Transfers... why so many?!

[IdahoBoy]

I saw this note that Nicole Martin formerly of Washington State, formerly of Arkansas, will be transferring to Ball State.

It just blows my mind how often we see transfers now-a-days. I remember players leaving here and there and the other place for as long as I can remember, but it seems so much higher-profile now.

Why the mass of transfers now-a-days?

Is it because of the pressure on coaches to win?
Is it because of the early commitments?
What is it? Why?

I know there isn't a smoking gun, but it's sure tough to keep track of players moving around the nation like this.

[Gorf]

Is there truly a significantly higher number of transfers in recent years than in prior years or are the ones that happen being more scrutinized / reported now because of the internet bringing easier access to the information?

It would be interesting to compare actual data from the entire NCAA era to see if there actually is a trend towards an increasing number of annual transfers.

I'm not sure the NCAA publishes that sort of data anywhere though.

[bomber]

Here's two candidates for transfers next year.....Maggie Griffin of the Huskers, and Kate Price of Penn State.

[Deleted]

Griffin's 2nd transfer. I don't see it happening.

And Price is too valuable to PSU. They don't have that much depth at OH.

But who knows? I see your point.

[lilred]

bomber said:

Here's two candidates for transfers next year.....Maggie Griffin of the Huskers, and Kate Price of Penn State.

I think Maggie's initial transfer had something to do with MSU running the coach out of town. Had that not have happened, she would not have come to Nebraska in the first place. I like Maggie (although admittedly I've never met her) and I think she seems like the kind of person that will stick it out her last year. Does Nebraska even have another setter coming next year (Husker fans?) She will get some mop up duty and some playing time for sure this year. But you never know. I would be suprised if she transferred again.

[LowVBIQ]

One other thing to consider when assessing the reason why so many seem to transfer. The highly recruited girls go from being the best on their high school teams and their club teams to having to fight for playing time in college. Sometimes the coaches even 'embellish' when predicting to the recruits how much floor time they will see. It is hard on some of their fragile egos to sit on the bench for a couple of years while putting in the practice hours. If the girls don't do their homework (on the colleges/coaches) very carefully, they could end up feeling like they could get a better 'deal' elsewhere. (Some need to play the big fish small pond routine...)

Others enjoy the need to work to compete---feel loyalty. Even understand the whole 'team' concept and tend to stay put and even help motivate the team. Cayley Thurlby? Great example. Superior work ethic. Possible payoff this year too!!

[lilred]

idahoboy said:

I saw this note that Nicole Martin formerly of Washington State, formerly of Arkansas, will be transferring to Ball State.

It just blows my mind how often we see transfers now-a-days. I remember players leaving here and there and the other place for as long as I can remember, but it seems so much higher-profile now.

Why the mass of transfers now-a-days?

Is it because of the pressure on coaches to win?
Is it because of the early commitments?
What is it? Why?

I know there isn't a smoking gun, but it's sure tough to keep track of players moving around the nation like this.

Nebraska has had a lot of its own transfers in the last five years. Mostly going out, not coming in. In NU's case, I think its just a matter of too much talent. Look at the players and who they were playing behind:

Olivia Waldowski- Playing behind Holmquist and Elmer, plus she was from California. A positive move for her as she is major part of UCSB's lineup as an MB

Kelsey Fautsch- Playing behind Pavan. Enough said. Again, it turned out better than she expected. Still got to the Final Four and again is a major contributor to for the Volunteers

Emily Schroeder OH- Transfer to Wayne St. NE, but she was a walk on anyway.

Amanda McCormick Libero- Now this one I have my own opinion about, and I know its shared by others. It's one of the few times I have been critical of the Program. Now plays at Ball St. and even made AVCA Honorable Mention last year.

Meghan Smith MB- Ranked 25th I believe. Just quit from what I can tell. I think she felt she wasn't gonna get any playing time with the arrival of Amanda Gates and then Kori Cooper this year. but that's just speculation on my part.

Nicole Westehop MB- Don't even remember her being here. From Texas. She redshirted, and then left the next year I think. (2002) same class as Waldowski

FYI Husker fans, remember when there were five freshman on the floor at the same time during certain parts of the game when we went to the 6-2 in 2003?

Houghteling, Busboom, Mancuso, McCormick, and Fautsch. Only two of them will graduate from Nebraska this year.

[Deleted]

I'm surprised more players haven't transferred from Hawaii. There were a bunch in 1997, and Adrienne Bradley transferred to Utah a few years later, but I can't think of any that transferred within the last 5 years or so. Hawaii does seem like a popular place for players to transfer to however.

There are a few schools that have been hit by the transfer bug recently though. Washington State, Oregon (that would've been a good team with both Dariam Acevedo and Sarah Mason), Long Beach, UCSB.

[D. B. Cooper]

Players get four years. Four. When it's gone, it's gone. That's it and for most it's the end of the line. I don't blame any player for transfering to a better situation. Don't throw around words like loyality. Why should a kid that can play at dozens of other schools have to sit on the bench for favorite team? Coaches and colleges are always looking for better players so why shouldn't players be looking for better?

[IdahoBoy]

backwoods said:

Players get four years. Four. When it's gone, it's gone. That's it and for most it's the end of the line. I don't blame any player for transfering to a better situation. Don't throw around words like loyality. Why should a kid that can play at dozens of other schools have to sit on the bench at for favorite team? Stupid. Coaches and colleges are always looking for better players so why shouldn't players be looking for better?

If I were an employer, looking to higher a person, one thing I would look how long they stay at their previous job. If I notice that a potential employee doesn't stay long at one place, I'd not be as inclined to offer the position to them at first. There are ALWAYS extenuating circumstances that could be cleared up, but still, one of the best things about athletics in college is the skills that one can prove as being a team player and loyalty, etc.

Maybe these girls don't really care about getting a job after college.

[D. B. Cooper]

Or maybe playing volleyball has zero with getting a job after college.

[LowVBIQ]

backwoods said:

Or maybe playing volleyball has zero with getting a job after college.

Well, since some of the girls would not be getting a college education without the scholarship, I would think that volleyball quite possibly plays a 'bit' of a role in getting a job after college.

[lilred]

backwoods said:

Or maybe playing volleyball has zero with getting a job after college.

Interesting. I'm not sure what team you follow or if you have one, but almost too a woman, every former NU player says that what they learned from playing volleyball (the discipline, the friendships, etc etc) do in fact help with life after volleyball. I am assuming getting a job is one of them.

IB makes a very valid point. It is only those who are so are narrowly focused that wouldn't see it. As with most collegiate sports, most of your VB players are not going to play professionally afterwards. In NU's case, I highly doubt that any of those aforementioned transfers will have long beach careers. I am not saying they didn't make the right move for themselves, because they obviously did. But if you are transferring to 3 different schools in a five year period, that can't look good for prospective employers relative to the girl who played backup for four years. Because in the end neither girl is playing professionally. The girl transferring twice probably isn't, because if she was that good, she wouldn't have the need to transfer in the first place. But the girl who stuck it out shows, prospective employers that she is she can handle adversity.

[D. B. Cooper]

Why are college scholarships renewed every year instead of being 4 year deals?

And since you listed all the players that left Nebraska, how many of them wanted to stay but were ran off by Cook? Or let's say no tears were shed when they left? It sure is helpful to free up that scholarship to get the next hot recruit or much needed transfer, isn't it. Oh I'm sure you'll go on and on about how that wasn't the case but do you really know that as FACT? Do you? There is 2 sides to every story.

[lilred]

backwoods said:

Why are college scholarships renewed every year instead of being 4 year deals?

And since you listed all the players that left Nebraska, how many of them wanted to stay but were ran off by Cook? Or let's say no tears were shed when they left? It sure is helpful to free up that scholarship to get the next hot recruit or much needed transfer, isn't it. Oh I'm sure you'll go on and on about how that wasn't the case but do you really know that as FACT? Do you? There is 2 sides to every story.

1. If you call recruiting the best players possible ever year running a current player out, then I guess you have a point, and every program is guilty of it.
2. You don't know the facts either. Unless you're a former player, in which case I won't get into, precisely because I don't know your situation.
3. I never said a girl shouldn't transfer. We were just pointing out that a girl that transfers to multiple schools might send signals of not being able to persevere, that's all. No need to get all cranky about it.