College athletics is in chaos, and our sons and daughters are paying the price for a lack of leadership.
The courts have forced administrators to acknowledge what has been true all along: college athletes are essential partners in a multibillion dollar business. Their rights and well being cannot be overlooked, especially when coaches leave for bigger deals and schools change conferences for more money, then criticize athletes for acting in their own best interest.
Transfer portal numbers have hit record highs, but not because athletes are disloyal or simply chasing the next bag. Many of our children wanted to stay. Too often, they were pushed out when a coach decided they were no longer a fit, or when a new prospect appeared.
Meanwhile, the fracture foundation that this NIL and revenue share system are built upon have caused loopholes resulting in egregiously one-sided contracts, a lack of consistent for breaches of contract for the athletes and for the schools, unenforceable eligibility rules, late payments, missed payments or even failure of payment completely.
This broken system of college athletics is educating, even grooming, our children to expect this same treatment in the real world. We all know that this type of behavior and lack of accountability is not normal in any business, and we are calling on leaders to build a better foundation once and for all.
It is time for collective bargaining to become the priority in college sports. A stable future requires athletes to have a real seat at the table to negotiate the terms of their participation. Not only is this the right thing to do to give our children the voice, protection and representation as a group that they deserve in holding their schools accountable, it is also the best path forward to not continue putting bandaids over the real problems that currently and will continue to exist in college athletics unless we solve this together.
A Story from a REAL Parent:
Our transfer portal experience this year was defined by an extremely tight window with a short dead period in the middle. The timing also collided with the start of classes at many schools, with add and drop and enrollment deadlines falling right inside the portal window.
On our first visit, I quickly realized how serious the situation was. What was supposed to be one visit turned into multiple visits on consecutive days, living out of suitcases and trying to stay present while exhausted. After the visits and travel, we got home in the early morning hours, and then the real scramble began.
In a matter of days, we had to make a decision about where to go. We had to apply for housing, apply to a new school, request and send transcripts, and gather course information to try to avoid losing credits. We had to figure out what to do with an existing lease, plan a long move, and prepare for travel and logistics, all while trying to keep everything moving forward. Agents needed to review and negotiate contracts, and those contracts had to be signed before we could finalize anything else. Every step depended on the last.
Once the decision was made, everything accelerated again. Packing, travel, and move-in happened while we were still finalizing housing details. While moving in, we were scheduling classes and completing required medical and compliance steps to get cleared for workouts. Classes began immediately, and workouts followed right after. From the first flight to the start of classes, it felt like we were trying to compress a major life change into about a week and a half.
In our house, earning a college degree comes first, and then the sport. Missing enrollment or sitting out a semester was not a real option. At the same time, many programs were dealing with staff turnover and new hires, and it was clear everyone was operating under pressure with limited time to evaluate, plan, and execute. It felt like everyone was rushing. Families were rushing. Players were rushing. Staff were rushing. Visits were rushed. Contracts were rushed. Decisions were rushed.
We got through it, but it was overwhelming. This was not our first experience with the portal, but it was the most daunting one we have had. At one point during those days of visits and decisions, we received an incredible volume of calls and messages. We were so overwhelmed that we turned our phones off at times just to get a moment to breathe and think.
I do not say any of this to complain about the opportunities college athletics can provide. We are grateful. But the portal process and its timing felt poorly planned at best, and at worst, like a punishment for players, families, and staff who are trying to make the best decisions possible in an impossible timeframe.
