For all the good the transfer portal can confer, two more disturbing cases have recently arisen. Two terrific players are spurning the less-than-elite pastures that nurtured their growth for bigger name programs.
Jamie Newman was an electrifying QB for Wake Forest. Evidently, for Newman, playing in a Power 5 conference was not good enough. Neither was playing for a winning team. Newman has gone into the transfer portal with his eyes on big-name programs such as Georgia and Oregon. If Jake Fromm elects to go pro, Georgia would make sense. Otherwise, the Ducks would be our call. Was Newman worried about the departures of 3 seasoned offensive line starters? In any event, this is another sickening example of the rich getting richer.
Quincy Roche was an elite pass-rushing defensive end for Temple. So elite that he was named American Athletic Conference player of the year. So elite that Roche has tied Joe Klecko’s career sack record. Gone…Temple was not a dumpster fire but a program with a recent winning history.
The Odyssey loves the transfer portal in those cases where lack of playing time is an issue. However, the cases of Newman and Roche make us want to vomit.
The Odyssey will have 7 months to recover! We look forward to talking with you in August.