I admit my point of reference may be skewed. I don’t search Twitter looking for other fan bases reactions when a player transfers from their program, I can barely handle the reaction when a player leaves Clemson football.
Except for Oklahoma and that usually becomes very public and not in a good way. I kid. Sort of.
Maybe all fan bases are like Clemson’s, taking a transfer personally or as a slap in the face to the university they love.
After transferring to Northwestern his freshman year, QB Hunter Johnson is returning to Clemson for his final season! @levon_kirkland and @steelerwill break down his transfer and other Tigers news in Bleav in Clemson Football, presented by @betonline_ag.https://t.co/NC5NXhGUR8 pic.twitter.com/z2PsagYaOJ
— Bleav (@BleavNetwork) January 19, 2022
For some, every time a player transfers the sky is falling or the program is cycling out because why else would someone transfer from Clemson?
There are those that think the players are ruining their lives, think the players are traitors, ungrateful or just plain wrong.
I just don’t get it. Sure, it may hurt whatever team said player is leaving, but you’ll rarely hear me say it was a “bad decision”, because really, I have no idea of the factors that went into the decision.
No more than I had why the kid in my Accounting 101 class 100 years ago decided to transfer.
No one cared that the accounting major or any of the hundreds of kids transfer from Clemson each year, because no football game is on the line if Joe Accountant moves on.
Generally, students, athletes or not, transfer because they feel they have a better opportunity, whatever that means to them, somewhere else.
Maybe it’s more money. Maybe it’s more momma. Maybe it’s both or neither and they just want to change the scenery.
The number or reasons are endless.
Clemson basketball has been living on transfers for several years now. Clemson baseball has a middle infield made up of two transfers. Not a big deal and we have no problem cheering for athletes that transfer to Clemson.
No one questions it. Heck, they’re probably hoping for more. But let someone leave the Clemson football program and there is heck to pay.
Be prepared, though.
When the spring game is done and the depth chart is set, there will be transfers.
I don’t know who, or how many, but some will feel it’s time to move on.
Fans will be “shocked” and call players names and tell us what they would have done in his situation, talk about commitment and won’t understand. Or at least pretend not to.
Guess what? We don’t have to understand it. Let the guy make his decision and go where he wants to go, just like Joe Accounting Major.
A famous football coach once said, “Worry about the ones you got, not the ones you don’t.”, or something like that.
Good advice, especially for the month of April around Clemson.