. He is someone who could make some coin (say as the replacement for Wandale Robinson at UK).
I doubt that Watkins is a signal flare that you are about to have a mass exodus because Satt has lost the team. Satt is a good a coach and seems to have a close relationship with his players.
Watkins had originally committed to UK and flipped at the last moment to UofL. He had already developed a relationship with the UK staff. He has several friends on UK's roster from high school and Aspirations Gym.
Plus, apparently, UK is only one of three likely options for Watkins.
This looks more like a "One-Off" situation than an indicator of roster issues at UofL. I wouldn't read a lot into what that one kid does.
As expected, some fans are not realizing what getting down to 85 scholarship limit in 2022 means. Watkins won’t be the only one to go into the portal. There will probably be about 10 more.
And honestly, if he thinks he will be happy somewhere else, why would we want to chain him to our program?
And honestly, if he thinks he will be happy somewhere else, why would we want to chain him to our program?
We don’t want to chain him here if he doesn’t want to be here but with the comments that were made by JJ Weaver and now another kid from Louisville, we have recruiting issues inside Jefferson County. I wonder who could change that?
I saw the statement from Weaver, and it did not impress me in the least. Sounded exactly like what someone who was looking for any reason at all to get out of the city of Louisville for four years would say. We offered him a scholarship, and he had to know there would be more immediate playing time for him here than at UK, so I have to wonder what ELSE was he looking for?
And of course the very natural question then becomes, if he wanted to come to UofL so badly but UofL didn't give him what he wanted ... what was it that UK offered him that we didn't?
At the time of his signing, name, image and likeness deals were not allowed, so if he was looking for other inducements, I'm very glad he felt like "we didn't want him."
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It's simple, they were top 15 and we just went 2-10 and were in the middle of a coaching change. That's why he went. We start winning games, it gets easier.
Now that UK is actually winning games, it's going to be harder to lock down the city. Because as much as we go "$EC OVERATEDDD!!!", the SEC is appealing to recruits. We're an urban area, not a real big football city. There's a contingent of UofL fans and some UofK fans too, but big cities are filled with transplants. Kids don't have loyalty to this place as "home" as much as we think. It's not the old days where games aren't on TV and it was much harder for parents to travel to see their kids play.
Even though UofK isn't amazing, they can now sell that they're a decent program and they'll be going against Georgia, Florida, etc. type teams every year that's all over national tv and where so many NFL prospects come out of and the fans are crazy. We have to sell playing apathetic crowds at Virginia, Boston College, Georgia Tech, Duke, etc. type games.
But unless Bush/Brohm types are in the city, I don't care as much. This city, while important, isn't producing elite talent. Bush/Brohm was perfect as you had the BIG Catholic High School and BIG Public High School hometown kids facing off as two 5 stars in the biggest high school game ever that got the city behind them.
As much as I love Watkins, James Quick, and others, we haven't had stars like that in this city that draw interest. I mean we love HS football, but it isn't as big a deal as it was years ago since the private Catholic Schools just flat out dominate. THe deep south just has way better talent and they love love love football. We're just an urban city. Our roots are horse racing & basketball, with a little baseball. The growth lately is more hipster-ish that likes things like soccer and would be perfect for NBA.
sUcKs has the in-state advantage as those rural type areas and places like BG and LEX are more football centered crowds and it's BBN country. It's harder for us to get into that type of space because we're built around the city. I did love early on how we embraced the city and said F the state, but in reality we should've been building bridges in places like Covington & Bowling Green. BG actually has a good UofL following for alumni, always a place to find CArds fans watching game, but we never pursued. Nashville is a market that's not really dominated by anyone, but we never really attacked that area.
From what I hear he's actually not in the portal yet. Not much character for this kid if he jumped in the portal while Satterfield is attending his fathers funeral..
I'm not that up on how the portal works. Maybe he isn't in it yet because there is a time period to enter. I know there is a date that the portal closes.
I hope I never criticize a young person for making a business decision that is in their personal best interest. For many of these athletes, it’s imperative that they place themselves in the best situation to maximize their present and future earning potential. The vast majority of them will never earn a professional contract, so this NIL is their best, and maybe only, opportunity to capitalize on their current popularity as a result of their athletic prowess. I wish Jordan Watkins the best wherever he decides to go to pursue current financial gain and future professional potential.
Do you know it was a business decision ? Is it a violation to approach a player with an offer while they are still playing for another team and not in the portal yet ?
Yeah, and not one of these teams coaches would do a dirty deed, especially the one just to the east. IMO, Steelers was talking personal business.
I imagine it's a crazy time for these young men when college FB is having major shifts daily and even crazier today. Is it time for all adults involved to say, it's all about the student athlete?
The lid came off in college football some time ago; the transfer portal is as close to free-agency as you can get.
When Schnellenberger and JLS were here, I had close contact with the staffs and could report inside information, but that ship sailed when Petrino arrived, so now all I can do is repeat what others around the players and coaches are reporting.
Weaver is just a young man under the influences of those In Lexington who hate UL. He made an unfortunate statement after an emotional win over a rival that was totally inaccurate and one-sided. While I have no firsthand knowledge of Weaver, I do know those parents who had teammates of Weaver at Moore HS, and they witnessed both Satterfield and his staff making every effort to encourage JJ to come to UL.
I doubt most UL fans appreciate the intense amount of hatred that Stoops has towards UL football, and the effective manner that he has used that emotion to inspire his team to view this inter-state rivalry as more than just a football game. The upside down “Ls” that kids like Levis (transfer from Penn State) exhibited during the game, should tell you just how the quick and intense the Stoop staff has shared their hate to these kids.
When Schnellenberger and JLS were here, I had close contact with the staffs and could report inside information, but that ship sailed when Petrino arrived, so now all I can do is repeat what others around the players and coaches are reporting.
Weaver is just a young man under the influences of those In Lexington who hate UL. He made an unfortunate statement after an emotional win over a rival that was totally inaccurate and one-sided. While I have no firsthand knowledge of Weaver, I do know those parents who had teammates of Weaver at Moore HS, and they witnessed both Satterfield and his staff making every effort to encourage JJ to come to UL.
I doubt most UL fans appreciate the intense amount of hatred that Stoops has towards UL football, and the effective manner that he has used that emotion to inspire his team to view this inter-state rivalry as more than just a football game. The upside down “Ls” that kids like Levis (transfer from Penn State) exhibited during the game, should tell you just how the quick and intense the Stoop staff has shared their hate to these kids.
Silly me
I thought a scholarship meant a free education so you could make future business decisions.
Guess that’s why me, and apparently many others, care less every year.
I thought a scholarship meant a free education so you could make future business decisions.
Guess that’s why me, and apparently many others, care less every year.
The college sports world we grew up with and loved is over! It is nothing but money hungry coaches, ADs, agents and now players. The top 20 big money programs are only going to increase their dominance of the rest of the teams. If I ever purchase another ticket or an overpriced beverage for a college team please put me out of my delirium. Seriously, after 50 years and somewhere north of $350,00 to $400,000 in donations and tickets I AM DONE.
Well said guys; it is increasingly hard to avoid feeling detached from what is happening in college sports. I saw it start years ago when free agency began in the professional ranks, and then came the Baseball Strike.
Coaches ADs Dark $ and agents have always been involved in College sports. Judges decided players deserved a cut outright without having to get theirs illegally.
Look at the coaching carousel. These coaches have always just been hired guns but it's more now than ever. Notre Dame and Oklahoma are not even destination jobs at this level anymore! Wow!!!
I understand why fans are turned off and no longer as interested.
Games are for entertainment and gambling!
Look at the coaching carousel. These coaches have always just been hired guns but it's more now than ever. Notre Dame and Oklahoma are not even destination jobs at this level anymore! Wow!!!
I understand why fans are turned off and no longer as interested.
Games are for entertainment and gambling!
I said when NIL was approved that it would be the beginning of the end of college sports. I’m sad that it’s heading that way. So I’m not sure how much longer I hang in there. The field has been shifted seismically probably forever. I just don’t know how all programs can survive this. Let’s be honest $$ talks. And SuCk will poach our best players. Doesn’t have to be all just a few will hurt. We are in a strange situation as SuCk has their paws in every part of the state Louisville just doesn’t. That hurts our players NIL opportunities. Not much anyone can do about it either. The field is less level than ever before. Just sad
Is it for sure less level? Cincy is in position to make a 4 team playoff. Alabama appears out for the first time in years.
Not enough data to know yet.
I believe ESPN wants a few super conferences and yes if that happens will be interesting to see what the consumers say if/when a number of programs get left out.
Not enough data to know yet.
I believe ESPN wants a few super conferences and yes if that happens will be interesting to see what the consumers say if/when a number of programs get left out.
