Dabo’s Dilemma

Dabo Sweeney, in case any of my followers don’t know, is the head football coach at Clemson University. He has been there twelve years and won two national championships as well as six conference championships and numerous bowl games. So far this year, they have lost two games to ranked opponents and won handily over two unranked teams. What happened? The transfer portal, which allows players to switch teams with no required sit-outs before playing for the new team. This year, the University of Colorado’s roster had only ten continuing players and a record 53 that came through the transfer portal.

 Unlike many other coaches, Dabo is not a fan of the transfer portal. It doesn’t mesh well with his understanding of what a coach is supposed to do. Yes, Clemson expects him to win games, but until now his coaching philosophy has served him,  his teams and Clemson University well.

Coaches like Dabo rely primarily on recruiting young men coming out of high school or sometimes junior college and, through football and other support systems, to help them to become mature, responsible, competent, and successful adults. These coaches are mentors, just as their academic colleagues are mentors for young men and women in a developmental and transitional stage of life. They learn self-discipline, good work habits, healthy lifestyles (except for concussions and other injuries), teamwork, and the ability to bond with others. They learn to collaborate in order to compete. Some of them join the NFL but many others do not, although their maturity, dependability, ability to work well with others, and having a degree from a respected academic institution will make them likely to succeed in whatever career they choose.

A transfer student is at something of a disadvantage in moving from one team to another in mid-career. The transfer must do a lot of starting over to bond with the coaches and team and learn their particular rules, playing style, and expectations. The developmental process is interrupted. I never played sports, but as a retired faculty member and a mother I do have some experience with students who transferred, including all three of my daughters. Team sports aside, relationships are disrupted, courses don’t transfer, and existing social networks formed in the previous year or years are difficult to join.

I don’t know Coach Sweeney personally, but everything I have heard and observed suggests that he makes a firm commitment to the whole student, not just the throwing arm or the running speed or other specific skills that can be practiced and finely honed in order to serve the cause of winning games.

Like Coach Sweeney, the University he serves faces the same dilemma. Diminished state government support has made public institutions more dependent on legislative goodwill, private donations, and adoring fans to provide enough resources to run both the athletic program and the academic institution in serving the needs of all their students. That financial support depends on successful football seasons. On the other hand, the historic mission of academic institutions is preparing young people (including football players) to live rich and meaningful lives, be responsible citizens, and have productive and useful careers. The transfer portal may sometimes serve those goals for particular players, but it’s more about ensuring a successful season than a successful college graduate.

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